Need an opinion.

[hejiraent]

Hello, this is my first post here! I am hoping someone here can give me some input.

Realizing I needed furniture for my new house, I went online and bought a brand new Home Theatre system. :p

The house is not done yet and everything I bought is in boxes at my parents house waiting to be moved in. Could someone tell me if they have a similar setup, and if they are happy with it? I am itching to hear it!! However, my hotel room is not the place to open her up I'm afraid.

First off, I have an ADCOM 7.1 Pre-amp/surround processor, a 125watt X 5 ADCOM amp and a parasound 75 watt X 2 amp for the rear speakers. I have upper end MONSTER THX interconnects and speaker cables to tie it all together, as well as:

RTi10's are my fronts
CSi3 is my center
FXi30's are my surrounds
RTi6's are my rear
Harmon Kardon 150W 12'' subwoofer

On paper, and according to my reading on here, I think I did a decent job. Did I?

[RuSsMaN]

Decent system, but I see a couple things.

First, return the HK sub, start a new post with your budget - and we can go from there.

Second, the Parasound (imo) is too nice an amp, to run rear channels on. KEEP it, and buy a used Adcom 535 or some such to run your rears on. Use the Parasound to start a 2ch only rig, even if it sits in the closet for a while.

Welcome aboard, and take the opinions here at face value - and ALWAYS let your ears be the final judge.

Cheers,
Russ

[dave shepard]

I would have gotten the csi5 before the csi3, makes for a better center.

Welcome to the forum
Dave

[hejiraent]

I gave the Harman Kardon Sub to a friend and just ordered the PSW 404. Simply because it is the largest I can afford.

... as far as the center speaker, I actually heard both at CC. IMHO I preferred the 3 to the 5.

Thanks guys!!

[ken brydson]

Polk makes great speakers but subs are not their best effort. If you spent $400 on the 404 you might reconsider and look at this

http://www.hsustore.com/stf2.html

[gatemplin]

I agree with Ken. Also consider SVS, Paradigm and Adire Audio even if you have to save up to get them.

[RuSsMaN]

Originally posted by hejiraent
... as far as the center speaker, I actually heard both at CC. IMHO I preferred the 3 to the 5.

Thank GOD! Someone here is FINALLY in the same boat I am on the Polk centers.

The 404 is a step in the right direction over the HK, but if you DID throw down 4 Franklins for it - money better spent elsewhere.

Cheers,
Russ

[rti8's]

good system except for the sub. fork out 2 more franklins and get the svs 20-39pci or the pb1 box.
your life will never be the same again.

[hejiraent]

Know what? I am keeping the HK sub for awhile. If I spend any more money on audio equipment , it will have to be big enough for me to live in when I retire!!!!
I will ask Santa for a decent sub this Christmas!:)

Should I give away the free Polk 202 or put it on top of the HK?

[rti8's]

sell both and get a svs.:-) no just kidding. Try stacking the two and see how it sounds. If your ears cant tell a difference then just sell it or start up a little system in your bedroom. just an idea.

[rti8's]

sell both and get a svs.:-) no just kidding. Try stacking the two and see how it sounds. If your ears cant tell a difference then just sell it or start up a little system in your bedroom. just an idea.

__________
In all your getting, get understanding.

[hejiraent]

RTi8, I read a review of the SVS. I was drooling by the end!!!;) I am putting the Polk and HK sub on Ebay and getting the mid sized cylindrical SVS. 20-39 sounds like it would fit my tastes I believe. If the reviews are acurate- I can see why you'd tell me my life would never be the same after getting one! Thanks for the advice!

[hejiraent]

I bought the SVS plus 20-39. Does anyone have that one?

[pjdami]

hejiraent,

congrats on such a nice system you are putting together. I bought a SVS on blind faith without listening to one and now I'm kicking myself for not buying one a LOT sooner.

Nice choice. You'll be thrilled with it.

Paul

[kberg]

Originally posted by hejiraent
I bought the SVS plus 20-39. Does anyone have that one?

Yep, and you're gonna LOVE it! I bought mine last August and it CONTINUES to impress me. I also wish I had purchased it long before I did.

Please post your impressions of it when you have everything set up and calibrated.

[hejiraent]

The 20-39 is on back order, so I changed to the 16-46. I am guessing the $25.00 difference in price is not too much for a range that dips below audible human hearing levels. LOL

[dorokusai]

Nice sub choice, and keep your center, its a fine performer. I concur with Russman, pick up another Adcom for the rears, they are dirt cheap most of the time. Also keep the sub and use it along with the Parasound for another rig.

Utilize what you have, before blowing out the whole system.

[hejiraent]

I took the advise of Russ and others and ran with it...I didn't want another system, I wanted 1 good one for HT and Music, so I traded in the ADCOM and got another Parasound. A Halo A52. Apart from costing 2 times as much for the same # of channels and watts, what did I just buy?

[dorokusai]

Hey either way you win. What did you buy? You just bought an outstanding piece of gear. I have owned and love Parasound products. Have fun!

[Ceruleance]

awesome man.

Let us know your impressions when you get it hooked up and calibrated, etc.

[hejiraent]

Cer,
I have read some of your other posts here. Do you still think its unwise to run expensive equipment through the RTi series speaker? I am a recovering Bose owner, new to seperates, so go easy on me.

[HBombToo]

Originally posted by hejiraent
Cer,
I have read some of your other posts here. Do you still think its unwise to run expensive equipment through the RTi series speaker? I am a recovering Bose owner, new to seperates, so go easy on me.

My name may not be Cer but I'd like to jump in here.

I have been very happy with my RTi's throughout all component upgrades I have been through. I still can't justify swapping them out and I feel this line was a great investment for both HT and music. Just great for an all purpose form fit and function.

IMO though the SVS sub was the best upgrade in all hardware purchased for my system.

HBomb

[hejiraent]

Thanks to everyone that has helped me out!! I am still confused about the price tag difference between 2 components that appear to have identical features. Relating this to cars, I know there are simularities between a Mercedes and a Hugo. The DIFFERENCES are what makes the Mercedes cost more. What exactly makes a Parasound cost more than an ADCOM?

[hejiraent]

Ok, I got everything delivered and set up. I was underwhelmed by the LSi9's as surround speakers. I replaced them with the RTi6's and reducing to a 5.1 HT. My room is just not large enough to house all the gear I am putting in it. I'm also taking Russ' advice and putting the Parasound HCA in a closet (along with the 9's) to build a 2 channel rig as finances allow.

The setup is visually impressive, I gets "WOW's" before I even turn it on. The subwoofer is the best I have ever heard in a HT. All other speakers are adequate. The fronts and center match perfectly and do seem to disappear. The highs approach what I consider impressive, but, the overall sound is not as detailed nor as spacious as I had hoped it would be. That said, when I use the system for music it does approach what I expected. On a scale of 1-10, I rate this set-up as a 7. the SVS gets an 11 :D