Polk Speaker Selection.. Do I have a good find here????

[PharmerWill]

**For completeness I want to state that I did post this over at AVS forums in both the general "Speakers" sections as well as the official "Polk Audio Owners Thread". After waiting 16 hours and not getting any replies at all I expanded my search and found these fantastic forums that look to be much better for Polk specific info. I am incredibly impressed at the qaulity of help provided by this community to users of all levels. Now, on to the question(s) at hand.

To sum up, I just purchased a co-workers entire surround setup for very cheap because he was moving to a sound bar (He went with the Polk Audio IHT 6000 which I recommended to him because I own and absolutely love this sound bar which provides sound for the main living room set-up..aka not my man cave home theater). So basically I want to know if I should incorporate any of the new speakers I just purchased from him into my HT setup or if what I am currently using is superior. All my current gear is Polk and the newly purchased gear is also Polk. I know most of these measurments are more objective and depend on personal preference, but if one of these new speakers is far superior sonically, offers a better sound stage etc, I would rather swap that in. My current set up is:

Denon 3808ci
FL+FR = TSI300
RR+RL= OWM3
C= CS2
Sub= PW10

New gear:

Onkyo TX-SR806
FL+FR = RT55
RR+RL = No model number or sticker on them. They are Polk, a bit smaller than the RT55's, have printed above the tweater "Dynamic Balance", and have a tweater and a mid along with two side by side air holes at the bottom. They look like they would be sold along with the RT55's as rears because they are identical finish, identical grill cover etc.. Just smaller. I can provide a pic if needed.
C= CS245
Sub= JBL PowerBass PB10

He also threw in a BOSE VCS-10 center speaker he used because the polk was too tall and covered up a section of the bottom of his TV picture. I also got all the speaker wire, hdmi cables, Harmony 550 remote and speaker stands.

So in conclusion, I can swap these new speakers in one pair at a time and do listen testing, callibrating, etc... But I have very litmited time as well as a new 7 month old princess that I do not get enough time with as is, so if I can be informed that for example, the RT55's will blow away the current OWM3's I am using as rear left and right, I will just swap them in and re-calibrate the whole setup trusting that I am going with the speaker set. I am not going to swap in the Onkyo in place of the Denon because I am fairly certain the Denon is a superior reciever. The Onkyo is going to go into the main living room (with the Polk sound bar) as the hub of that area (unless I can unload it for a descent price via craigslist).

Thank you to all whom take the time to post any information to help me with these decisions! I am so happy I found these forums and I look forward to becoming and active member and contributer here in the official Polk Forums.

Will

[monepolk]

I can't answer your question, but welcome to Club Polk!

[F1nut]

Welcome to Club Polk.

I'll let someone else more familiar with those models address your questions.

[goofyGAguy]

Greetings. I will just venture an opinion on the RT55 vs. TSi300. Many (including myself) feel the RT55 were the best bookshelf speakers Polk ever produced, and will blow away the TSi300 in every aspect except perhaps sheer loudness, IMHO.

RR+RL = No model number or sticker on them. They are Polk, a bit smaller than the RT55's, have printed above the tweater "Dynamic Balance", and have a tweater and a mid along with two side by side air holes at the bottom. They look like they would be sold along with the RT55's as rears because they are identical finish, identical grill cover etc.. Just smaller. I can provide a pic if needed.

These will either be the RT3, RT5 or RT7. All lovely speakers.

[teekay0007]

Welcome to Club Polk and congrat's on scoring some nice gear there.

IMHO, the RT55s blow away the TSi300, the RT3, 5, or 7 all blow away the OWM3, and the JBL Power Bass PB10 blows away the PSW10. I would use them all over what you had in use. The CS245 can keep pace with the CS2 (neither is vastly superior to the other) and I'd use it with the other RT speakers so your front soundstage is timbre matched. I'd start with using the CS245 while keeping my eye open for a CS400 or CS400i for a nice upgrade.

I'm not familiar with the Denon receiver. The Onkyo TX-SR806 certainly wasn't their shining moment - runs very hot, has little actual power and HDMI card failures are quite common. It was definitely a step in the wrong direction from their TX-SR805 which weighs in at about 20 pounds more.

The Bose VCS=10 really is not a very good center. Small? Yes. Capable? No. If you're trying to fill more than a small dorm room with sound, look elsewhere. Quality sound in a small dorm room? Look elsewhere. You should be able to move it on CL or that auction site though, quite popular there.

[PharmerWill]

Wow, thank you all so much for the greetings and the info! Especially you teekay0007. You write that with such confidence that I feel good about making the switch and not looking back. I am quite surprised, pleasantly that is, that all the stuff I just picked up is better than what I have. I spent far less on what I just got vs buying all the other stuff new. I am excited to get everything switched out and calibrated to see what it all sounds like.

If anyone else has anything to add please do so. Thank you all again for the quick responses and welcomes. I will report back on my impressions once I get everything in place and calibrated.

[chiptouz]

Your Denon 3808ci is really a great reveiver and if you are happy with it I would continue to use it. I love mine and would not change it for the world.

[cfrizz]

The only thing I would add when time and money permit would be a 5 channel 200wpc @ 8ohms amplifier to make sure all your speakers run to their full potential. Nice score & welcome to Club Polk!

[DSkip]

As far as speakers go, you upgraded. Though I wouldn't say the RT55 is Polk's best bookshelf speaker myself, it is definitely in the top 5. If you're running a sub, these are perfect for you. The CS245 is a solid little performer. It's not quite as stout as the CS400, but still a nice center in its own right. I'd swap 'em out and never look back.

No offense, but anyone who still believes the RT55 is Polk's best bookshelf has obviously never heard the LSiM703. Outside of the 703, its definitely up for argument.

[goofyGAguy]

No offense, but anyone who still believes the RT55 is Polk's best bookshelf has obviously never heard the LSiM703. Outside of the 703, its definitely up for argument.

I have not heard anything newer than the Monitor 40.