Using 15C Center with Monitor 70's?

Posts: 4
edited December 2012 in Speakers
I bought a pair of Monitor 30's and a 15C center speaker for use in my home theater. But when the Monitor 70's went on sale, I picked up a pair. I decided to shift the 30's to the rear, and put the 70's up front. While the 15C seems to match the
30's nicely, I think it may not be so great with the 70's. Especially since the 70's are more full-range, with their
6.5'' drivers. (On the plus side, from what I can tell, by looking and listening, the tweeters seem to be comparable.)

If I knew earlier that I would end up with 70's, I would have bought a CS2 to begin with. (6.5'' drivers instead of 5.25''....etc). That said, I find the 15C sounds really great, and if the match with the 70's isn't perfect, it's seems pretty close. And like many on the forum, fitting the CS2 into my HT setup would require some extra effort, based on its extra physical depth.

My system includes a 10'' Velodyne sub for the low end, and it has an onboard crossover in addition to the direct input. So I've got lots of options for setup there. I plan to crossover about 60hz, so I know that I'm leaving some of the 70's low-end unused.

I tend to listen to movies and 5.1 music at pretty moderate levels, so I'm not worried about overdriving the 15C center; I'm just trying to set up a well-matched system. If I'm not pushing the 70's very hard, would the more modest 15C be a suitable alternative to the CS2? Even if I adjust the 70's to what I consider a listenable level, I still have headroom to boost the 15C's output.

I can't return the 15C since I bought it on closeout. That's ok, because the shipping would eat up a lot of its cost, and I should be able to recoup a good amount of its modest cost selling it used. I plan to wait a while, but if the CS2 would make a considerable improvement, I want to get one while they're still readily available.

Thanks in advance for any advice!
Post edited by TomDowdRocks! on

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Comments

  • Posts: 2,486
    edited December 2012
    The CS2 would make a considerable improvement. I've listened to the CS10 and CS20 back to back and there really is no comparison. The bigger speaker leaves the smaller one in the dust making it sound like it's straining to try and keep up.

    IMO, the 70's will dominate the 15C.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
  • Posts: 3,785
    edited December 2012
    Geoff4rfc wrote: »
    The CS2 would make a considerable improvement. I've listened to the CS10 and CS20 back to back and there really is no comparison. The bigger speaker leaves the smaller one in the dust making it sound like it's straining to try and keep up.

    IMO, the 70's will dominate the 15C.

    +1^^
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
  • Posts: 33,019
    edited December 2012
    +20000

    Upgrade that center and thank us later.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • Posts: 4
    edited December 2012
    Ha! Thanks for the advice. You are just reinforcing my itch to upgrade to the CS2.
  • Posts: 4
    edited December 2012
    Well, I didn't have to wait long for the CS2 to go on sale! Got it today. Thanks again for your advice!

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