Please comment on my polk audio setup

[mailrishigupta]

Dear friends.....
I called a shop in delhi today to enquire about a home theater system.

The person suggested:

Fronts:- polk audio tsi300
surrounds- polk audio tsi100
centre:- polk audio cs10
sub:- polk audio psw10
avr:- polk audio 110

All this for ~84k. (~74k if i took tsi100 as front speakers as well)

Even 74k would be a bit abouve my max budget (60-65k)

What i wanted to know was whether this is the best combo available for the price? are the individual components good, or are there better alternatives for a similar price?

Also, deviating a little from the topic, i have read a LOT about the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system? Has anybody heard it? How are they?

Kindly suggest a better setup at around 65k if possible......

 

[mailrishigupta]

Somebody? Anybody? please do help me as i am totally confused now.......

 

[corElement]

I would suggest looking at other options aswell.

Polk is sort of mass market..

Lets start with

1. Minimum budget
2. Maximum budget
3. Room size and shape
4. What % music and movies
5. What equipment do you already own?

 

[Sunderpalanivel]

Polk speakers are good and better than Energy. Recently I went to buy my AVR 460 and the shop guy used an Energy speaker that is closest to my Tsi400 and it sounder good in the demo room, but with the same receiver my tsi 400 sounds a lot better in three times big space than the demo room.

So no doubt polk is good, even though I use tsi400, I have seen tsi 300, its just short of one driver., but still a tweeter and two woofer is a good configuration, it should sound good given that you are buying a subwoofer as well.

I will not suggest Tsi 100 as front speakers as it won't be good, however I would recommend OWM for rear speakers if it works out cheaper

Only thing I would not suggest is that buying polk receiver, because its just not their line of business . You will be better off with an entry level denon or onkyo

 

[baijuxavior]

avr:- polk audio 110

 

[Sunderpalanivel]

avr:- polk audio 110

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[HTuser]

If you are on a tight budget, start building step by step.

I would suggest Denon AVR - possibly 1612 or 1912.
Buy good floor standers as front - suggest RTi A5 instead of TSI 300.

Add Center, Sub and Surrounds later.

Audition more combinations before deciding.

 

[mailrishigupta]

the receiver sounded like shady business to me too

My budget would be 70-75K MAX (Even thats stretching it a bit)

Mostly movies, but music should be ok ok too, not intolerable.....quiet, acoustic instrumental etc....

I have almost set my mind on the Denon 1612 as the receiver. I know the forum is rife with the answers to my next question, but since there are soooo many options, Please tell me if there is a better receiver as the SAME or LESSER price than the Denon 1612, and if not better, then some other receiver with specific advantages, AT THE SAME PRICE, which is very important, because i would barely be able to get the 1612.....I was getting confused with the Yamahas and the Marantzes....

One more thing.......how is the Q-Acoustics Cinema 2000 package...?? I have read a LOT of praise for it. It would cost the maximum i can spend on speakers (~57k if i choose an inferior color) Are they good enough for that price, or could there be something better? Is there something that costs less and sounds just as good? Is the Denon 1612 the right AVR for them?

I considered getting stuff one by one, component wise, but then i realised that I have only one chance to spend on speakers, and if i spend 50-60k in the first go, I'll never get to buy other components later and i want the full experience right from the word go, so i'll have to buy the whole deal together.

Thanks so much guys for your interest. Eagerly waiting for your help......

 

[baijuxavior]

I have almost set my mind on the Denon 1612 as the receiver. I know the forum is rife with the answers to my next question, but since there are soooo many options, Please tell me if there is a better receiver as the SAME or LESSER price than the Denon 1612, and if not better, then some other receiver with specific advantages, AT THE SAME PRICE, which is very important, because i would barely be able to get the 1612.....I was getting confused with the Yamahas and the Marantzes....

Yamaha 471, Pioneer VSX 521 and Marantz NR1501 Slimline 7.1 AV Receiver

I considered getting stuff one by one, component wise, but then i realised that I have only one chance to spend on speakers, and if i spend 50-60k in the first go, I'll never get to buy other components later and i want the full experience right from the word go, so i'll have to buy the whole deal together.

It is easy to advice a step by step upgradation, but when it comes to reality, you will end with just the pair of speakers. When you want to upgrade, you will feel that your AVR or speaker is outdated or not up to the mark and you again begin from the scratch. My advice would be to buy the complete system now and enjoy your movies.

 

[mailrishigupta]

Thanks @baijuxavior.....needed the motivation to go for the whole set at one go......any idea about the q acoustics 2000 cinema pack?? couldnt find much except for praise as in where can i get the best price etc....

 

[corElement]

If you have a budget of 65-70 you need to immediately close your eyes and get your hands on a Cambridge Audio Sirocco 5.1 set for 42-45.
JUST don't think about it anymore and GET these. They're the ultimate value for money 5.1 home theater package. All you'll need is a decent AVR for 20-25 after this.

Hell.. I'll even sell you My 120w per channel 6.1 Jamo AVR for that price since you're in delhi so you dont have to worry about these new denon 1612's which are known for faulty hdmi ports and high failure rates. It's just sitting, PM me if you're interested.

This is the cambridge audio sirocco 5.1 set for 43k They are beautifully finished and have received a lot of praise for immense detail in their sound as against others for the same price.

 

[mailrishigupta]

Hey......thanks@corElement.....

Couldn't find much about the Cambridge Audio Sirocco 5.1 on Google.......does this set go by another name??

Unfortunately, I cant buy your AVR as a prior significantly pricy purchase of a used item and what followed made me swear to myself never again to buy used stuff.......on principle, nothing else.......

Are speakers in bangalore significantly cheaper than in delhi?

 

[corElement]

That's too bad (and considerably sad)

The s70 floorstander is just a bigger version of the s30 bookshelf, which you can find details on here Cambridge Audio S30 review from the experts at whathifi.com and here http://www.crutchfield.com/S-kPFdFueIodO/p_779S30DO/Cambridge-Audio-S30-Dark-Oak.html and an extensive technical review here http://www.stereo.de/index.php?id=391 <- You will need google chrome to translate this for you from german to english.

It received 5 stars, and if you applied that to the s70's and s50 center channel, really..what more could you ask for at 43'ish, floor standers, good bookshelves a center and sub

The best stuff are the least found on, in google

I personally feel they are the last word for a person aspiring to be an audiophile but does not want to take that last step into the abyss that is known as a wallet killing pit of death.
Their finish and internals are way beyond their price band and the crossover is as simple as can be to cause minimal distortion/coloration for it's price.


Highlights:
frequency response 55-20,000 Hz
handles 15-100 watts
sensitivity 90 dB
8-ohm impedance
1" soft dome tweeter
state-of-the-art motor system with neodymium magnet
4-1/2" woven polyfibre woofer
rigid phase plug for improved off-axis response
magnetically shielded for safe placement next to tube TVs
rigid MDF cabinet with internal cross-bracing
dual 3-way gold-plated binding posts can be bi-amped or bi-wired
6-5/16"W x 8-15/16"H x 9-1/4"D
weight: 8.3 lbs.
warranty: 5 years

 

[reju]

Look at Polk Rti series. If you are tight on budget, as already suggested by someone else, build your set up slowly. I have done that after buying a HTiB. Thankfull I got a good buyer. Otherwise it was a waste of time

 

[fran_elite]

You'll be happy with the Polk RTi Series I feel

 

[dinomistry]

Yeap RTI would be good.

If you are tight budget skip the sub for start and get powerful one later... no compromise in sub :yahoo:

I got RTI A3 bookshelf as my kid won't keep floor standing standing...

TSI 100 as a rear would be better not as front.

Finally its ur decision.

 

[mailrishigupta]

But are the rti and the.tsi.100 matched?

 

[corElement]

They're sound signature is not the same, one is budget range one is premium. However both are mass market.

 

[dinomistry]

But are the rti and the.tsi.100 matched?

I was weak in budget in the start so got TSi 100 as front and AVR. but felt TSi weaker and had to jump to RTi A series which are awesome. Didn't feel any issues keeping TSi 100 as rear.

 

[rraghuram]

Rishi, also consider the Pioneer range of HT speakers. Someone on the forum (FM "mav" I think) wrote up extensively on them - as the best budget high end HT experience, bar none! Search the forums. Between the Polk RTi and TSi, RTi is better by a mile. I have heard Rti A1 speakers and they are really nice! If you wanna spend once and get it right, then go for either Polk RT series or the CA Sirocco Series or the Pioneer HT series. You can't go wrong with either of them. Don't agonise too much over this like we all do! Audition and finalise. Also, despite your bad exp. with used gear, check out Cor's Jamo avr. It is a terrific piece. Cheers.