LS50 Vs Monitor 60

coolsax
coolsax Posts: 1,824
edited August 2010 in Speakers
Would y'all think that the LS50 is a better speaker than the current Monitor 60? I've found a pair local for $75,and trying talk down to $50.. what do you think?
Main 2ch -
BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

TV 3.1 system -
Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
Post edited by coolsax on
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2010
    coolsax wrote: »
    Would y'all think that the LS50 is a better speaker than the current Monitor 60? I've found a pair local for $75,and trying talk down to $50.. what do you think?
    I've only heard the M60 for about a minute in store, but I've spent time with the LS50. It's the best small tower Polk has ever made with the possible exception of the RTA 8T/TL. Don't waste time talking him down. $75 is robbery unless they are in terrible shape.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2010
    Actually i got him down to 65 just waiting on an email back for address.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2010
    Here's a pair on my local CL. I haven't seen this finish before, but they sure are pretty and the price is fair...

    http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ele/1811151600.html

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2010
    then yeah they're a steal at the price i'm getting them at...should hopefully be picking them up tomorrow.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • nedh84
    nedh84 Posts: 143
    edited June 2010
    Try to listen to them first to make sure nothing is blown out.
    HT and Music Rig
    Receiver- NAD T765 HD
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds side- Polk Audio Monitor 60
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW505

    Windows 7 Media Center
    T.V.- 40" Sony Bravia LCD 1080P
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2010
    Yeah I picked these up today.. They are in fairly good condition, I got him to demo them a little bit.. he had them hooked up to NAD separates and said he was the original owner.. they sounded pretty good, nothing blown for sure. He had just picked up some RTA 11s so his wife said one pair had to go. Can't wait to get them hooked up to my system tonight or tomorrow. These were them.


    3n63k13m55T05X55R6a68e19463d6ea2311.jpg

    no grills and a little bit of the plastic is peeling of the top of one of them but the cabinets and drivers look really good. I think for $65 i got a steal, if I don't like them I'll probably still make a little profit.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2010
    Ok, so maybe i spoke too soon. seems I'm getting some crackling and buzzing especially at lower volumes. any idea what might cause this.. I didn't notice it when I went to look at them but then I probably didn't audition them long enough and I was thinking well for 65 if they have any issues I can get it fixed relatively easily. so what are possible causes of this cracking/buzzing/scratchiness. when the volume is decently loud i can't notice it but at medium to low volumes its definitely there.. is this for sure a speaker issue, could it be an amp issue? could it be an interconnect issue? just wondering what I should look and listen for while troubleshooting this.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2010
    coolsax wrote: »
    Ok, so maybe i spoke too soon. seems I'm getting some crackling and buzzing especially at lower volumes. any idea what might cause this.. I didn't notice it when I went to look at them but then I probably didn't audition them long enough and I was thinking well for 65 if they have any issues I can get it fixed relatively easily. so what are possible causes of this cracking/buzzing/scratchiness. when the volume is decently loud i can't notice it but at medium to low volumes its definitely there.. is this for sure a speaker issue, could it be an amp issue? could it be an interconnect issue? just wondering what I should look and listen for while troubleshooting this.
    It's tough to say what the cause might be. Are both speakers buzzing or just one?

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2010
    both are buzzing and it seems to be coming from all the drivers.. which makes me think that perhaps i might be having an interconnect or amplifier issue, b/c 1. i think it would be hard to blow all 4 6.5" drivers and the tweeters. on that and 2. I hooked up my 60s and at low volumes i could detect a slight buzz as well but not nearly as loud and pronounced as it was on the ls50s. I didn't have a chance to switch out with my parasound with the avr to see if it was an amp problem. It also wouldn't surprise me if it was an interconnect issue as all i'm using are ratshack rca cables atm. Probably going to pick up some deoxit in case its an amp problem and hope that that fixes it.. though I think i'd rather the problem be the speakers b/c they cost a lot less than the amp..
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited June 2010
    coolsax wrote: »
    both are buzzing and it seems to be coming from all the drivers.. which makes me think that perhaps i might be having an interconnect or amplifier issue, b/c 1. i think it would be hard to blow all 4 6.5" drivers and the tweeters. on that and 2. I hooked up my 60s and at low volumes i could detect a slight buzz as well but not nearly as loud and pronounced as it was on the ls50s. I didn't have a chance to switch out with my parasound with the avr to see if it was an amp problem. It also wouldn't surprise me if it was an interconnect issue as all i'm using are ratshack rca cables atm. Probably going to pick up some deoxit in case its an amp problem and hope that that fixes it.. though I think i'd rather the problem be the speakers b/c they cost a lot less than the amp..
    Yeah, try hooking them directly to the AVR without the amp in the chain and see if you're hearing any distortion. I'm guessing probably not. Then it could be your pre-out section, interconnect, amp connections, amp channels, ground loop or some combination :D...

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
    edited June 2010
    Smoking deal coolsax. Keep us posted as to the outcome of the buzzing issue. I have managed to stash a couple extra tweeters for these and polk makes a replacement for 6.5's that sounds just fine if it turns out to be the drivers. Though I'm with Ron in thinking it must be something else in the chain. Good luck and nice snag!
    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited June 2010
    well looks like it is the speakers..I couldn't replicate the buzzing on my Monitor 60s but regardless of whether the LS50s were hooked up to my parasound or my Avr, I even used the AVR's tuner when hooked up to the AVR so that the only interconnects being used were the speaker cables, they still have the distortion.. its not noticeable at high volume but very noticeable at low. any ideas or will I just probably need to replace the drivers.. which may or may not be worthwhile at this time... they could be a great rock out speaker as is, but i'm willing to bet that the distortion will just get worse over time. sigh.. I definitely feel they are a great sounding speaker.. just disappointed that I didn't really give them full once over with regards to volume at the guys house.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • nedh84
    nedh84 Posts: 143
    edited July 2010
    Sexy speakers. Could try calling polk and see if they have any ideas. I have none, I'm a newb in speaker world.
    HT and Music Rig
    Receiver- NAD T765 HD
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds side- Polk Audio Monitor 60
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW505

    Windows 7 Media Center
    T.V.- 40" Sony Bravia LCD 1080P
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,395
    edited July 2010
    If the problem is with the speakers it is fixable and still a fantastic deal.

    Check to see if any of the internal wires are vibrating against any of the speaker baskets / magnets, etc. I had this problem in my RTA11TL.

    Also check that one of the spider springs haven't detached from the basket. I had a Polk car speaker do this and I was able to successfully glue it down.

    Good luck
    Stan
    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
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited July 2010
    yeah I know it was a great deal.. i hoping to open it up and have a look see at the drivers when I get back from Vacation...
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited August 2010
    Well I finally have been able to get around to messing with these.. big thanks to DaveMuell, who I met when I bought a few vintage pieces from him. He told me to rotate the drivers in the 50s and wow.. I think it might have done the trick.. i'm running them through some of my favorite CDs and I think i might hear a little buzzing here or there.. but not sure if its the CD, the speaker, or i'm being over sensitive b/c of the earlier issues. but its definitley not the constant buzzing and distortion I was getting before. for an end price of $65 i'm very pleased now... hopefully the buzzing will stay away. only issue now is that one of the woofers is peeling away from the basket.. might try and glue it down.. if that doesn't work, may need to order a new woofer, but currently it doesn't seem to be affecting the sound i don't think.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited August 2010
    I saw those on craigslist here in Austin and almost snagged them myself! Great price for a great speaker, glad to hear they sound better now.
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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited August 2010
    yeah he had originally listed them at 125 and at the time that was too much but about 2 weeks later he dropped them to $75, and took $65.. good thing his wife only wanted one pair in the house..
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited August 2010
    Good luck to you coolsax, those are great speakers(I use some for SB duty). You got a good deal on them even if you end up having to replace a driver(I had to replace one that would buzz every so often,a gentle push on the surround usually made the buzz go away,but I eventually bought some used drivers as backups).
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