Lookin' for that PUNCH!

ROHfan

I recently hooked up my old ADS L810s to my HK3490 and wow! I'm a little embarrassed to say they almost sound better than my M60s. What they have that the M60s don't have is that punch factor to them. The music literally makes a physical impact that I can feel. I first noticed it on "FM" by Steely Dan with the snare hits. It's kind of a cool effect but I can only wonder why I can't get that with the M60s. Maybe its their smaller driver size not being able to move enough air? Anyways this got me to thinking about upgrading to speaks with more punch. I want to keep cost down but I'd be interested to hear feedback from anyone who has M70s as they may be in my near future.

steveinaz

It can be all sorts of factors, crossover, drivers, general design, placement. Some speakers just don't have it. You'd probably like the Lsi9, it's got a lot of that foundational "drive" to it.

tonyb

Thats why some of us say go big or go home. Big speakers, or smaller speakers with a good sub will make you feel stuff that you haven't felt since the last time you were in a strip club.

Lietuvis91

Your findings don't surprise me. I have noticed speakers with smaller woofers are more precise at reproducing sound, but not quiet so good at depth. Cabinet size has a lot to do with this of course, but this is true in the context of the monitor line. You should realize that you are comparing a speaker with 3x5.25 inch drivers vs a preaker with 2x8inch drivers. That is a very big difference. M60s are not know for expectional low end and it seems to me were intended to be used with a sub. And in combination with a good sub they sound great IMO. Therefore, my suggestion would be that you get a nice 8 or 10 inch sub for the punch you're missing. Otherwise, get different speakers that have at least 1 8inch woofer. The m70s are better than m60s in the punch department, but in your case not enough to warrant that move.

gp4jesus

A single 8" Driver's area about that same as 2 6" drivers. That said 3 5 1/4 may be close to an 8" but may lack other electro-mechanialcharacteristics.

Shalom , Tony

organ

Try out some Klipsch towers from the Reference line. Punch, dynamics and live sound is what Klipsch is known for. If you have the room, a pair of speakers from the Heritage line will blow your socks off (La Scala or Cornwall).

tonyb wrote: »

Thats why some of us say go big or go home. Big speakers, or smaller speakers with a good sub will make you feel stuff that you haven't felt since the last time you were in a strip club.

LMFAO:cheesygrin::cheesygrin::cheesygrin:

hochpt21

I ran the M50's for awhile with an HK avr240. Nothing went too deep, but they sounded clear and open. Mids and highs were punchy. I hooked the 70's up to the avr and I didn't have that clear, open sound. It was a bit muddy.

I then hooked the 70's up to the HK 3490 and they sounded better.

A couple weeks ago I got an amp and then it was like, wow, with the 70's. It was like a new speaker. Low end was where I noticed the most difference.

I don't know if that helps at all, but I guess I'm saying I really didn't get the most out of (especially the low end) of my 70's until I got the amp hooked up.

breal74

tonyb wrote: »

Thats why some of us say go big or go home. Big speakers, or smaller speakers with a good sub will make you feel stuff that you haven't felt since the last time you were in a strip club.

That is the greatest thing I have heard in a while! My wife thought it was funny too.:biggrin:

ROHfan

Thanks to all for the input! I should have noted that I am using the M60s with a Bic F12 sub. But even that combination didn't compare to the ADS and that's without a sub. I'm actually putting some thought into refinishing the L810s, building stands for them and selling the M60s. They sound that good.

Joe08867

I will add some truth to this thread. I love Polk speakers but you could never compare the new monitor series to ADS speakers. They aren't even in the same galaxy.

To the OP, Fix up them ADS. You would need to jump to the LSiM series to get that ADS sound out of a newer speaker with the current Polk line.

I also don't like using a sub with 2ch. You can get them to blend well enough, but unless you cross the sub over at 100+ hz you will never have the punch that a good set of towers can provide. Nothing against those of you that like it I just don't.

steveinaz

Subs don't do punch, in the sense of midrange drive energy. That's where alot of people mess-up, thinking adding a sub will provide punch. If your sub is crossed over high enough that it's producing punch, your likely stepping all over your main speakers upper bass region, causing muddy or thick bass.

My Harbeth/SVS combo is working our great---but the harbeths already have impact/drive in spades, I just had to be careful to not ruin their strengths with the sub. It's all about proper integration, and running your sub for extension; not "wow" factor.

mhardy6647

The L-810 is a superb and very neutral loudspeaker (I've gotta admit, I actually slightly prefer the L-710, but that's mostly because I own a pair of those!). One would have to spend thousands (e.g., the aforementioned Harbeths) to better them today.

ROHfan

Joe08867 wrote: »

To the OP, Fix up them ADS. You would need to jump to the LSiM series to get that ADS sound out of a newer speaker with the current Polk line.

This. The LSiM's are nowhere within my budget so I'm gonna go with the ADS. Does anyone think a cap upgrade would be a good idea? And what about refinishing options for the cabs?

Joe08867

Any speaker in the 20yr age bracket deserves a cap updating in my book. I have done caps on almost all of the old speakers I have owned. It brings back the clarity and gets things back within spec.

I would suggest caps for starters. You could also upgrade the inductors if you really want to throw some money at them.

Let me suggest Clarity Caps or Sonicaps for the crossovers as well.

As far as refinishing goes. I am not the guy to talk too. F1 and a few others are much better at that then I.

Lietuvis91

This is really an apples to orages comparison. The monitor line seems like it's attempting to be a "do all" line, but you can clearly tell from their design (size of cabinet and size of drivers used) that the primary focus is HT. And HT they do well. The intent of the ADS speaker that the OP has is the exact opposite. This is a 2 ch music speaker, which can work in a HT setup, but that is not it's main design purpose.

If you need a dual purpose system, monitors can be made to work satisfactorily. But for a 2 ch music system, I would not chose anything in that line of speakers.

bansheesho

A single 8" Driver's area about that same as 2 6" drivers. That said 3 5 1/4 may be close to an 8" but may lack other electro-mechanialcharacteristics.

So potentialy the kef q900s I just ordered could move twice as much air as the m60s they are replacing?

heiney9

I would hope the ADS L810's sounded better than Polk M60's. They aren't in the same league, with the ADS being a lot better. Not a fair comparison. The LSi's would be a modern day equivalent to compare to the ADS.

H9

Lietuvis91

heiney9 wrote: »

I would hope the ADS L810's sounded better than Polk M60's. They aren't in the same league, with the ADS being a lot better. Not a fair comparison. The LSi's would be a modern day equivalent to compare to the ADS.

H9

I wouldn't rush to compare the l810s with lsi either. You are still talking about a completely different shape and size of the speaker enclosure, not to mention it's still 5.25 inch woofers vs 8 inch woofers. Nothing really comperable between these speakers. Different speakers for different intended purposes.

If you want to rock out to music, you need big drivers and in big enclosures. If you want precition of sound, you need smaller drivers, which can therefore be placed in a smaller enclosure, and have a more esthetic look in your living room.

The old monitor 10 or 7 speakers would be a much more comperable speaker to this ADS. All these other comparisons you guys are making are monster trucks vs ferraris. Just two different animals.