Difference between R and Monitor Series?

soverdi
soverdi Posts: 11
edited September 2010 in Speakers
What's the difference aside from their grilles and feet design ? Is this just a marketing gimmick ?
Post edited by soverdi on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • soverdi
    soverdi Posts: 11
    edited August 2010
    But the prices are pretty close, like for the R50 and Monitor 50.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mystik610
    mystik610 Posts: 699
    edited August 2010
    soverdi wrote: »
    But the prices are pretty close, like for the R50 and Monitor 50.

    The Monitors are a lot better. I've owned both.

    Both of them are discontinued and can regularly be seen heavily discounted, but that my no means indicates that they are of the same quality.
    My System Showcase!

    Media Room
    Paradigm Studio 60 - Paradigm CC-690 - Paradigm ADP-390 - Epik Empire - Anthem MRX300 - Emotiva XPA-5

    Living-room
    Paradigm MilleniaOne - Rythmik F12GSE - Onkyo TX-SR805 - Adcom 5400

    Headphones
    Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ear - Shure SE215 - Fiio E18 Kunlun
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited August 2010
    mystik610 wrote: »
    The Monitors are a lot better. I've owned both.

    Both of them are discontinued and can regularly be seen heavily discounted, but that my no means indicates that they are of the same quality.

    +1. I ran the R50's in a bedroom setup w/ a CS1 for awhile, sounded good. At the same time I ran Monitor 60's w/ a CS2 in my main rig and it sounded much better.

    Both will play fine with each other, but the Monitor series is a decent step up in terms of overall quality. Thats just my opinion.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited August 2010
    I ran r150s as surrounds with a pair of M30s as mains in my first setup, and I agree that the monitors are definitely better, although its not a huge difference. You just don't have good enough components in either line for one to really stand out. Having said that, for around the same price I would definitely do with the monitors. However, if you find the r series for say half price and your budget is really tight, I think that you will still enjoy the r series.
    Peace,
    Paul
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited August 2010
    Zero is right. But as the lower series go...the R50s are a nice entry into a cheap set of Polk towers and probably have a better low end though the Ms have a bit better mids and highs!

    If you're just starting out you might be happy with a couple R50s--and you can always move them to surround duty when you 'upgrade'?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • soverdi
    soverdi Posts: 11
    edited September 2010
    I actually downgraded. I miss my Infinity SM-155's :( They were just too bulky and aging.

    I got my R50's last year. Maybe I should make them my surrounds, which I am originally shopping for.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lietuvis91
    Lietuvis91 Posts: 908
    edited September 2010
    cnh wrote: »
    Zero is right. But as the lower series go...the R50s are a nice entry into a cheap set of Polk towers and probably have a better low end though the Ms have a bit better mids and highs!

    If you're just starting out you might be happy with a couple R50s--and you can always move them to surround duty when you 'upgrade'?

    cnh

    x2 on the above in bold . That is spot on. I had a set of r50s sold them to a friend, got m50's sold those to a friend too... Now I have what's in my sig.

    The r50s sound a bit softer than the m50s and do have better low end. And I personally prefer the look of the r50 1000x over the m50(m50s are just too plain jane for my taste, but of course this is subjective). Non the less, I run an all M series setup in my living room because I find that with a sub, the overall sound is better from the M series speakers.
    Living Room 7.1 HT Rig:

    M70 | CS2 | M60 | Atrium5 - Surr. | SUB - Emotiva ULTRA12 + Tara Labs sub cable | Pioneer Elite VSX-52 | Parasound HCAs 1000A | Sony BDP-S790 | Belkin PureAV PF60 | MIT Exp2 Wires

    Bedroom 5.0 HT Rig (Music/Movies/Gaming) :

    LSi9 | LsiC | Lsi/fx | Marantz SR7002 | NAD T955 | Sony BDP-S360 | Belkin PureAV PF30 | AQ Blue Racer II ICs & AQ Type 4 wires | PS3
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter