Floor VS. Bookshelf Speakings (opinions needed) (1 Viewer)

[Shawn N]

Is it possible (on a bit of a budget) to obtain good quality sound with front L&R speakers being bookshelf type vs. floor speakers? Maybe a better question would be what are your opinions on floor vs. bookshelf speakers for HT.
I'm still in the shopping/learning stages. Just looking for opinions here I relies it can be subjective.

FYI--Defining budget.... looking to spend in the area of $600 for all my speakers

 

[Lee M T]

Generally speaking, I would go with bookshelves if we're talking predominately home theater use. If you listen to quite a bit of music, then floor standers might be a wise option for when you switch to a 2-channel source.

Movies and games generally do not send a ton of low frequencies to the left and right speakers, so floor standers may be overkill, in a sense.

Others will probably have much more to offer, hope I was of at least some help.

Lee

 

[Richard_B]

Shawn,

Are you looking to spend $600 with a sub or without?
There are some systems in your price range on this link.
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...&cc=01&search=

There are many options though. If you are willing to wait on a sub you can get better quality speakers for your $600 in my opinion.
An Example would be:
Polk Audio Rti38 - $249 a set for fronts

Polk Audio Rti28 - $199 a set for rears

Polk Audio CSi30 -$149 for the center channel

These speakers are on sale right now because Polk Audio just released a new model year on these. They can be had in a Black or Cherry Finish and offer real wood veneer.

 

[Lee M T]

Richard has the best option right there. That would be a wonderful setup. Hopefully you can hold out on a sub and get one down the road. Because you won't find a better set of speakers for $600 than the ones listed here. That setup would have normally cost closer to $1,000.

 

[ShaunLB]

Gotta agree with Richard, that would be an excellent setup.

 

[Shawn N]

Richard,

Yes I planned to spend $600 on the 5 speakers. Adding the sub later. I'll try to go listen to those Polk Audio's mentioned. Any recommendations for a nice sub to finish that setup.

 

[Lee M T]

SVS 25-39PCi

 

[Shawn N]

Just got back from CC and they have allot of open box/floor models. Still with 30 trial peiod.

Polk
RTi 28 $63 open box ( $99 new) each
RTi 38 $99 open box ( $126 new)each
RTi 70 $173 open box ( $299 new) each liked the sound of these for music.

They didn't have this set up for surround so I'll have to find another CC. The speaker sounded good though. I was only able to listen to the CSi40 center and it sounded real good. I may need the bigger center in my family room anyway. Family room is 18x24

 

[Shawn N]

Randy or others,

So I could get the system you suggested for $473. Screaming deal, but what would you think of replacing the RTi38's with RTi70's? This would bring my total to $621 just an extra $148. So that would be:

Polk Audio RTi 28 (Rear R/L) $63 each
Polk Audio RTi 70 (Front R/L)$173 each
Polk Audio CSi 30 (Center) $149
Total $621

How do you think the 70's would work in place of the 38's?
could maybe add this sub http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...number=300-632

 

[LanceJ]

Me? I would go with floorstanders or large bookshelfs (meaning ones with a 6.5" or larger woofer) so they can be blended better with the sub.

Read more about this here (the paragraph starting with "The second reason.......")

LJ

 

[Keith*D]

Go now and buy the polks you looked at, I am getting rid of my polk gear, but for primarily HT it is incredible. Do yourself a favor and step up to the Csi40 for sure, they can be had for around $250 (that is exactly what I am selling mine for if you are curious) and then I would get the Rti70's and the Rti28's. I wouldn't necessarily purchased these speakers at full price, but at the prices you are looking at you would have a screamin' good HT.

As for the sub, on your budget (or what it looks like to me) I would get a Hsu VTF-2 ($500 shipped) the Adire Rava ($400 + shipping) or wait for the new Hsu STF line. If you really like buying at CC then you could get the CHT 12 or 15, or for a small step up in price and footprint you could go with an SVS, the most highly recommended sub on the forum. Whatever you do, it looks like you are getting a great deal.

Keith

 

[Richard_B]

Shawn,

If you go with the Rti70s you should get the CSi40 center channel. Those are voice matched to each other. The Rti 38s & 28s are voice matched to the CSi30 that was recommended.

That is a great deal on the Rti70s as well as all the speakers.

Look at the subs Keith mentioned. My suggestion for you would be a SVS 25-31Pci or PB1-ISD but they are $549 and $599 and that may or may not be over yor budget.

 

[Shawn N]

Keith,

Thanks for the advice. If you don't mind me asking. Wht are you getting ride of your Polks?

As fpr the sub I think I'll end up spending in the area of $400. Give or take a few bucks.

 

[Mike_Z]

Shawn,

Don't skimp on the sub. ESPECIALLY for HT! It is the one piece of hardware that will truly turn a typical DVD into a theatre experience. Trust me on this. Do yourself a favor and take a look the SVS that Richard mentioned. You won't be disappointed.

 

[LanceJ]

Four hundred for the subwoofer? Didn't know that! And yes, good bass (low and powerful) isn't cheap.

Hell go for that Adire Rava. I like Bostons & even I want to try this model out--I've never heard anyone talk bad about it. Can't beat a product made by Washitonians (sp!).

LJ

 

[Shawn N]

So I guess your saying I may need to spend a little more on my sub then?

 

[kevin tate]

$99 for the Polk RTI70? Where do you find that great deal? I have the RTI70, and I'm very happy with them.

 

[Shawn N]

Kevin,

I made a typo, sorry. The RTi70's are $173 each open box at Circuit City. The price I wrote for RTi70's ($99)were actually for the RTi38's. "My bad", had a hard time reading my own writting.

Just found them at Fry's for $179 each new as well.

 

[LindD]

Help! I am brand new to HT and the Forum, but got into this strand when the polk speakers showed up, I was listening to them at CC and liked what I heard - along with the price! However, the models I was listening to were R 50s, FXi 30s and CSi 3. How do these fit with earlier recommendations?

 

[Keith*D]

Shawn - I am getting rid of the Polk's because I purchased R50's at $99 each before I knew what I was doing. As I learned a little more I bought the CSi40. I realized that my mains couldn't keep up with my center, started really looking around and realized I was going to be needing new mains, and since I could sell my center on ebay for what I paid for it I decided to try something else. I ended up with Axiom M22ti bookshelf speakers and I feel they are better for music than the Polks. I have no real complaints with the CSi40, it is authoritative and is the best bargain CC I have seen if you are using it for home theater, and it voices very well with the RTi70.

All that to say, for the same money I could try out something else, just because!

LinD - I would recommend taking this chance to get RTi series Polks as they are a HUGE step up from the R series, and as that line is being replaced there are RTi70's (which are MUCH better than the R50's) available for significantly less than the 50's. Good luck with your setup.

Keith