Fronts and center channel HT bookshelf suggestions please

[apc]

We're renovating our den and building a wall of shelves/cabinets which will house the TV, cable box, blu ray and receiver. I'm selling my tower fronts and over sized center channel speakers. I want to get replacements and would appreciate some suggestions. At this point I can design the shelves around the speakers. Never been a top of the line guy and the middle of the road is OK with me. Thanks for your input.

[Erik Tracy]

What are the measurements?

And your budget?

What AVR will you be powering them with?

And already have a sub and existing surround speakers?

[Amherst]

Just make room for a 2ft. wide center in the shelving no matter which one you settle on.

The most important speaker in HT and down the road you may not be satisfied with the quality of the smaller one's that take less space. I have yet to find one out of many tried. Just something difficult about reproducing proper vocals in movies for smallish setups.

Bookshelf speakers another story.

[apc]

I can design the shelves around the speakers, so anything considered bookshelf should be OK. I'll set a ceiling of $1k and hope to under run. An old Pioneer VSX-D509S and an older Polk 100 watt sub. I have a couple of choices for surrounds, so not required.

[rpf65]

When I started my HT system, my 3.1 was the RTI/A1, CSI/A4, and a DSW PRO 440 wi. That little 3 channel sounded really good with my Yamaha RX-V571 AVR. Just my humble opinion on the subject.

[seabeerob213]

get matching bookshelfs for all 3, i am absolutely loving my rti's, check the ebay store, they have rti 4's and csi5 if you want a normal center,

[apc]

So just cruising the PA products, my pick would be a pair of RTiA3 and a CSiA6 unless the CSiA4 is better matched. Thoughts?

[seabeerob213]

nope, youre right,

[rpf65]

New Audio Video has RTI/A3 for $289.40 right now. Pretty good price.

[zane77]

RTiA3's for the fronts and CSiA6 for the center would sound pretty good IMHO

[apc]

Just ordered a CSiA4. After selling my existing fronts, center and sub I plan to buy the RTiA3's. For the rears I have changed my mind. Was going to use an older set of Polk RT25's, but we are not going to build shelves any more in the rear. Our rears will have to be in walls now.

Has anyone got experience with the Polk in wall speakers and which set may best match with the above? Not sure how to pair the RC vs MC vs RT vs RC?

As usual, thank you for your input!

[apc]

Noting that I changed the subject on my last post, I'm creating a new thread for the surrounds.

[michael1947]

How you gonna run the rear/side wires especially if you do in-wall? For what little the rears/sides do in the entire small HT environment your 4's would work great although those beautiful rtia3 would look stunning! It can be difficult running cable to the rears and also difficult getting in-wall speakers to sound authentic without the enclosure designed for the drivers. Make that 2 foot wide opening below your tv as it will have a more realistic dialog. Please let us know how you are doing along with photos.

[apc]

We're renovating the room including removal of the wall coverings. As with other rooms we've done, the walls are taken down to the studs. We will be able to run wiring and insulation to all four walls.