Monitor Series 2 M4 vs. M5

How similar are these sonically? I'd like to find 3-4 more M5's but none are to be found at the moment. I can fill out my system with M4's but haven't heard them for comparison.

Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    The Series 2 uses a very different tweeter, so not a good timbre match to the Monitor 5.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    Hold out for 5's
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    Or if you're in a pinch, the 5JRs with the passive should work better than the 4s...

    But I'm with @skrol, hold out for more 5s if you can stand it.
  • thechris
    thechris Posts: 5
    Interesting. I was under the impression these were the same speaker but that the M5 had the passive radiator and the M4 did not as the only real difference.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    Perhaps I misunderstood, are both the Series 2 versions? If so, they will work perfectly with each other.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • thechris
    thechris Posts: 5
    Yeah. They're both series 2. Are they virtually identical or will I find the M4s lacking in low end?
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    Either will need a sub to fill the bottom end. Other than that, they are timbre matched.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."


    President of Club Polk

  • thechris
    thechris Posts: 5
    The M5 has great low end. You're right, it could use a sub but will the M4 have as good of low end but just in a smaller package?
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    ^ no, the M4s will definitely lack in the bass department. Smaller box coupled with a tiny shallow port limits the low end extension. The JRs will put up a better fight against the 5s than the 4 or 4+ (4+ is a taller box with the same small port).
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,330
    I had Monitor 5A (peerless), and Monitor 5B (SL-2000 fisheye) and the bass of the 5B was much better than the 5A. I would think the Monitor 5 Series 2 are at least as good in bass and the SL-2500 was much better than the SL-2000. You can also TL mod them and use the RDO-198.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    Correction to previous post: 4+ should be 4.6, but discription is the same.
  • thechris
    thechris Posts: 5
    There are several Series 2 M4s on eBay right now as well as some Series 2 M4.5 and M4.6s. I can hold out for Series 2 M5s but don't want to have to wait a year or more. I'd be willing to give either the M4 or 4.5 or 4.6 models a try or even a 5jr. What would you guys do?
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    Personally, the 5JRs, hands down.
  • Jimbo18
    Jimbo18 Posts: 2,310
    Love my M5jr+'s but haven't heard M4's. The M5's are nearly as good as the M7's I sold, both of which have the SL2500 tweeter.
  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    I have had the Monitor 5 Series 2 with SL2000 and another pair with SL2500s. The 4s will lack in bass for sure from the one that I heard (square tweeter). Can't comment on timbre matching as I didn't do a side by side. Where are you located @thechris I know we have 2 pairs of M5s here in Phoenix Craigs list.
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