Polk Monitor 50s a bad buy?

stround

Hello,

I had been looking for a decent sound setup for a long time. On a whim last week when newegg had the monitor 50s for 90 a piece, I jumped the gun and bought a pair. All the reviews said they were too good for the price, and in my infinite wisdom I decided to rely on the strength of these reviews. My main use is for music, and I was looking at mostly entry level audiophile stuff, not expensive 1000 USD plus gear. These speakers at 180 per pair was just right in my budget. I mostly hear melodeath, some classical, jazz and classic rock.

Right off the cover and without much break-in, I am very disappointed with the Polks. The sound is generally muddy, and the the highs are shrill. So I've got a few questions for you guys: I know a break-in is needed to give the final verdict, but how much of an improvement can it make? I know the general impression is that these speakers are good, but are you guys using it for music or just HT duty? Can these speakers do a decent job for mostly music after a proper break-in?

I tried hearing some classical on the M50s, and while the sound stage is there, it's very muddy and with shallow detail when given a full orchestral piece. The midrange and highs are just muddy, and the polk eats just about all the detail and nuances that was there in the audio. I've heard the same tracks on a Grado SR80 headphones, which while very colored does a very good job overall. With the polks, I don't mind the coloration, but the resolution of the tweeter is atrocious in my opinion. If I had to rate the sound, I'd have put the sound detail on par with the stock headphones that Samsung/Apple hand out with their phones. Which is actually puzzling for me given the generally positive vibe they get. I mean, I was not expecting the feel of expensive speakers or something unrealistic, but was looking for something that's a step up from the Sonys and HiTBs out there.

My main reference is the pair of JBL L100s my dad bought back in his day. Those speakers are terrific and easily beat these polks hands down in dynamic range, sound stage, and detail. They did also cost a bomb back in the day, and it wouldn't be fair to compare both directly. But those speakers are my main point of reference, and the primary gear I've heard extensively while growing up.

So did I get a pair of lemons? Or was I expecting too much out of these? And if I were to return these, which speakers would you suggest in a 300 dollar range?

Geoff4rfc

I don't think the M50's are known for their musical prowess. But still, not a bad speaker at all. After some time, you may adjust and begin to like your 50's. The M70's sounded very good musically in my system but not at first, they took some time getting used to.

For the budget you propose, I'm afraid I can't steer you in one direction or another.

Welcome to the Club Polk, there's a wealth of info here from other members. You should be getting some answers here shortly.

devani

what are you driving the 50's with? Do you have the upper and lower binding terminals tightened?

I had stock JBL L100 for a brief time but wasn't impressed....I would have liked it more if it had cross over done...but I didnt want to spend money on something I wasn't sure of....

I do have monitor 50 at one time too....they are now at my father-in-laws at the moment

stround

Thanks for the welcome, guys.

devani wrote: »

what are you driving the 50's with? Do you have the upper and lower binding terminals tightened?

I had stock JBL L100 for a brief time but wasn't impressed....I would have liked it more if it had cross over done...but I didnt want to spend money on something I wasn't sure of....

I do have monitor 50 at one time too....they are now at my father-in-laws at the moment

I have an HTD stereo amp which puts out 100W per channel/8 ohms. I prefer music at around 70-75dB, so the amp hasn't been cranked up that much - maybe to a quarter of the dial and sometimes to the halfway mark. I haven't bi-amped them, but I think the amp is good enough to drive them as such. Plus, I think I read somewhere to wait till the break-in is complete.

My dad's setup was driven by a Sansui G5500, which still runs good. The L100s are a pain to drive, and I think they benefit from being in a larger room. I'd suggest recaping them and getting the crossover replaced. They are one sweet pair of speakers and totally worth it. I still have a soft corner for them because of a nostalgic value, so I may be biased here.

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

I don't think the M50's are known for their musical prowess. But still, not a bad speaker at all. After some time, you may adjust and begin to like your 50's. The M70's sounded very good musically in my system but not at first, they took some time getting used to.

Yes, I can't vouch much for the speakers breaking in, but I am somewhat breaking into their sound I'll continue to try them over the week, thought I doubt break-in is going to make a very drastic difference to the sound signature.

slammin86

I too have had the 50's and was never impressed. I sold them and bought the 70's. I loved the 70's for movies but could not handle them for music.

For your budget you should give these a try.

http://emptek.com/e5ti_clearance.php

I am currently running the e55ti that I got on clearance for $397.50 and love them.

stround

slammin86 wrote: »

I too have had the 50's and was never impressed. I sold them and bought the 70's. I loved the 70's for movies but could not handle them for music.

For your budget you should give these a try.

http://emptek.com/e5ti_clearance.php

I am currently running the e55ti that I got on clearance for $397.50 and love them.

Wow, that's a terrific deal. I stay in an apartment, and will most probably have to keep the volume at a max of 80 dB. The specs say that the recommended power is 50-150W. Won't this be a problem?

stround

Dup of my last post. Removing.

ravaneli

I tilt my hat to anyone who truly can detect a difference before and after speaker 'break in'. With my A7s and Klipsch Icon W, both of which I got new, I felt NOTHING different after 100 hours. I felt no difference with the Polk Audio RM7 set either.

stround

ravaneli wrote: »

I tilt my hat to anyone who truly can detect a difference before and after speaker 'break in'. With my A7s and Klipsch Icon W, both of which I got new, I felt NOTHING different after 100 hours. I felt no difference with the Polk Audio RM7 set either.

It's my first set of speakers in a long time, so I am not an authority on this topic. However, I can say that I am breaking in to the speakers. I don't know for sure whether the speakers are sounding any different - that is another thing altogether :cheesygrin:

HTguru1982

I'm not a huge fan of Polk's newer Monitor series. I had the Monitor 50's at one time for use as surrounds. They were decent in this regard. For fun, I tried running them as fronts and was not impressed. For first time buyers, especially those on a budget, they aren't bad at all. You could definitely do a lot worse.

pyrocyborg

stround wrote: »

It's my first set of speakers in a long time, so I am not an authority on this topic. However, I can say that I am breaking in to the speakers. I don't know for sure whether the speakers are sounding any different - that is another thing altogether :cheesygrin:

We'll not start on the topic, because it can become quite hot. Let's say that you can get used to a sound, but if you don't like the sound of a speaker on the first try, maybe you'll never do... It's like getting a car you didn't like on the first try; you'll get used to it, but you'll most probably never enjoy it.

For my part, I don't like monitor neither for music or HT... I bought the RTi line instead, and now, I have a pair of LSi which are really great for music (except maybe for metal/hard rock).

So, I think you have three choices: either you get another pair of another brand that might not be better for 300$; you go look for something used; or you get bookshelf speakers.

That way, if you had a 4 ohm amp, I would recommand you a pair of LSi7, but you could go with some KEF Q300, great little speakers that may go for around 350-400$ a pair while on sale... Althought, it depends on your room size: if your living room/listening area is big, well, maybe a pair of bookshelf will not be up to the task. A properly positionned (on stands, and far from sides and rear wall) bookshelf can be quite impressive in small to medium sized room.

pyrocyborg

stround wrote: »

Wow, that's a terrific deal. I stay in an apartment, and will most probably have to keep the volume at a max of 80 dB. The specs say that the recommended power is 50-150W. Won't this be a problem?

No, it won't be a problem... you've got a 100w receiver right? :cheesygrin: This is mostly, correct me if I'm wrong, to help you determine what is the minimal power and maximal power recommended, depending on the volume you like.

While they don't really dig deep (50 Hz, which is 3Hz deeper than my bookshelf), they should play quite right. However, take in consideration that they are 6 ohm speakers. While most receiver will play this fine, we never know... Also, they are quite lower than most speakers in term of sensitivity (87 dB): they need a little bit more power to get to a certain volume, but it's nothing if you don't listen at very high volume.

To take the defense of the Monitor, I think they require a good amount of power or else they might sound congested. I never really tried them in a system that might do them justice for music. However, for HT, they are good, but I prefer the RTi line... and the LSi line :rolleyes: .

Also, as you can see, not everyone here is a Polk fanboy. Most of us like to listen to anything we can, and a lot do no longer own any Polk products. Not to say that you won't have any biased opinion, but you'll have plenty of information from which you may make a choice.

stround

pyrocyborg wrote: »

No, it won't be a problem... you've got a 100w receiver right? :cheesygrin: This is mostly, correct me if I'm wrong, to help you determine what is the minimal power and maximal power recommended, depending on the volume you like.

Thanks, the amps' specs say 100W/8 Ω/0.04 THD, but they are manufacturer specs. I am happy with them so far, so I have very less reason to believe that it isn't true. My doubt was whether the sound stage comes alive at less than 50W. For the past 5 or 6 years, most of my listening were on headphones, and some of them are difficult to drive at low wattage. The sound stage in those headphones usually start coming alive at around half their recommended wattage(500mW-ish). I was assuming this applies to loudspeakers as well. If I say listen to music at a lower volume at night, will it sound good?

pyrocyborg wrote: »

While they don't really dig deep (50 Hz, which is 3Hz deeper than my bookshelf), they should play quite right. However, take in consideration that they are 6 ohm speakers. While most receiver will play this fine, we never know... Also, they are quite lower than most speakers in term of sensitivity (87 dB): they need a little bit more power to get to a certain volume, but it's nothing if you don't listen at very high volume.

Thanks. I am not a fan of sub woofer heavy sound. As long as there's something there in that range, I am a happy camper. How's the quality? The more I read about them on reviews, I've started liking them.

stround

pyrocyborg wrote: »

We'll not start on the topic, because it can become quite hot. Let's say that you can get used to a sound, but if you don't like the sound of a speaker on the first try, maybe you'll never do... It's like getting a car you didn't like on the first try; you'll get used to it, but you'll most probably never enjoy it.

I agree, I've resigned to this fast as well. I am going to return them tomorrow or the day after, I don't see me listening to them every day. For the price I payed, I guess I can't complain.

pyrocyborg wrote: »

For my part, I don't like monitor neither for music or HT... I bought the RTi line instead, and now, I have a pair of LSi which are really great for music (except maybe for metal/hard rock).

So, I think you have three choices: either you get another pair of another brand that might not be better for 300$; you go look for something used; or you get bookshelf speakers.

That way, if you had a 4 ohm amp, I would recommand you a pair of LSi7, but you could go with some KEF Q300, great little speakers that may go for around 350-400$ a pair while on sale... Althought, it depends on your room size: if your living room/listening area is big, well, maybe a pair of bookshelf will not be up to the task. A properly positionned (on stands, and far from sides and rear wall) bookshelf can be quite impressive in small to medium sized room.

Thanks for your recommendation, but after being exposed to a less stellar Polk, I'd rather not get another Polk right away. I know this is a Polk forum, I guess I might have go into stealth mode for saying this

Geoff4rfc

stround wrote: »

but after being exposed to a less stellar Polk, I'd rather not get another Polk right away. I know this is a Polk forum, I guess I might have go into stealth mode for saying this

No worries, folks talk about other speakers besides polks.

pyrocyborg

stround wrote: »

I agree, I've resigned to this fast as well. I am going to return them tomorrow or the day after, I don't see me listening to them every day. For the price I payed, I guess I can't complain.


Thanks for your recommendation, but after being exposed to a less stellar Polk, I'd rather not get another Polk right away. I know this is a Polk forum, I guess I might have go into stealth mode for saying this

Please note that the Monitor line is the cheapest (except the R line... which is okay at best IMO), both in look and components used. This is a line primary made for Home theater duties, not music. While they are not as bright as the RTi line, they are less defined too. The RTi line is extremelly detailed with en emphasis on treble and low-bass (not much in the mid-bass and mid department). They are richer speakers than their little cousins, but yet, they are made with Home theater in mind. The LSi line, however, is another game. They are 4 ohm speakers made for music. Quite hard to beat at these clearance price, but they need a proper amp or they'll sound like crap.

Anyway, don't go in stealth mode, as many people don't have the Monitor/TSi line in their heart too... I thought I liked the RTi line for HT (less for music), but now, I love my LSi for both music and HT, better than my RTi! ... and as I said before (you were probably writing your message when I edited mine), people talk about other speakers brand too... :P

To most honest audiophiles, the only "worthy" newer Polk are the LSi line and the new LSiM line, as they are musical, smooth and detailed speakers (read about the Vifa tweeter included in the LSi line to have some information about detail)... and you could included properly powered RTi12/RTiA9 towers. Are the LSi7 speakers that can kick any 1000$ speaker's butt? Hell no, but at 360$, they're quite a bargain and can be considered on par with most 750-800$ speakers (their MSRP), depending on your tastes.

But yeah, I quite agree that it didn't give you a good opinion of the brand... I might get flammed for this, but I think the only Polk loudpeakers that are actually good are the LSi/LSiM line. Anything else is quite on par with most big brands stuff and offer the same performance/price ratio that many brands does, but nothing stelar. Also, keep in consideration that most Polk products are not worth their full MSRP : The Monitor 50 might sound like a deal at 90$ per tower (80% off!!!), but their real price tag should have been 250$, not 450$. Don't get me wrong, Polk do make good speakers for their price, but I would never buy one of their speakers at full MSRP: they are always in sale anyways.

Anyways... there is a lot of good speakers out there. When you step up the 500-600$ league, there is more choice so it's harder to make your mind.:cheesygrin:

ravaneli

keep boxes? Just return. Don't 'break' them 'in' past the return period
Even if they do change properties enough for you to detect it, it won't be a miraculous dramatic change, I assure you that.

drummer86

I can say that when I got my Marantz receiver that I really enjoyed my M60s much more than before. That being said, the tweeter on them is definitely their weakest link - like you pointed out. It can be very tinny and fatiguing during prolonged listening. Great budget speaker that can keep you happy for a while, but you're not wrong for finding flaws quickly.

stround

Wow, thanks for all the feedback guys! I am veering towards the EMPs on clearance, they fit my budget, and from what I read, they sound a lot better. I still have the cartons in which the polks arrived, so I'll return these back to newegg after a couple of weeks.

dewey79

I love my monitor 50s, I use them for the fronts and surrounds. I have heard better speakers, but at the price they sell for, the quality of the monitors are good enough for me!

You may want to make sure that the jumpers are tight, and all of your connections. I had the same problem. A lot of people love to use banana plugs, but to me, bare wire at the back of the receiver is better. Some fine upper detail and depth is lost when I use banana plugs.

slammin86

stround wrote: »

Wow, thanks for all the feedback guys! I am veering towards the EMPs on clearance, they fit my budget, and from what I read, they sound a lot better. I still have the cartons in which the polks arrived, so I'll return these back to newegg after a couple of weeks.

IDK if you have seen these threads. If so I apologize.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?129413-I-bought-some-50-clearance-EMPTek-E55TI-towers-and-E55CI-center-today...


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1101727

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1388934&highlight=emp+tek

There are also some good reviews on audioholics that show the internals of the speaker.

I could not be happier with the ones I got.

pietro944

slammin86 wrote: »

IDK if you have seen these threads. If so I apologize.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?129413-I-bought-some-50-clearance-EMPTek-E55TI-towers-and-E55CI-center-today...


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1101727

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1388934&highlight=emp+tek

There are also some good reviews on audioholics that show the internals of the speaker.

I could not be happier with the ones I got.

me too.......The EMP 55TI'S FOR $397.50 with free/ship is a killer deal

cnh

M-50s are OK. They are, of course, entry level. But I wouldn't describe them as "muddy". They're not that. They might not "resolve" as much as more expensive speakers. But they are clean and a little forward with prominent mids and not a lot of bass. The highs are OK.

Classical music is difficult to reproduce properly. Few speakers can do it well! Very few. I have a friend who stopped listening to that genre because he couldn't afford the gear that his "ears" required!

The other question I have is: which HT receiver are you using? Some of those sound "poor" with almost "any" set of speakers on classical music. Example, I had a set of TSI-300s (the new version of the M-50s) that I was going to use a surrounds that I ran on a pretty decent Denon 120 Watt AVR that had pre-outs--as fronts out of curiosity. I plugged in an Adcom 555 into that an even the 300s brightened up some. They still had some limitations but there was a noticeable improvement in their sound. And frankly, they weren't all that bad with just the Denon. But those earlier Denons love recent Polk models!

Tell us what your budget is and we can steer you. What I'd suggest is you look into the "used" market. If you like the JBLs. How about some vintage JBLs from the '80s early '90s (the L-t3 series was quite good)?

cnh

slammin86

pietro944 wrote: »

me too.......The EMP 55TI'S FOR $397.50 with free/ship is a killer deal

Have you gotten them hooked up? Care to post a review?

stround

pyrocyborg wrote: »

Please note that the Monitor line is the cheapest (except the R line... which is okay at best IMO), both in look and components used. This is a line primary made for Home theater duties, not music. While they are not as bright as the RTi line, they are less defined too. The RTi line is extremelly detailed with en emphasis on treble and low-bass (not much in the mid-bass and mid department). They are richer speakers than their little cousins, but yet, they are made with Home theater in mind. The LSi line, however, is another game. They are 4 ohm speakers made for music. Quite hard to beat at these clearance price, but they need a proper amp or they'll sound like crap.

Anyway, don't go in stealth mode, as many people don't have the Monitor/TSi line in their heart too... I thought I liked the RTi line for HT (less for music), but now, I love my LSi for both music and HT, better than my RTi! ... and as I said before (you were probably writing your message when I edited mine), people talk about other speakers brand too... :P

To most honest audiophiles, the only "worthy" newer Polk are the LSi line and the new LSiM line, as they are musical, smooth and detailed speakers (read about the Vifa tweeter included in the LSi line to have some information about detail)... and you could included properly powered RTi12/RTiA9 towers. Are the LSi7 speakers that can kick any 1000$ speaker's butt? Hell no, but at 360$, they're quite a bargain and can be considered on par with most 750-800$ speakers (their MSRP), depending on your tastes.

But yeah, I quite agree that it didn't give you a good opinion of the brand... I might get flammed for this, but I think the only Polk loudpeakers that are actually good are the LSi/LSiM line. Anything else is quite on par with most big brands stuff and offer the same performance/price ratio that many brands does, but nothing stelar. Also, keep in consideration that most Polk products are not worth their full MSRP : The Monitor 50 might sound like a deal at 90$ per tower (80% off!!!), but their real price tag should have been 250$, not 450$. Don't get me wrong, Polk do make good speakers for their price, but I would never buy one of their speakers at full MSRP: they are always in sale anyways.

Anyways... there is a lot of good speakers out there. When you step up the 500-600$ league, there is more choice so it's harder to make your mind.:cheesygrin:

Thanks for your detailed post. I agree that the price at which the monitors sell caters to a different market. At some point, sacrifices have to be made to bring the product to market. Laws of physics in the end do dictate what quality can be obtained from cheaper components. Overall, they aren't that bad. Maybe I was misled by the monitor monicker and newegg dumping old stock in a clearance sale. I thought they were better for the price range they sell at. Again, I haven't evaluated or "auditioned" (it would be funny to do that for sub 200 speakers) that much. All I know is that the monitors aren't for me. It's caveat emptor, I should have listened to a pair before picking them up, but hey, you can't fault impulse purchases aided by a copious amount of alcohol :cheesygrin:

cnh

So if I'm understanding this correctly, EMP speakers have received the "Audioholics" most affordable floorstanding speaker of the Year Product Award.

Never heard of them. What I have seen, though, are a lot of speakers with these kind of finishes all over China during my stay there none of which struck my fancy much--flashy exterior, not much engineering inside? Then again I haven't heard these so who knows!

cnh

stround

cnh wrote: »

M-50s are OK. They are, of course, entry level. But I wouldn't describe them as "muddy". They're not that. They might not "resolve" as much as more expensive speakers. But they are clean and a little forward with prominent mids and not a lot of bass. The highs are OK.

Classical music is difficult to reproduce properly. Few speakers can do it well! Very few. I have a friend who stopped listening to that genre because he couldn't afford the gear that his "ears" required!

Thanks. As I mentioned, for the last few years I've been exclusively on 80 dollar headphones, a Grado SR80 and an RE-0. These babies are too good for the money and the RE-0 in particular has astonishing detail for the price. In fact, the RE-0 was the one that steered me into classical and I listed to operas mainly because the experience of picking out individual instruments out of a full orchestra is fun!

cnh wrote: »

The other question I have is: which HT receiver are you using? Some of those sound "poor" with almost "any" set of speakers on classical music. Example, I had a set of TSI-300s (the new version of the M-50s) that I was going to use a surrounds that I ran on a pretty decent Denon 120 Watt AVR that had pre-outs--as fronts out of curiosity. I plugged in an Adcom 555 into that an even the 300s brightened up some. They still had some limitations but there was a noticeable improvement in their sound. And frankly, they weren't all that bad with just the Denon. But those earlier Denons love recent Polk models!

Tell us what your budget is and we can steer you. What I'd suggest is you look into the "used" market. If you like the JBLs. How about some vintage JBLs from the '80s early '90s (the L-t3 series was quite good)?
cnh

I am using one of these HTD amps. I listen exclusively to stereo and had no need for a full blown receiver setup. I had a 300 dollar budget for a receiver and figured these should do the job better than one with bells and whistles. It's a very clean amp, no distortion at 75% volume (which is the max of what I've tested) with plenty of sound. I've tested it with a friend's JBL as well and like them so far. Decent looking, simple to use, good quality and doesn't double up as a room heater during extended listening sessions

My budget is upto 400 dollars. I just picked up the EMPs. I've read some 12 different reviews including the one by @slammin86. Overall, I like what I hear about them, and I think they will fit my use case better. Plus, they were professionally reviewed as well and fared well enough, so that's a bonus.

pietro944

slammin86 wrote: »

Have you gotten them hooked up? Care to post a review?

I do,slammin......haven't had time to get back to you,sorry.....I've run them for 4 days alone,Today I intergrated my new Revel T-1 sub......in a word....Extraordinary!......not gonna review,here,though......The witch-hunters are out for blood on this subject(see the emp thread)(lol)......When they called the M70's:"entry level".I tuned them out:eek:

slammin86

stround wrote: »

Thanks. As I mentioned, for the last few years I've been exclusively on 80 dollar headphones, a Grado SR80 and an RE-0. These babies are too good for the money and the RE-0 in particular has astonishing detail for the price. In fact, the RE-0 was the one that steered me into classical and I listed to operas mainly because the experience of picking out individual instruments out of a full orchestra is fun!



I am using one of these HTD amps. I listen exclusively to stereo and had no need for a full blown receiver setup. I had a 300 dollar budget for a receiver and figured these should do the job better than one with bells and whistles. It's a very clean amp, no distortion at 75% volume (which is the max of what I've tested) with plenty of sound. I've tested it with a friend's JBL as well and like them so far. Decent looking, simple to use, good quality and doesn't double up as a room heater during extended listening sessions

My budget is upto 400 dollars. I just picked up the EMPs. I've read some 12 different reviews including the one by @slammin86. Overall, I like what I hear about them, and I think they will fit my use case better. Plus, they were professionally reviewed as well and fared well enough, so that's a bonus.

Which ones are you going with? The E5ti or the ones I went with?

pietro944 wrote: »

I do,slammin......haven't had time to get back to you,sorry.....I've run them for 4 days alone,Today I intergrated my new Revel T-1 sub......in a word....Extraordinary!......not gonna review,here,though......The witch-hunters are out for blood on this subject(see the emp thread)(lol)......When they called the M70's:"entry level".I tuned them out:eek:

You could do a review on the AVS forum if you are a member there. At least pm me your thoughts.

It is a shame what happened to that thread. There was potential to be a lot of good knowledge shared there.

cnh

slammin86 wrote: »

Which ones are you going with? The E5ti or the ones I went with?



You could do a review on the AVS forum if you are a member there. At least pm me your thoughts.

It is a shame what happened to that thread. There was potential to be a lot of good knowledge shared there.

I didn't realize that there was an "entire" thread about this. My bad! As said by others. The most important thing, ultimately, is what you hear, especially since most of us haven't heard anything. Would be pretty stupid to draw strong conclusions on the basis of no experience.

The center speaker looks pretty cool.

Enjoy!

On another note. One of the only speakers I've ever heard reproduce an orchestral stage well are the large Carver Amazings. Probably out of the OP's budget but if you want to experience "being" there. Some Carvers and big assed power amps and you're good!

cnh

Toolfan66

Keep what you got, save your money and buy a better system down the road. That small of a budget is only going to get you so far and jumping from this speaker to that speaker will cost you money and time and will more then likely gain you very little if any at all.