Starting my Polk Audio Setup

lbrady

Hey all,

new to the forum and to Polk Audio. Upgrading my surround sound system/home theater. I want to know a couple of things, but first I'll tell you what I'm upgrading from and thoughts about what I'm thinking about purchasing.

Receiver: Yamaha RX -V363
upgraded to: Onkyo HT-RC360
KLH Speakers:
Center Channel: KLH CTR200
Upgraded to: Polk Audio CS2
Surrounds:KLH BTF 660 - then recently switched to my dad's old Bose Model 141's on stands
Upgraded to Polk Audio Monitor 40s
Fronts: KLH BTF 660
Upgrade to:????? I'm thinking Monitor 60's
Subwoofer: MTX HomeAudio SW2
no plans to upgrade right now, although may add an PSW10 in a 7.2 setup

From the above I am wondering if I should go for monitor 60s in the front? Would that be a good choice? should I go bigger with the 70 or smaller with the 50?

Also if I decide to go ahead and up to the 7.1 or 7.2 setup what should I use for the surround backs?

I use this system for movies, gaming, music, and all things sound....

I appreciate any and all help/advice you all can offer. Thanks in advance!:cheesygrin:

vadang

For your fronts, I personally would go as big as you are comfortable with. If you don't space limitations or significant other limitations, get the 70's. For surrounds just pick up another pair of monitor bookshelves. Depending on the room, can be 30's.

lbrady

Thanks!

I decided to go with the 70s. Newegg was/is having a great sale on them at $149 each through 11/11. I think I'll be happier with those as well, but I wanted to hear from someone else for a 2nd opinion.

ThereIsNoEye

Yeah, I just ordered the Monitor 70's for $149.99 each Friday night as well.

I had been planning on getting the Monitor 60's but the price on the 70's was too good to pass up.

My question is this.

I currently have a Yamaha RX-V565 receiver.

It's rated @ 630watts(90w x 7)

If I go w/ a 3.1 system(Polk CS2, 2 Monitor 70 series II), do I gain any power?

If so, how much?

Also, I already own some Polk RM7 and RM8's that I was thinking about selling.

But if I keep and use them for a 5.1 or 7.1 system rather than a 3.1 system...do I lose any extra power that would otherwise be sent to the CS2 and Monitor 70's?

Thanks.

cnh

lbrady wrote: »

Hey all,

new to the forum and to Polk Audio. Upgrading my surround sound system/home theater. I want to know a couple of things, but first I'll tell you what I'm upgrading from and thoughts about what I'm thinking about purchasing.

Receiver: Yamaha RX -V363
upgraded to: Onkyo HT-RC360
KLH Speakers:
Center Channel: KLH CTR200
Upgraded to: Polk Audio CS2
Surrounds:KLH BTF 660 - then recently switched to my dad's old Bose Model 141's on stands
Upgraded to Polk Audio Monitor 40s
Fronts: KLH BTF 660
Upgrade to:????? I'm thinking Monitor 60's
Subwoofer: MTX HomeAudio SW2
no plans to upgrade right now, although may add an PSW10 in a 7.2 setup

From the above I am wondering if I should go for monitor 60s in the front? Would that be a good choice? should I go bigger with the 70 or smaller with the 50?

Also if I decide to go ahead and up to the 7.1 or 7.2 setup what should I use for the surround backs?

I use this system for movies, gaming, music, and all things sound....

I appreciate any and all help/advice you all can offer. Thanks in advance!:cheesygrin:

Welcome to Club Polk!

M-60s would be fine with that Onkyo. The problem is that M-70s might like just a little more power, though the Onkyo can run them. The solution in running M-70s with that AVR would be to have ONE heck of a SUB filling in the bottom end so as to take the strain off the Onkyo handling the M-70s.

Otherwise you look good. I'd save my pennies for a better sub than the PSW 10. Go with at least a PSW 505 or if possible an even better DSW 600 series!

And, most of all, have fun!

cnh

cnh

ThereIsNoEye wrote: »

Yeah, I just ordered the Monitor 70's for $149.99 each Friday night as well.

I had been planning on getting the Monitor 60's but the price on the 70's was too good to pass up.

My question is this.

I currently have a Yamaha RX-V565 receiver.

It's rated @ 630watts(90w x 7)

If I go w/ a 3.1 system(Polk CS2, 2 Monitor 70 series II), do I gain any power?

If so, how much?

Also, I already own some Polk RM7 and RM8's that I was thinking about selling.

But if I keep and use them for a 5.1 or 7.1 system rather than a 3.1 system...do I lose any extra power that would otherwise be sent to the CS2 and Monitor 70's?

Thanks.

Should really start another thread. But...

Welcome to Club Polk, anyway!

First. AVRs are usually rated for TWO channel at said power. So that 100 watts, if you're lucky is for 2 channel continuous RMS!

That being the case. When you run in anything but 2 channel or 2.1, you will "lose" some power. How much is hard to say. With 3 channels, who knows maybe you'll dip to 80-90 watts x 3 RMS. But that's just my "guess". If you ran 5 you'd probably be near half power and 7, less than that. I've seen Yamahas running in 7.1 rated at less than 40 watts x 7?

So, the short answer is 'you do NOT gain power running in 3.1), you lose it. And you only have the actual 100 watts in 2 channel. Manufacturers play all kinds of "games" with their ratings. They rate a 1 khz for example, or give a 6 ohm rating, which is almost always greater than a standard 4 ohm load, or just rate 2 channel at full power then make it look like that is the general rating for 5.1 or 7.1 when it is NOT!

In any case. You'll be OK at 3.1.

Enjoy!

cnh

RamZet

150 each! That's a great deal. I have two monitor 70s and I love them. You will too.
Please skip over the CS2. I have one and the tweeter keeps blowing up for no reason. ( stop working twice)

Geoff4rfc

lbrady wrote: »

Thanks!

I decided to go with the 70s. Newegg was/is having a great sale on them at $149 each through 11/11. I think I'll be happier with those as well, but I wanted to hear from someone else for a 2nd opinion.

Congratulations. I've owned M70's in the past and was very happy with them. Like cnh mentioned, they do like power, the more you feed them, the better they sound. Also, if you can, don't skimp on the sub, a great sub, IMO, will MAKE the H.T.

RamZet wrote: »

150 each! That's a great deal. I have two monitor 70s and I love them. You will too.
Please skip over the CS2. I have one and the tweeter keeps blowing up for no reason. ( stop working twice)

I used the CS2 in my set up for two years and never had a problem with it. In fact, I thought it did a great job with the rest of my Monitor set up. I did however, have it powered with an external amp, maybe yours were clipping from underpowering? Just a guess.

ThereIsNoEye

cnh wrote: »

Should really start another thread. But...

Welcome to Club Polk, anyway!

First. AVRs are usually rated for TWO channel at said power. So that 100 watts, if you're lucky is for 2 channel continuous RMS!

That being the case. When you run in anything but 2 channel or 2.1, you will "lose" some power. How much is hard to say. With 3 channels, who knows maybe you'll dip to 80-90 watts x 3 RMS. But that's just my "guess". If you ran 5 you'd probably be near half power and 7, less than that. I've seen Yamahas running in 7.1 rated at less than 40 watts x 7?

So, the short answer is 'you do NOT gain power running in 3.1), you lose it. And you only have the actual 100 watts in 2 channel. Manufacturers play all kinds of "games" with their ratings. They rate a 1 khz for example, or give a 6 ohm rating, which is almost always greater than a standard 4 ohm load, or just rate 2 channel at full power then make it look like that is the general rating for 5.1 or 7.1 when it is NOT!

In any case. You'll be OK at 3.1.

Enjoy!

cnh

Thanks.

Should be okay but I just put my Yamaha receiver and old Polk speaker system(RM8 Center, RM8 L/R, RM7 Surrounds, PSW110) up for sale on craigslist for $450.00.

That should almost cover the cost for an Onkyo Tx-nr717.

It seems like that receiver is a better match for the Monitor 70 and CS2 setup.

jeremymarcinko

Dont get caught up on the wattage rating on any of the main stream receivers. The amp section whether 70watts x? or 150wattsx? is irrelevant. The efficiency of our modern loudspeakers do not require much energy. More importantly look for THD at 0.09% 20hz to 20khz or lower also the noise floor if you can find it. The modern receivers are focused on the the latest connectivity blu-tooth hdmi networking capability pre-outs phono 5.1 7.1 9.1 .2 now audyssey ypao etc. is what your paying for as you go up the line and only modest amp improvement along the way. All of these receivers will easily drive any of the monitor series mentioned here.

lbrady

The monitor 40s and 70s should be arriving this week. When they're in I'll take some pics of the setup and open it up for comments, suggestions, etc.

BTW, using 16awg right now, should I drop down to a lower gauge to make sure the big boys are getting ample power? plan on converting to banana plugs as soon as I can find a good set at the right price as well.

Also, THANKS for all the welcomes and replies! I really appreciate it. Seems like this is an amazing community of really really smart people. looking forward to being a part of it.

Geoff4rfc

16awg is fine. I've used 14, 12 and 10. The thing I'd set my sights on is amping those 70's, the more you feed them, the better they sound.

cnh

jeremymarcinko wrote: »

Dont get caught up on the wattage rating on any of the main stream receivers. The amp section whether 70watts x? or 150wattsx? is irrelevant. The efficiency of our modern loudspeakers do not require much energy. More importantly look for THD at 0.09% 20hz to 20khz or lower also the noise floor if you can find it. The modern receivers are focused on the the latest connectivity blu-tooth hdmi networking capability pre-outs phono 5.1 7.1 9.1 .2 now audyssey ypao etc. is what your paying for as you go up the line and only modest amp improvement along the way. All of these receivers will easily drive any of the monitor series mentioned here.

Geoff4rfc wrote: »

16awg is fine. I've used 14, 12 and 10. The thing I'd set my sights on is amping those 70's, the more you feed them, the better they sound.

Geoff's got your back! +1!

The efficiency of our modern loudspeakers do not require much energy???

Really? Just how is this a truism? Can you power a set of LSis with a modern receiver? Or Rti-A9s, perhaps? Lots of contemporary speakers are hardly what I would call "efficient".

Most speakers will benefit from an amp section that has a "high current" design, regardless of how loud you decide to play them. Having an Onkyo 7XX series allows you to add an amp.

cnh

ThereIsNoEye

lbrady wrote: »

Thanks!

I decided to go with the 70s. Newegg was/is having a great sale on them at $149 each through 11/11. I think I'll be happier with those as well, but I wanted to hear from someone else for a 2nd opinion.

I just received mine today before going to work, listening to them right now.

Running a pair of 70's and a CS2.

They actually sound pretty good hooked up to my Yamaha receiver and 16 gauge speaker wire.

I'm going to switch the 16 gauge out for some 12 gauge GLS speaker wire tomorrow, I'll let you know if there's any real noticeable difference.

But if it makes you feel better...I think you'll immediately notice a nice difference right away with the stuff you already have.

Enjoy it and upgrade when you get the money...don't put off any bills or start crossing people off your Christmas list.

Eventually, I'm going to look at something like the Onkyo TX-NR717 receiver and Onkyo M-282 2-channel amp.

But it sounds pretty great even with the Yamaha, you might just have to push to volume a bit to feed the speakers.