Upgrade fever - Opinions on Monitor 50/60

Dobermann

Newegg is running pretty good deals on these and after upgrading my receiver I'm thinking of taking the plunge on some new mains.

What is the general opinion? I know this is lower-end stuff but it's what I can afford, and I'm thinking it should be a considerable step up from my M20's.

nedh84

I'm not familiar with the M20's. Are those vintage? I have M60's and M70's and the M70's hit a lot more Low frequencies. For 2 channel I would save up for the M70's. You won't be disappointed. I'm listening to them right now. Awesome.

P.S. I love the M60's also. They just don't have the range of the M70's. M70's were on sale for 179 on newegg and I believe another site is honoring the old sales price of 300 a pair. I'll find you the link.

nedh84

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104919

Check out the Posts about JR Audio

Dobermann

The M20 was the successor to the R30. Pretty much the same exact speaker, except with a silver fascia.

I've seen lots of great things about the Monitor 70's but they are significantly more expensive than the M60. Although I could probably do it for 300.....

Dobermann

So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the M60's. At 205 for the pair shipped, it was too good to pass up. Maybe later on I can get some M70's and move the M60's to the back, but for now the WAF is a major consideration until we move into another house.

I am looking for a center channel now......hope my R15's are good enough for the surrounds.

DefaultGen

CS10 would probably be the timbre-matching speaker in your price range. It's about $100. The step-up CS20 is $200. Center channel is the most important for movies!

GoBigBlue

I thought the CS10 and CS20 were timbre matched for the TSi series. CS1 and CS2 are the Monitor line centers.

This has probably been answered a thousand and one times, but are the TSi and Monitor series that different? If the TSi is really the "newer" Monitor, then I could see how the CS10 and 20 would make a good center for the Monitor 60 and I, myself, would choose the CS10 or 20.

DefaultGen

GoBigBlue wrote: »

I thought the CS10 and CS20 were timbre matched for the TSi series. CS1 and CS2 are the Monitor line centers.

This has probably been answered a thousand and one times, but are the TSi and Monitor series that different? If the TSi is really the "newer" Monitor, then I could see how the CS10 and 20 would make a good center for the Monitor 60 and I, myself, would choose the CS10 or 20.

You're right about the centers but people virtually equate the Monitors and Tsis. I believe the Tsi series is brighter and perhaps cleaner? I've heard the CS20 pairs great with Monitor 70s though.

The people to talk to about this would be BWilberg266 (has Monitor 70s up front with a CS20) and wutadumsn23 (Has both Tsi500s and Monitor 70s with a CS2). Search through wutadumsn's posts, he prefers the sound of the Monitor 70s and put his Tsi500s in back.

Dobermann

Can't believe the prices on these center channels. The CS1 has the same drivers as the Monitor 60 so I will probably go that route. Honestly, I don't have the golden ears that some of you guys do so I'm sure I will be happy.

Dobermann

Well, I just found a deal on the CS1 series 2. Got it for 85 shipped, again from Newegg. If anybody is looking for one, there's a promo code with a $50 discount.

Do you guys think my little R15's will be good enough for surrounds?

mole'

get a set of Monitor 40s

that way all of your speakers will be a matching set

Dobermann

mole' wrote: »

get a set of Monitor 40s

that way all of your speakers will be a matching set

I'd love to, but I think my wife is already on the verge of killing me.

mole'

Dobermann wrote: »

I'd love to, but I think my wife is already on the verge of killing me.

say you traded the r15 for the M40s


worth a shot

Dobermann

mole' wrote: »

say you traded the r15 for the M40s


worth a shot

I wish. She is way too smart for that.

mole'

Dobermann wrote: »

I wish. She is way too smart for that.

you won it from a contest on here

hertz9753

Dobermann wrote: »

Well, I just found a deal on the CS1 series 2. Got it for 85 shipped, again from Newegg. If anybody is looking for one, there's a promo code with a $50 discount.

Do you guys think my little R15's will be good enough for surrounds?

For surrounds, yes.

Dandydan

Guys buy from Polk direct - I bought monitors from them refurbished - not a mark on them or the sub ***** Monitor 40=$80 / Monitor 50= $100 / Monitor 60= $129 / Cs2= $75 / Psw125= 169.
By the way Pold was great to deal with for the speakers the sound is fantastic hooked up to a pioneer 1019.
Use is small home theater 16x20 sure fills the room with all the sweetness I want

cnh

The M40s would be nice as your surrounds but the M30s are not bad at all and certainly better than the R15s and easier to swap out with the R15s since they have similiar dimensions. M30s are also wall-mount 'ready'. I run an M-70, CS2, M30 system with an Onkyo 805 and a 300 watt 12" sub in a 11.5 X 25 X 8.5 space. The actual viewing area is 11.5 x 16.5 with a small game/card/dinette table and 4 chairs in the back of the main sofa where the surrounds are. This system with NO extra amplification can send my neighbor to my door if I'm not careful. And it rattles the walls of my wife's upstair office. I know some guys like to Play it LOUD. But I have ALL I want here. Home Theater is not 'really' where one should spend a fortune IMO. Save your money for the 2 channel rig. My system sounds as good as most of what I've heard out there within about 85-90%. And I've heard 100K dollar systems--a waste in my personal opinion--but hey...if you have the money--more power to you-LITERALLY!!

I don't miss having M40s there at all. And my wife is grateful. Although my wife is very HAPPY with the M70s since they are SO much sleaker than the old 75lbs+ JBL Studio Ls I used to have downstairs (MONSTERS in width and depth). That's the secret....get someone to lend you some Large SDAs and put them in your room for a few days. Then bring back the M-70s or TSI-500s and your wife willl THANK YOU!!

Enjoy!

cnh

djperez81

Dobermann wrote: »

I'd love to, but I think my wife is already on the verge of killing me.

Damn wives always bitching about our HT and how much we spend but they sure love to enjoy those movies with that great sound.

Dobermann

djperez81 wrote: »

Damn wives always bitching about our HT and how much we spend but they sure love to enjoy those movies with that great sound.

Well, in this case, she probably has a legitimate gripe. In the last month I have bought a new receiver, subwoofer, all six speakers (ended up purchasing the Monitor 30s this morning), a new Blu-ray player, and all new cables for everything. One thing just leads to another. Literally, the only thing I haven't upgraded is the TV.

Dobermann

cnh wrote: »

The M40s would be nice as your surrounds but the M30s are not bad at all and certainly better than the R15s and easier to swap out with the R15s since they have similiar dimensions. M30s are also wall-mount 'ready'. I run an M-70, CS2, M30 system with an Onkyo 805 and a 300 watt 12" sub in a 11.5 X 25 X 8.5 space. The actual viewing area is 11.5 x 16.5 with a small game/card/dinette table and 4 chairs in the back of the main sofa where the surrounds are. This system with NO extra amplification can send my neighbor to my door if I'm not careful. And it rattles the walls of my wife's upstair office. I know some guys like to Play it LOUD. But I have ALL I want here. Home Theater is not 'really' where one should spend a fortune IMO. Save your money for the 2 channel rig. My system sounds as good as most of what I've heard out there within about 85-90%. And I've heard 100K dollar systems--a waste in my personal opinion--but hey...if you have the money--more power to you-LITERALLY!!

I don't miss having M40s there at all. And my wife is grateful. Although my wife is very HAPPY with the M70s since they are SO much sleaker than the old 75lbs+ JBL Studio Ls I used to have downstairs (MONSTERS in width and depth). That's the secret....get someone to lend you some Large SDAs and put them in your room for a few days. Then bring back the M-70s or TSI-500s and your wife willl THANK YOU!!

Enjoy!

cnh

Yeah, I went ahead and bit the bullet on the Monitor 30s. As nice as they look I figure the M40's might be overkill for surround only.

I hear you on that last part. I used to have a giant pair of Cerwin Vegas with bright red surrounds. Next time she complains I should just show her a picture of those.....damn I miss those things.

Elinvader

That's the secret....get someone to lend you some Large SDAs and put them in your room for a few days. Then bring back the M-70s or TSI-500s and your wife willl THANK YOU!!

+1 on that Cnh ...It worked for me!!!!!

Storminone

I was on a budget too and I own the 60s, 30s, and a CS10 for the center. Everything sounds great together. Give them time to break in though. Every speaker sounded different when I first got them and now after a month or two they blend well.

Cloverfield is a good test for levels and how everything sounds IMO. Since speech in that is flat/mono sounding use it for imaging/angles of your speakers. It has a pretty decent LFE track to it too

B Run

Storminone wrote: »

I was on a budget too and I own the 60s, 30s, and a CS10 for the center. Everything sounds great together. Give them time to break in though. Every speaker sounded different when I first got them and now after a month or two they blend well.

I have that same setup and i've been very happy with it. I noticed they sounded much better after about 2 months of use also. What kind of receiver/amp are you running to them?