Help! New front Towers(M60 or 70) Vs. 7.1 receiver(Front highs) + Subwoofer advice?

wxcarne89

Hello,
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This is my second post, and I am really new to home audio, so forgive my terrible terminology... I am not an audiophile by any means, so what I am using now is comparatively great, but I need some advice before I go any further...
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Either way I go the price will be pretty close, and I'm planning on doing this a piece at time. It is just so hard to find any clear cut information that does not go right over my head. Sorry this post is so long! I am extremely torn on where to go from here. I have very little knowledge on running 7.1 front high and lows vs. one 5.1 system, and I really have no one to ask for a second opinion!!!! Any input would be great, I just don't want to spend money just to find out I should have done something else. Thanks!!!
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I am currently using: 5.1 Yamaha HTR-6130 (500W), Monitor 40's series I for front, Polk Monitor 40 series II as rearsurround, CS2 center, PSW10 sub. I am using a set of Bell-O 36" stands on the front, and then I have the sub, center, and rear surrounds, sitting on Auralex isolators.
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My room size is small, and square shaped (14" X 14"), the house has wood paneling from the 1970's. I do watch movies using this system, but it's primary purpose is for listening to bass heavy music (shpongle, beats antique, Big Gigantic, Bassnectar etc.) I am satisfied with the performance of everything but the subwoofer as of now.

If it would help, I can upload pics of the room I am using...

(I bought a lot of speaker equipment from CL recently, for about $400, and sold everything but what I wanted for myself, so my total cost is about $200 as of now! )
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I am guessing their isn't any huge difference in sound between series I and II, anyone out their think so? When I ran my rear speaker wire last weekend, I had assumed it wouldn't make sense to run matching from and back speakers. Upon looking at the specs for the monitor 40 on Polk's website, I noticed their higher end 'Recommended set-up" was exactly what I am using now, minus the sub. Any input on front and back speakers matching?

The Polk Audio PSW10, isn't terrible, but it just doesn't cut it for me. I am currently experimenting with blocking the port w/ foam, and I think it helps a bit. I guess to put it in short, it is just not loud/deep enough. I have done ALOT of research, and it has led me to the bic F12, or possibly V-1220. Should I get a down firing sub, or front? I originally looked at the Polk 12" PSW505(sp?), but found out that the sub-woofer does not necessarily have to match my system, and my budget is pretty tight. I think if I get a sub-woofer like either of the bic's, I could always add a second one later down the road, and probably will regardless. What sub do you guys like, similar to the bic's, I can get for the couple hundred dollar range?
This sounds pretty lame, but for me, louder is better.
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In the future I will most likely,
PLAN A: upgrade my fronts to floorstanding speakers, (Monitor 60, or 70) and get a better 5.1 receiver (nothing really fancy, would like to have hdmi audio pass through, I use my laptop through a lcd for all of my media), then sell the Monitor 40/Psw10.

PLAN B: I have read a bit about using a 7.1 receiver's L/R surrounds, for front highs. I can't really find a lot of info on the subject though. I have been considering, in the fall, getting a 7.1 receiver and a set of monitor 30's for rear surround, then using both sets of monitor 40's in front. (maybe even adding an equalizer later.)
I think the issue with this would be that a lot of what I listen to/watch would not be capable of using
these channels.
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tonyb

Welcome to the club.
From that long post, what I gather is your going threw some growing pains. I wouldn't worry so much about 7.1 right now, it's more important to get the 5.1 right first. The heart of every surround sound is the avr, so maybe look for something that has all the features you like and make sure it has preouts to be able to add an amplifier down the road should the need arise. That subwoofer is Polks entry model, so an upgrade there is in order. Polks micropro or DSW subs might be up your alley or many other ones from the likes of SVS,HSU, EPIK, REL, Velodyne, the list can go on forever. All this can go in a million directions but budget will be the limiting factor, not knowing that, it's going to be hard to suggest something and others will likely toss out suggestions that will be all over the map. For such a small room, I might suggest RTIA5'S or 6's paired with a nicer sub. Also you mentioned all your media is from the laptop. Hopefully not mp3 's for music, you can do alot better if thats the case. Adding an equalizer will not benefit you much, most current AVR's have equalization built in and adjustable. So add a plan C, get an avr that suits your needs, then count whats left in the wallet for upgrades to the sub and speakers. Left and right height speakers won't give the bang for your buck in sound a new avr/sub will. Just my .02 of coarse.

wxcarne89

Hey it's much appreciated.
Growing pains lol. I have to many ideas swimming through my head right now, I don't really have any friends into home audio, so I am venting on here. I am receiving a long over due settlement this week!

I've been doing research all day, and I am leaning toward first finding the 12" sub upwards of 475 peak watts, and then a set of nice towers for the time being. so I guess about $250 range for the (Used)sub, and around $400 for the towers, I saw the RTI8 towers are 399.99. I believe I am going to stay with a 5.1 system, since everyone I have talked to seems to think a 7.1 is useless for my room size/needs. I plan to save up for awhile for the receiver, my Yamaha is fine for the time being. For the receiver I have decided I really just want something simple, but high quality.

ravaneli

The move from M40 to M60 or even M70 will be pretty lateral, especially given the power potential of your current or future receiver (sounds like budget is important). Those M70 will soak up a lot of power to sound full. I just upgrade my receiver and even though the power is only 30% more than the old one, my front towers sound so much fuller now, especially on higher volumes.

My advice, and I have gone through that in may hobbies, is better save $$ and buy something nice than keep buying cheapies just to upgrade them a year down the road.

The 505 subs are actually in your price range, plenty of deals on those, and if you find them used it's even better. There is a couple of those in chicago craigs list right now. I really really recommend digging in your pocket about the subwoofer, perhaps something even better. I am personally absolutely unimpressed by the polk DSW line, and I have the 660. Worth exploring other brands. There are plenty of great subwoofers, but they are higher than the polk price range.

If you want the best bang for your buck don't buy towers with bass woofers. Instead make sure the towers have at least two mid drivers. I would go with A5 instead of my A7s if I could go back. Those woofers are so EXPENSIVE to feed. There is just no cheap receiver with a lot of power, and amps are just prohibitively expensive for me. Almost all of the subs come amped though, and it's a lot cheaper to get your low frequencies that way. A5 is a great tower, but a bit expensive, even used those retain high value. Also that will force you to soon change the center : )

Good luck and keep us posted

Geoff4rfc

ravaneli wrote: »

The move from M40 to M60 or even M70 will be pretty lateral

Since the M40 is a dual driver 120watt bookshelf and the M70 is four driver 275watt tower, to say the move would be lateral makes me wonder how you even have the presence of mind to type a keyboard.

To the OP, I'm sure you'll use common since in some of these responses. Your choice for the RTi8 is a good one and lines up with Tony's recommendation for the RTiA5, and even though ravioli didn't recommend the A5 for you, he did wish he had one instead of his A7, so I guess that's close.

Be careful with your subwoofer choices, Tony made some good recommendations.

Welcome to club Polk and best of luck with your upgrades.

ravaneli

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

Since the M40 is a dual driver 120watt bookshelf and the M70 is four driver 275watt tower, to say the move would be lateral makes me wonder how you even have the presence of mind to type a keyboard.

you have a pm

ravaneli

double post

wxcarne89

Hello,
budget is pretty important, it's not that I could't overspend. I'm a 23yr old full time college student, and a father. So it's definitely just a matter of what is practical.

My dad has one Klipsch Reference 1 laying around, I could find a mate for it, and use those. For the price of buying that outdated klipsch, I could just spend a little more on RTi8's.

I am glad you guys recommended looking at the rti's, I've been browsing polk's store on ebay, and had noticed the monitor 70's for 349.99, but the rti8's are only another $50. It seems to me paying a little more for the rti8's would be like buying quality over quantity. Now that I have one system, I am going to replace stuff a piece at a time, and eventually i'll have a decent home theatre system for the living room too, I am more interested in listening to music for my main system. (Already have an extra cs2, so i'll move one set of monitor 40's, and the psw10 to the front room)

As for the sub I think I will save up for a bit longer, and look at the indianapolis/chicago craigslist. I really want the sub to be killer. I am now pretty well decided on getting the nicest set of rti's I can afford. Since I now have an idea of what I am looking at for fronts, it's alot easier to start shopping for a sub! What should I look for spec wise? like max watt(rms) etc.

I don't even know where to start when it comes to shopping for a receiver. What I am looking for is HDMI pass through, because I use a 13" macbook as a media center. I want plenty of power, and a good warranty. Those are really the only requirements I have. I know alot of people who have used the same receiver for years and years, so I am definitely going to make sure I do that right!

So heres my plan: first and foremost, find a better sub! Then receiver, then towers.

Thanks again!!!

Geoff4rfc

ravaneli wrote: »

you have a pm

Reported