New addition to the HT and concerns

custopper30

Well pictures below are of the new system. Probably not the absolute best pictures as better ones are still to come. Anyways, I just purchased a pair of polk audio monitor 70s in black from the polk audio direct ebay store. They were on sale for $350 with the two year warranty and with all tax settled, I paid $370 in total. Got the speakers yesterday and brought them down to my home theater and started to open the boxes. Extremely disappointed, both speakers were damaged. To start off, the grill of the first speaker I opened was completely broken in 6 or 7 places. a large chunk of the cross pattern was completely broken around and can be taken out. Also, two of the pegs that stick in the speaker have broken off and been lodged in the speaker itself. The condition of the speaker itself besides the grill is also in rough shape. There is a couple of rough dents and scrapes along the speakers silver front. There is also 3 or so chips on the front face too. That is just how the first speaker was before I opened the next package. The next box of the other monitor 70 revealed that the speaker was also in big time damaged. The grill has 1 peg broken off and is also broken in several places. The speaker it self looks almost like someone took a swing with a baseball bat, as there is a huge gash/dent on the side of the speaker front face. There is also some chips and other dents present as well.

I guess you can say that I am extremely disappointed in ordering these speakers and now I am waiting to hear back from polk audio to see what my options are.

Besides that, the intent was to have these speakers in my new home theater set up.
This is my new setup will be with the addition of these two speakers
Receiver: Denon 1912
Fronts: 2 Monitor 70s series I
Center: Monitor 70 series II (Single, duh)
Backs/surrounds: 2 Monitor 50s series I
Sub: KLH

Before you all get after me for having the monitor 70 as the center, I originally bought a single monitor 70 from a person on craigslist for dirt cheap because he bought it thinking it came as a pair, but it didn't. So I immediately jumped on the deal and picked it up. Problem was trying to find another single 70. I searched not only in the Minnesota area, but all over craigslist in the states thinking that I would just ship one if someone was selling. Dumb enough, no one was ever selling a single 70 for a fair price, let alone asking $200+. So I thought about moving the single 70 as the center and purchasing the pair, which in the end is what happened.

I know I also should replace the sub for something better. If anyone has any insight on what sub I should buy, please let me know but remember that I am on a budget of $200 or so because I'm still a college student and those bills are insane.

Thanks,

Marc

custopper30

zane77

That sucks big time, it's a painin the a$$ to woit for something new and find it is beat to crap. Call Polk customer service, I'm sure they will take care of you. When i got my A9's from UPS the boxes looked like the were pushed out of the back of the truck and dropped on the ground but luck was on my side this time and the speakers were fine

custopper30

You definitely had luck on your side. The boxes didn't look too smashed but still the speakers were heavily damaged. I will be extremely disappointed if they won't replace it, give money back or something along those lines. Heck, I filed a case with ebay as well. Lets just hope that this will all get sorted out :sad:

boston1450

Thats too bad. Im sure theyll make good on it. Return for sure. I avoid UPS as much as possible also. WE ALL UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION. Hopefully it will be squared away asap....

xftman

For $370 you could get the latest monitor series 75T from Newegg for less ($179 each) when on sale (almost once a week). Newegg has the 70 for $149 before they discontinued. UPS is the worst. My friend had his A9 not damage in third shipment. All shipped by UPS. Good luck.

jeremymarcinko

Thats suck man, seems as if they were damaged before shipment since the boxes don't show much abuse. I'm interested to hear Polk s response.

custopper30

Ya me too. Thanks for the replies. Also, they weren't shipped UPS, instead they were shipped by Fedex. And I understand that there is the 75Ts for cheaper but you need to remember that I already had one monitor 70 as well as 2 monitor 50s, so the sound of the 75Ts would sound different.

xftman

custopper30 wrote: »

Ya me too. Thanks for the replies. Also, they weren't shipped UPS, instead they were shipped by Fedex. And I understand that there is the 75Ts for cheaper but you need to remember that I already had one monitor 70 as well as 2 monitor 50s, so the sound of the 75Ts would sound different.

75T is the latest of monitor series so I assume they will match.

custopper30

one would think so, but with the different location of the tweeter, it sounds different. Plus, where in the world do you see them going that cheap?? They are going for $250 on new egg and I don't think they would actually drop down to $170ish

gudnoyez

Bummer, I'am positive Polk will take care of you. I sweat bullets everytime I get something shipped to me via UPS. Where you at in Minnesota, there should be stores around the Cities, or Saint Cloud that carry the Polk Brand. I grew up North of Brainerd in Nisswa.
Good luck. P.S. don't consider B-Buy as as far as I know they carry only the TSI line Best Buy is based out of Eden Praire so maybe one of the magnolia stores can order for you and have them shipped to their location , but probably not at that price you got them for.

custopper30

I am just 10minutes north of the Twin Cities. But I don't think any store really carries the monitor 70s though....

ZLTFUL

Few things...
First, you have 45 days to file claims on eBay. I would have give Polk and opportunity to fix the problem first before filing the claim. Now that you have filed the claim, you are going to have to deal with Polk through eBay or cancel the claim and deal with them directly. In fact, it says right in the claim documentation that you should work directly with the seller and only file a claim as a last resort.

Next, the grille damage is not uncommon. If you read reviews of the Monitor towers on Newegg (both new and old models), you will see it is a common problem. But in every instance, Polk has taken care if the issue directly.
In my case one arrived with similar damage to the grille, I called Polk, they asked for a copy of my receipt and sent me a replacement grille all in a matter of about 15 minutes.

As for the differences between the 70s and the 75s, they use the same drivers and the crossover specs are the same. The cosmetic differences don't make a difference in sound but having the different driver layout will...but not enough for the average ear to hear.

The point being is that Polk has a reputation for taking care if its customers. You didn't even give them a chance to make it right before you filed a claim and then came here to express only the negative aspects of the transaction. You have set the mood so to speak. I just hope that you are as willing to sing their praises when they make it right as you were to express the negatives.

custopper30

I understand I jumped to conclusion, but with ebay all I did was contact the seller saying that the items were damaged. That is all. I also called and left a message saying that the speakers I received were damaged. I still love polk, just disappointed that the items were in this condition when I received them and it doesn't look like it is from the shipping though.

Drenis

custopper30 wrote: »

I understand I jumped to conclusion, but with ebay all I did was contact the seller saying that the items were damaged. That is all. I also called and left a message saying that the speakers I received were damaged. I still love polk, just disappointed that the items were in this condition when I received them and it doesn't look like it is from the shipping though.

I'm going to stop you right there and correct you on a error. Polk, refurbished Polk for that matter don't have damages like this. What they might have are the odd minor scrape, scuff, bump or dent. Not that shat. So shame on you for pointing the finger in assuming that Polk would deliberately ship you speakers of this nature. Do a little research into various videos on youtube for how some items are treated while being shipped from all the big name shippers. My question to you is why you signed for them without verifying them first hand? The driver was there no? It's recommended and yet some people don't do this... However, if they were left without signature then absolutely why are you not filing that claim with FedEx instead of slamming Polk?

Also, after seeing the setup of your living room, you should get rid of the center M70 for cheap because it is doing you NOOO favors in that spot. It's all wrong and that's not how HT/surround sound is done. Replace it with the monitor center.

custopper30

Drenis, I am not ripping on Polk audio. I am saying I am just disappointed in the condition of the item. I know it is refurbished but the condition that was described does not match up to what was said. It couldn't have been Fedex because the boxes were still in decent condition. I appreciate the niceness though :rolleyes:

xftman

custopper30 wrote: »

one would think so, but with the different location of the tweeter, it sounds different. Plus, where in the world do you see them going that cheap?? They are going for $250 on new egg and I don't think they would actually drop down to $170ish

If you care the tweeter location between 75T and 70 cause sound not match you should not use your extra 70 as center at all. You should get a matching monitor series CS2 instead.

Yes, Newegg has the 75T @ $250 today. But they have those 24-48 hours on sale almost every week on different items like this week is 55T. But right now forget the Newegg, call Polk Ebay on Monday and give them a chance to work with the problem. I have deal with both Polk Ebay and Polk Direct CS here. They are all nice and easy to deal with.

custopper30

That is what I am planning on doing. My intention was to explain the problem and see what others have encountered with their service as I have only heard positive things.

teekay0007

Here ya go, custopper30, a perfect condition Monitor 70 series II in the Mpls/St. Paul CL: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/ele/3830233914.html It says he's open to all offers....hmmm.

Maybe you should just return the 70s you just got and pick up this one on CL to go with your other series II as your fronts. Then get a different center channel.

If that's your CL posting for the Monitor 70 Series II, then just disregard this posting. :redface: And GLWTS!

PolkieMan

I agree at this point I think you can correct the mistake of trying to use one for a center. Return both for full refund if possible. Then lookout for a single 70 and a CS2. If that fails try to return the worse one and get a new grille as needed for the better one that you keep.

teekay0007 wrote: »

Here ya go, custopper30, a perfect condition Monitor 70 series II in the Mpls/St. Paul CL: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/ele/3830233914.html It says he's open to all offers....hmmm.

Maybe you should just return the 70s you just got and pick up this one on CL to go with your other series II as your fronts. Then get a different center channel.

If that's your CL posting for the Monitor 70 Series II, then just disregard this posting. :redface: And GLWTS!

custopper30

Hahah that is my posting teekay. I was seeing if it would sell then I would just have the two monitor 70s as my fronts and use that money to buy the cs2.

ZLTFUL

Looking at those pictures and the condition of the boxes, those speakers suffered a bunch of shipping impact damage.
The boxes have numerous creases that would directly coincide with the damage in your pictures.

jeremymarcinko

What kind of car did you haul them in, seems like they just fit. Just curious, did you hear from polk yet?

custopper30

Boxes were in decent condition like I said before. Not great but not horrible. They were hauled in from the Fedex store in my GMC 2002 envoy

boston1450

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. LOL. Hopefully withing a week or too you can put all this behind you and enjoy some speakers its all good. Things happen. Could be worse'right

custopper30

True thing Boston! So far they are saying they will ship them back and exchange them for different 70s that are in better condition. Gonna see if I can get a refund or possibly get the 75Ts out of the deal instead

jeremymarcinko

I'd rather have the 70's than 75t's only for their notoriety. The 75t's will be probably be known as a online exclusive wholesale item much like the series ii. Not knocking the quality I understand its the same thing mostly, but just saying you gotta think about resale in this hobby.

custopper30

True Jeremy, but wouldn't you think the newer models will resell better?

Drenis

custopper30 wrote: »

True Jeremy, but wouldn't you think the newer models will resell better?

Do you know what SRS and SRT speakers are and what they fetch...?

When you drive a new car off the lot, it loses value instantly.

custopper30

Yes I do Drenis. But jeez, you are drilling into me pretty hard with everything. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the help and information but sometimes the way it is said like I am almost stupid.

jeremymarcinko

All I'm sayin is down the road many will prefer the original monitor70 to a revamped version sold exclusively by wholesalers.
No way would I trade my 70's straight up for 75t's.