Monitor 30s vs 40s for HT

azsam
azsam Posts: 45
edited November 2012 in Speakers
I am debating whether to get 4 of the Monitor 30s vs 2 Monitors 40s and 2 Monitor 30s. I already have the cs1 in cherry and would like to have a cherry set. Unfortunately the MOnitor 40s are not available in cherry anywhere. So.. would going with 4 Monitors 30s be a bad choice? I will of course use those with a sub. I will watch a lot of movies, HDTV, DTV, listen to music as well. But I plan to have a sub even when listening to stereo as I believe no speakers can handle bass as well as a sub.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited November 2012
    You can get the job done with either/or. Setting a crossover point takes some experimentation. Obviously, the 40s are considered better, but really, it's more a matter of preference and budget. And, having a matched set is a good idea, not just for looks, but if you decided to part with it down the road, it's a lot easier to sell that way.
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    Well, i was thinking if i have surround 30s cherry, center cherry, and 40s black it might look odd. Not worried about resell value yet :). At the same time cherry 30s are on sale and available :). On the other hand, if the 40s are better, I would put up with the "ugliness". Can you tell me why 40s are better? They are both 5 1/4 and surely the same driver...?
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited November 2012
    Uh, look at the pictures... slight difference... the 40s use two of those drivers.
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    Uh, look at the pictures... slight difference... the 40s use two of those drivers.

    Yes, I know there are two of those.. I was asking if you can hear much better sound from the 40s vs 30s. If so, I will settle for the mismatched, ugly setup :)
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited November 2012
    Why not consider Monitor 50's in cherry for your fronts? Or Monitor 60's for that matter?

    The 40's will sound better as fronts hands down. I used a set of Monitor 40's + CS1 in my bedroom setup for a long time and was VERY happy with it.

    That said if you can afford the Monitor 50's your going to get a slightly better sound, plus built in stands since they are floorstanders. Just a thought
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited November 2012
    Welcome to Club Polk!

    If you have room. Why not wait for a sale and go with two M-50s as ES suggests, you'll definitely get more thump and fill up your room better with those!

    The advantage of the extra woofer is mostly in having more LOW end than the M-30s. The 50s though they have the same configuration as the 40s benefit from a much larger cabinet volume!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    The M50s are out of the question, not because of money, but because they are floorstanding speakers. My limitation is bookshelf speakers only (don't ask why)... Has anyone tried to have mixed black and cherry speakers? Does it look bad? I am thinking the Monitor 40s would match my TV, but the center channel might be standing out more. Unless I keep the grill on which is black right :)
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited November 2012
    Why don't you just buy a pair of cherry M-40s from Polk's ebay site?

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-Monitor-40-Cherry-Bookshelf-Speakers-Polk-Audio-/230857854346?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item35c0334d8a

    Get some before they disappear, problem solved!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    Well, for a few reasons.. maybe you will convince me otherwise:

    1. those are the series I, I thought series II offer an improvement (I may be wrong)
    2. I do not like the silver front, I plan to keep the grills off so it will still look like a different speaker
    3. Refurbished offers limited warranty
    4. Delivery time -- I need them before December :)
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited November 2012
    Series II is a Newegg exclusive. Not better, just different appearance. But I agree they do look a lot better than the silver stuff which is god-awful tacky IMO.

    I'd definitely get them all in the same finish. I wouldn't worry too much about jumping on Newegg's sale. They have them on sale constantly. Just wait for them to get the 40s in stock and be on sale again. $110 is the lowest I have ever seen them, but they regularly have them for $120 or $130. Would be worth the few extra bucks to have a matching set IMO.

    Or you could upgrade your CS1 to a CS2 (they are on sale too, $100 with promo code) and get it in black.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290212

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
    Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
    Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
    Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited November 2012
    NewEgg has monitor 40s for 109 a pair with free shipping, and CS2 for 99 with free shipping.
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  • azsam
    azsam Posts: 45
    edited November 2012
    The Cherry Monitor 40s have been discontinued.. I doubt they are getting any. I know the black ones are on sale now for 109 and I am about to pull the trigger. It wont match the center and the satellites, but I think I could live with that.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited November 2012
    azsam wrote: »
    It wont match the center and the satellites, but I think I could live with that.
    If you care more about performance, you'll be fine. Some guys are completely anal and couldn't bear the thought of mismatched speakers. Besides, they're only mismatched in color. Let us know how it works out for you. Enjoy! :smile:
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited November 2012
    azsam wrote: »
    The Cherry Monitor 40s have been discontinued.. I doubt they are getting any. I know the black ones are on sale now for 109 and I am about to pull the trigger. It wont match the center and the satellites, but I think I could live with that.

    Eh, hold on there.

    The regular Monitor 40 in cherry is listed as discontinued: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290011

    But the Monitor 40 Series II in cherry is just out of stock: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290203

    Newegg shows all of their non-Series II Polk Monitors as being discontinued, but none of the Series II are. I don't expect they'll be around much longer since they are starting to carry Polk's newer line of Monitors, but I suspect they will be getting some cherry Monitor 40 Series IIs back in stock or they would be listed as discontinued and not just out of stock.

    But don't quote me on that. :D

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
    Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
    Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
    Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
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  • boomhower
    boomhower Posts: 14
    edited November 2012
    If I had to place a bet it would be on the Series II in cherry being back in stock at some point. I'd use patience and get the matched set.
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  • PubFiction
    PubFiction Posts: 105
    edited November 2012
    Ya wait, newegg loves to list things especially speakers as discontinued then they restock. Also they like to put some of the members of a family on sale but not others, if you just wait eventually they all go on sale.
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