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Not using a center channel - or laying one flat? (1 Viewer)

erew99

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Hi,
So I decided to go for the Polk RTi8 towers and Rythmik LV12R sub.

My problem now is fitting the center channel.

Most CCs I come across are 20" or more. I can only fit 18".

I can lay the RTi6 speaker flat, since it is only 14", but I'm not sure about the clarity or if it will affect the sound stage.

I spoke to someone at Polk and they said there is no point in upgrading my current setup to the RTi line w/o the center.
Current:
Polk Monitor 50 fronts
Polk CS1 center
Polk Monitor 30 rear

The person I spoke to in Product Support said the RTi6 as a center will be 'muddy'. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this speaker over the CS1.

The RTi6 seems like a better speaker than the CS1, on paper anyway.

The other option is not using a center channel at all... What would you do?
 

Phil A

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If you watch movies from the middle of speakers (obviously this probably can't be more than a couple of people), then not having a center is not the end of the world. I have multiple set-ups, 9.2, a couple of 5.1s (one will eventually in the near future will end up as Dolby Atmos with a couple of surrounds added to the in-ceiling speakers) and a 4.1. The one that I will likely upgrade to Atmos I may at some point upgrade the mains and center (old B&Ws) and depending on what I do I may not have a center or I may use old Omnimounts and mount one to the shelf below a TV at some point. As to their claim that it will be muddy, I think that is very generalized. You have bass management and can play with it and see how it sounds for yourself. The system I have with the B&Ws have P6s as mains (they are about 20 years old and had no matching center and I'm using a B&W CDM center channel - pic below and have no issues). What would you expect product support to do except to try to increase sales. They do work for the manufacturer.
View attachment 15581
 

Phil A

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The furniture in the previous post was formerly used in my main system. The 55 inch TV is angled down a bit (and a drop high to my liking as the room is not big) but I may end up getting a wider shelf (for about $250) and moving a 50 inch TV from another system (and swapping the 55 inch TV to the other system). That way I won't have to move the speakers more than a couple of inches. So I'd end up with a middle shelf that is wider and about the height of the bottom middle shelf. I'd probably only do the move if I decided to upgrade the main speakers, and, if so, then I could decide whether or not I'd get a center channel. There is only a love seat sized sleeper couch across from the system that only fits two people tightly and almost all the time (like 95%) I watch something in there I am the only one watching. So as I noted much depends on the room, where you are seated, how many people watch and whether you feel the center channel is not adequate or hurts the set-up.
 

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Phil A

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I am not familiar with the Polk RTi6 tweeter or its dispersion patterns but some speakers like http://philharmonicaudio.com/philharmonitor.html are made so that the tweeter can be rotated for use as a center channel (from the above link) “The tweeter can be rotated for use as a center channel speaker in installations that require horizontal mounting.”

Perhaps someone here knows a bit more about the tweeter and how it would sound rotated.
 

schan1269

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Center speakers, in general, cost the same as two bookshelves together...hence more profit.If you lay the RTi6 on its side, see if you can rotate the tweeter 90 degrees. That will not void the warranty. As most speaker companies will have you remove the driver and mail it back anyway.
 

erew99

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I would normally expect sales team to try to sell me something else... in this case they told me not to bother upgrading at all.

I will also most likely be using a 80hz crossover... so I don't plan on getting this RTi6 too low.

I Googled for rotating the RTi6 tweeter, no hits.

I have to buy them in pairs... so maybe if I damage one it is okay :)
 

Phil A

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erew99 said:
I would normally expect sales team to try to sell me something else... in this case they told me not to bother upgrading at all.

I will also most likely be using a 80hz crossover... so I don't plan on getting this RTi6 too low.

I Googled for rotating the RTi6 tweeter, no hits.

I have to buy them in pairs... so maybe if I damage one it is okay :)
Perhaps Google replacing the tweeter in the speaker to see what that entails. I did not do extensive looking but you turn up things like

http://www.fixya.com/support/t8960365-polk_rti6_tweers_blown_4_speakers
 

erew99

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Thanks. Is that the only issue with using the RTi6 as a center?

I don't have anywhere close to me that carries this older line.
 

Phil A

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As noted, I have no idea as to the dispersion pattern of the tweeter but based on seeing the below:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-New-Pair-of-Polk-Audio-1-Silk-Dome-Dynamic-Balance-Tweeter-RD0690-1-/201242762163
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-of-Polk-Audio-1-Silk-Dome-Dynamic-Balance-Tweeters-G1-/151504626840


it could be difficult to rotate based on what I see.

You could also buy the tweeters and figure out what the matching woofer is and buy a ready made crossover and cabinet to get something that sonically matches. A cabinet such as - http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-knock-down-mdf-056-cu-ft-bookshelf-speaker-cabinet--300-7064

or buy a pair such as - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polk-Audio-RTi6-BLACK-Bookshelf-Speakers-NEW-PAIR-/390813524204and then see if it is easy to remove everything and put it in an enclosure that is easy to rotate.
 

Phil A

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If it was me, I'd find a way to make the 20 inch wide speaker work (Crutchfield recommends this - http://www.crutchfield.com/p_107CSI3C/Polk-Audio-CSi3-Cherry-finish.html?tp=189)..For example, if you have a cabinet opening that is 18 inches a sturdy piece of wood or plywood that is 18 inches or a hair less can be screwed or afixed to the opening and since the CSi3 is less than 10 inches deep that's how far you would need to have the center channel sticking out. I don't know what is on the other side or sides of the 18 inch wide cabinet opening, but if there is an inch of width on each side, you should not have an issue. You can even do something on glides that slides in the cabinet when not in use and you disconnect the CSi3 and when you want to watch a movie you glide it out and hook up the CSi3
 

Phil A

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erew99

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I would love to be able to make room... but I can't.
http://www.mybobs.com/montibello-entertainment-center-fireplace

That is the unit I have below my wall mounted TV.

In the opening from left to right:
Pioneer SC-1523k, Polk CS1, FiOS STB

There is not even 1mm of space available. Everything fits perfectly.

It's not the depth that is the problem, it is the width. I'm not sure how the shelf helps in that situation.

The only thing I could come up with was purchasing something like a component rack. That needs to be approved by the wife though!
 

Phil A

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erew99 said:
The only thing I could come up with was purchasing something like a component rack. That needs to be approved by the wife though!
We don't need to go above your grade level :D
 

Phil A

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The other thing I'd suggest is something along these lines -

Perhaps instead of putting the center channel up top, something slim to fit the set top box might work better and then leave room the center channel. Probably something lower would get better approval too
 

schan1269

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You could ask DaveF if he sees a way to rotate the tweeter.I don't think you'd have an issue laying it sideways anyway. That was a "worst case".
 

Phil A

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erew99

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Schan1269,
Thanks - you're always helpful.

Any experience with the RTi6? Do you think it would sound muddy vs the CS1 for a center?
 

Phil A

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I don't think you would have an issue laying it sideways either but was not sure and just giving options
 

erew99

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Phil A said:
Is this a consideration - http://www.amazon.com/Convenience-Concepts-Monitor-Riser-Cherry/dp/B00KKHUQ4S/ref=pd_bxgy_hg_img_y

It could allow the use of one component under the TV (assuming it or some else Convenient Concepts or another manufactures that makes a monitor riser - guess that is the correct terminology)

At these dimension - 23.6 x 5.4 x 15.8 inches

it would allow a small component to fit under
Nope. The TV is only like 4" above the top of the fireplace.

It would block the view. The unit is pretty tall already. So I didn't want to put the TV up even higher.

If the RTi6 works laying flat for now, that might be a good option until I can replace that fireplace or get a component stand.
 

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