Does the Monitor60 have better sound than the Monitor70 (which to choose!?)?

kazaam

Ive read many reviews that say the low end of the monitor70 is muddy. Is this at all true? Im torn on which to choose to pair with my CS2. I want to spend about what a monitor60 costs, but if the monitor70 is superior i will definitely buy it just so i dont go crazy later thinking 'what if.'

I primarily watch movies or play games, never really listen to music. I have a subwoofer (needs upgrading tho :biggrin:). I do NOT have a receiver capable of attaching an amp, and the receiver puts out 130W per channel (7 channels). I'm not sure if power will be an issue. I never really go past 45 db (and thats with my current speakers which arent as good as these). Receiver is HT-R670.

Thanks a ton!

EndersShadow

kazaam wrote: »

Ive read many reviews that say the low end of the monitor70 is muddy. Is this at all true? Im torn on which to choose to pair with my CS2. I want to spend about what a monitor60 costs, but if the monitor70 is superior i will definitely buy it just so i dont go crazy later thinking 'what if.'

I primarily watch movies or play games, never really listen to music. I have a subwoofer (needs upgrading tho :biggrin:). I do NOT have a receiver capable of attaching an amp, and the receiver puts out 130W per channel (7 channels). I'm not sure if power will be an issue. I never really go past 45 db (and thats with my current speakers which arent as good as these). Receiver is HT-R670.

Thanks a ton!

Honestly get the 60's, put the "savings" into a better sub.

The 70's do better at music but that doesnt matter to you.

kazaam

EndersShadow wrote: »

Honestly get the 60's, put the "savings" into a better sub.

The 70's do better at music but that doesnt matter to you.

Thanks, i will eventually get a better sub anyway. I want to not upgrade for a while after i get these speakers so i dont want to get something thats not so great, you know what i mean? Appreciate the reply.

tonyb

The M70 is the better speaker. Any worries about a muddy bottom end may have to do more with associated gear, setup issues, placement.

Esreuter

Have to chime in here, owning the 70's myself.

I support them, for games, movies and music.

you can see the are highly efficient on power.

I am running them off the sony 5600es avr and they sound good, no complaints.

I will be adding a sub to round out the system, but I say go for the better built speaker.

Its all up to you man! just my 2 cents.

ESR:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

kazaam

Thanks guys, guess im going to go with the 70s, but itll take a little longer to save up for it (or convince my family they should chip in lol).

djperez81

kazaam wrote: »

Ive read many reviews that say the low end of the monitor70 is muddy. Is this at all true? Im torn on which to choose to pair with my CS2. I want to spend about what a monitor60 costs, but if the monitor70 is superior i will definitely buy it just so i dont go crazy later thinking 'what if.'

I primarily watch movies or play games, never really listen to music. I have a subwoofer (needs upgrading tho :biggrin:). I do NOT have a receiver capable of attaching an amp, and the receiver puts out 130W per channel (7 channels). I'm not sure if power will be an issue. I never really go past 45 db (and thats with my current speakers which arent as good as these). Receiver is HT-R670.

Thanks a ton!

Its all up to you which one you want to buy if you are planning to get a better sub than go for the 60's either way the speakers sound "muddy" because of distortion at higher volumes that come from your AVR. As long as you dont overpush your AVR you should be fine. On another note i own an Onkyo and it may say 130 wpc but its really not pushing that. whatever speakers you decide to buy will always sound better with an external amp.

kazaam

djperez81 wrote: »

Its all up to you which one you want to buy if you are planning to get a better sub than go for the 60's either way the speakers sound "muddy" because of distortion at higher volumes that come from your AVR. As long as you dont overpush your AVR you should be fine. On another note i own an Onkyo and it may say 130 wpc but its really not pushing that. whatever speakers you decide to buy will always sound better with an external amp.

i figured that number was total BS. im thinking ill fork over the extra $$ for the 70s just so i dont get crazy later. That way ill have more leeway with the sub. The AVR and amp(s) will have to wait. Curious, how expensive are amps? I saw one for $1100 that someone recommended. Is that average? If so...:eek:

cnh

If you just need to power the M70s a two channel amp (used)--a nice one...will run you 300-500 and will give you at least 200 watts x 2 at 8 ohms...gobs of power.

Amps to consider: B&K, Rotel, Adcom, Carver, Parasound, etc., etc. There is a lot of info about this on this site. Seek and you will find!

Good luck. I run M70s in my HT as well. That is the choice if you want to also, sometimes, pump out some 2 channel duty from them. Although I also run dedicated 2 channel systems as the main music systems.

cnh

Upstatemax

I'm a big fan of the Monitor 70's...

GREAT speaker for the money. As others have said, great fot HT and even better for 2ch music.

As for the muddy lowend, you will have to spend WELL over the current M70 pricetag to clear it up. In other words, it's not bad at all.

kazaam

Upstatemax wrote: »

I'm a big fan of the Monitor 70's...

GREAT speaker for the money. As others have said, great fot HT and even better for 2ch music.

As for the muddy lowend, you will have to spend WELL over the current M70 pricetag to clear it up. In other words, it's not bad at all.

So basically what you are saying is that the M60 is NOT better at all, than the M70?

Esreuter

kazaam,

I like this thread, remember its your choice, each speaker has its unique advantages and disadvantages.

You just have to choose the adv and dis, you are willing to get\sacrifice.

If you keep following the thread you'll never make a decision. The thread is fun to read though, you wanted advice 70's versus 60's, some one beefs up the 60's, and your like yeah man ill get em, then others beef up the 70's and then your all into the 70's, then 60's. Its a comedy waiting to be written.

Here is some food for thought, I am very interested in kitchen knives, i drool over the 2k$ knives i know will never grace my married hands. The steel, look, feel, the small Japanese man who hammered the knife out for me personally. I'm rambling, the food for thought is this, when i choose a kitchen knife 95% of the time I will choose its maximum length, usually 300mm, I rationalize this by having more knife than what is needed is good. Having less knife, shorter, is dangerous to the digits. IE, every try to half a watermelon with a paring knife? not easy and generally not safe.
Yes a carrot is only 1\2 wide and you have 290mm of knife not used but you have control and safety. so my thoughts and point is I always first aim for the biggest.

I know that would lean you towards the m70's but I am trying to be neutral there. again its up to you.

the other 5% comes after I shoot the moon and then look into the future then I decide if this thing is for a specific application or not, example in knives and in speakers to follow.

Knife example, tojiro 240mm western deba. shorter than i like but thick, I mean a beast of a knife. Heavy and durable, I love this knife, can handle general cutting with ease but I chose it because of its heft and ability to go through bone like butter. Chickens and fish fear this blade!!

Speakers, LSI15 versus LSI25, originally I was 25's all the way, straight to the moon. After some thought and system planning I want a separate sub, so I can control the placement and also the size of the woofer. Therefore this time I choose the smaller 15's and love the idea.

Now only 3-4 years hard work and I can own them!!!

so long winded point short, if you ask the forum, every ones ideas and experience are different, following each bit of advice to a T, you will never land on a decision. Its all about you, there is no shame in what you want, choose or can afford.

Thank you for listening

ESR:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

BTW get the 70's:eek::rolleyes::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

kazaam

Esreuter, bought the 70s! No thinking 'what if' by buying the 70s, and ~$100 is worth piece of mind.

kazaam

So i should definitely see an improvement over an Onkyo HTiaB with the CS2 + Monitor70s right?

rebuy

kazaam wrote: »

So i should definitely see an improvement over an Onkyo HTiaB with the CS2 + Monitor70s right?

LOL is that a serious question?

Just about any polk will sound better than Onkyo speakers :eek:

kazaam

rebuy wrote: »

LOL is that a serious question?

Just about any polk will sound better than Onkyo speakers :eek:

haha, kinda, ive never really listened to decent speakers. The onkyos were actually fine for me, but then i kept seeing polk deals so i decided to jump on them. it sounds funny, but they were huge, and i always figured if theyre THAT much bigger then they must destroy what i have now and i got curious.

like the current center and fronts i have are 2.4 lbs each. the cs2 is 21lbs, and the M70s are 47lbs! :eek:

kazaam

can cheap speaker wire damage your speakers?

Upstatemax

kazaam wrote: »

can cheap speaker wire damage your speakers?

Define cheap...

If it's the super thin crappy from a htiab, throw it out. Would you want to empty a pool with a straw?

You can get decent 12ga wire from a place like monoprice that's cheap, but still more than fine.

Systems

It is up too you..But my vote is for the Monitor 70's..Cascade Taperd Array..for my money one of the best sounding 2-1/2 way speaker's..When they first came out they where going for over $900.00 a pair.So now you can get them anywhere's from 160.00each to 199.00 each and free shipping.

kazaam

yeah upstate, the ones from the HTiaB.

any suggestions on where and what wire gauge to get everyone? If the current speakers are using the wire that came with the HTiaB, and work fine, since im not moving them can i just keep those connected and not get new wire for those?

Outfitter03

If you don't want to do any DIY cables and want a good quality cable for a good price I would get a set of terminated speaker cables from Blue Jeans Cable, the Canare 4S11.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

kazaam

Ok, found some wire to buy. Im gonna go 14 gauge as the speakers will be very close and most people suggest that. Do you guys suggest i also buy closed screw banana plugs?

BeefJerky

kazaam wrote: »

Ok, found some wire to buy. Im gonna go 14 gauge as the speakers will be very close and most people suggest that. Do you guys suggest i also buy closed screw banana plugs?

14 gauge should be fine. As for the banana plugs, I personally prefer the closed screw ones because I think they look better. However, I still cover them in shrink wrap, for both looks and less likelihood of them shorting to each other.

kazaam

you guys have talked me into spending a lot of money lol. i am so excited though! hope everything goes well and nothing is damaged. im just gonna set em up, run audyssey and enjoy.

ive heard that since i only have audyssey2eq it doesnt set crossover or mess with the sub, but when i ran it it did both so im kind of confused.

also, ive always seen that people angle their front slightly to point towards a central location, but in pictures here i have not see that happen. is this because you only angle them in small rooms or something?

EndersShadow

kazaam wrote: »

you guys have talked me into spending a lot of money lol. i am so excited though! hope everything goes well and nothing is damaged. im just gonna set em up, run audyssey and enjoy.

ive heard that since i only have audyssey2eq it doesnt set crossover or mess with the sub, but when i ran it it did both so im kind of confused.

Thats the end goal. You will get crossovers set w/ 2EQ, but the sub will just either be on or off lol. You set the crossover for that manually.

MultiEQ is much much much better, but 2EQ works decent....

kazaam

Questions:

1)Since i have crappy 2EQ and this is apparently not set automatically, what should i set my sub crossover to?

2)Should i angle the Monitor70s towards me or straight ahead (parallel to the wall)?

Esreuter

So i should definitely see an improvement over an Onkyo HTiaB with the CS2 + Monitor70s right?

yes, prepare thy face for rapeage.

the cs2 is 21lbs,

wait till you see it out of the box. my first home theatre was not htib, i got the vegas and jbl northridge center and rears. when i unboxed my cs2 i was set back at the size of it. did you get black or cherry? the cherry is really pretty.

you will be happy with your purchases.


ESR:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

kazaam

kazaam wrote: »

Questions:

1)Since i have crappy 2EQ and this is apparently not set automatically, what should i set my sub crossover to?

2)Should i angle the Monitor70s towards me or straight ahead (parallel to the wall)?

Estreuter, I got black. The cherry looked cheap to me at first but in real life it looks good. But it just didn't match with my room/setup!

Upstatemax

kazaam wrote: »

Questions:

1)Since i have crappy 2EQ and this is apparently not set automatically, what should i set my sub crossover to?

2)Should i angle the Monitor70s towards me or straight ahead (parallel to the wall)?

The general rule is sub crosses over at 80hz.

Yes, you will want to toe them in a bit. Experiment with your set-up and the sweet spot for you. You will also want to pull the M70's away from the wall a bit. It helps keep them from sounding boomy....

kazaam

amazon ups delivers on Saturday but newegg ups doesn't?!

Esreuter

get yourself a little 50c protractor. or borrow it from your kids. Put on something bright on the angle arm so you can see it.

Determine your optimal listening spot. put your protractor on a book or something you can anchor it to, on that spot.

depending on your room, i think it is 22d -30d off center for each side set your protractor arm put those 70's on that spot a where it points, a foot or more off the wall and aim their center at the arm on your protractor, bam sweet sound!

if you really want to get anal, anchor your protractor and its arm at the desired angle and attach a piece of string or your tape measure and go to the speaker, this will allow you to keep a straighter line. only do this if your a scrooge like me.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

ESR:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: