Sorting Polk Speakers -- need some push on what stays/goes. :)

Mystery

Time has come to reclaim some space of the living room.
I'm going through others as well but I have the following Polk speakers and that's too many than I use:
1. SDA CRS+
2. SDA-2B
3. Monitor 12
4. Monitor 10
5. Monitor 7
6. Monitor 4.5
7. Monitor 4

Plan is to limit to one big Polk and two smaller pairs for surround but that's not too important.

I'm thinking to keep CRS+ (fronts), 12's as side and 7's as rear surrounds.
Or just keep CRS+, 7's and 4's.

But smaller surrounds mean they need stands so I rather just use towers instead.

I can't decide between 7's and 10's, both peerless.

I'm thinking to sell 2B, 10, 4.5 and 4's.
What ya'll think?

My crowded living room:

SDA1C

What is that stuff on the railing? IS it balanced up there? LOL

StantonZ

I would go with larger speakers that DON'T require stands for surrounds (assuming you have the room). I use my 4's as a center channel (below the TV).

pglbook

Mystery, I think you should get rid of the CRS+ and sell them to me, lol.

But, seriously, if it were me, I would keep the SDA CRS+, SDA 2B, and the Monitor 10s.

But if you do decide to get rid of the CRS+, definitely give me a holler.

Mystery

DSkip wrote: »

Both SDA's and Monitor 7's.

Hard to keep both SDA's as I'm keeping JBL L100T and Boston A400 in the living room, at least for now.
Inclined to CRS+ as I can put them on top of L100T.
Yes, I know that's not how it should be setup but for now that'll allow me to keep/store one Polk with SDA effect.
2B and CRS+ sound very similar except 2B has deeper bass.

So 7 better than 10?

SDA1C wrote: »

What is that stuff on the railing? IS it balanced up there? LOL

Hehe... that is a DIY projector stand. I used to project on the opposite wall on a 4x8 feet screen.
Projector is now sold but haven't removed the stand. Those are some DVD recorders up there.
As you see, I have to utilize any space that I can to keep my audio/video gear. :eek:

StantonZ wrote: »

I would go with larger speakers that DON'T require stands for surrounds (assuming you have the room). I use my 4's as a center channel (below the TV).

That's what I'm thinking.
12's are huge for surrounds but may work behind the couch.

pglbook wrote: »

... I would keep the SDA CRS+, SDA 2B, and the Monitor 10s.

CRS+ and 2B's are both almost same so not that useful to keep both when space is so tight and I'll be using only one anyways.

So 10's preferred over 7's?

Shipping CRS+ will cost pretty penny.
Hmm...

pglbook

Mystery, Monitor 7s vs Monitor 10s is strictly a matter of preference. I had both the Monitor 7s and 10s myself and ended up selling my Monitor 7Bs because, while the 7s have better imaging than the 10s, the 10s had much better bass and I just preferred the overall sound of the 10s for all kinds of music. I know some prefer the 7s but it really is just a matter of taste and you are the only one who can judge which sound (the 7s or 10s) you prefer. Both are great speakers, especially with the Peerless tweeter.

PolkieMan

If it were me I would keep 1,2,5,7. #1 for the bedroom #7 for the study or kitchen. living room #2 for my fronts and #5 for my rears

Mystery

Thanks Dskip and pglbook.
If I can keep one, I'll have to go with 7's over 10's simply because of Matthew Polk's comment of them being the most balanced speakers in the monitor series.
10's may have better/louder bass but I am not too much into bass now and do have two subs if need to add anything.

Also, I'd rather keep 12's instead of 10's.

PolkieMan wrote: »

If it were me I would keep 1,2,5,7. #1 for the bedroom #7 for the study or kitchen. living room #2 for my fronts and #5 for my rears

I'd do that if that list had all the speaker I had. That's just a small portion.
Bedroom will have Vandersteen 1's plus Monitor Audio 301 so no more in there.

Guest room will have 7's and probably EPI 20+ plus some other smaller ones as backup.

PolkieMan

Oh wow I did not know you had more :biggrin:

deronb1

Isnt that a pair of vandersteens sitting there?

Mystery

PolkieMan wrote: »

Oh wow I did not know you had more :biggrin:

Yes around 35 total pairs of various manufactures from Advents, EPI, JBL, DLK, Klipsch, Pinnacle, Tannoy, Mission etc...
The list here is only limited to Polks.

deronb1 wrote: »

Isnt that a pair of vandersteens sitting there?

Yes as mentioned above.

Mystery wrote: »

...Bedroom will have Vandersteen 1's plus Monitor Audio 301 so no more in there...

SDA1C

Ok I see the shelf under them now. I was like WHOA! LOL. Oh and definitely sell the CRS+....did you need my address? LOL

Mystery

I need to take a picture of all the Polks before passing them on.
Problem is I may not be able to line them up and take a picture in any room. :mad:

I did that before with smaller ones.

cnh

Yeah, you have TOO many BIG speakers--in ONE room. I have too many as well. But NOT that many are BIG! And I may have more "rooms" so I can keep things like the JBLs, Boston A100s, SDA 2Bs, etc., away from each other.

So it's simple go smaller: SDA CRS+ and Monitor 7s. Classic examples of two fine vintage Polk speakers.

cnh

Mystery

cnh wrote: »

Yeah, you have TOO many BIG speakers--in ONE room. I have too many as well. But NOT that many are BIG! And I may have more "rooms" so I can keep things like the JBLs, Boston A100s, SDA 2Bs, etc., away from each other.

So it's simple go smaller: SDA CRS+ and Monitor 7s. Classic examples of two fine vintage Polk speakers.

cnh

Yeah, space is the problemo or I'd keep/store them all.
I'll keep the 7A's since I already upgraded crossover on them.

BTW, what do you think between 10A's and 12's?
I prefer 12's as I don't have to use stands but I read like 50 threads and many prefer 10A's while quite a few like 12's as well.
The only negative comment on 12's not so good for music due to boomy bass.

But 12's look really impressive and much better looking than the 10A's. :cool:

StantonZ

10's don't need stands; I just use "tip toes" and they have plenty of bass.
If you're going to go with something as big as 12's, might was well keep the SDA's.

Mystery

Man, this comment is really disappointing on the 12's.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?94121-Found-a-pair-of-M12-s

dorokusai wrote: »

I'd rather have a Monitor 10. The 12 is sloppy.

I may have to keep both 7's and 10's instead of 12's. Hmm...

Mystery

StantonZ wrote: »

10's don't need stands; I just use "tip toes" and they have plenty of bass.
If you're going to go with something as big as 12's, might was well keep the SDA's.

DSkip wrote: »

This.

Yes, but I actually like 12's better than 2B's.
Plus CRS+ have all the sound (little less bass) of 2B's that can be stacked on top of 12's or JBL's to save space for now until I have bigger place.

2B's (both standard and studio) and CRS+ don't have enough mids that I want to hear compared to their highs and lows.
12's have plenty and that makes them little noisy when switching back and forth but overall highs/mids/lows are balanced over the longer listening sessions.

Instead of keeping similar sounding CRS+ and 2B's, if I keep CRS+ and 12's, I'll have chance to listen to both SDA and non-SDA sound unless 12's are really considered bad.

I thought of keeping all Polks and getting rid of other brands but there are few pairs I can't get rid of (BA400, Vandersteen, L100T and all are towers :sad: ).
Decisions, decisions...

boston1450

List all the pro's n con's. keep the ones you like. Their your ears and your choices. You have some nice speakers to choose from. Decissions. Decissions. It is a hard one huh

boston1450

Hope ya dont say''i shouldnt have got rid of those ones. Weve all been there

Mystery

boston1450 wrote: »

List all the pro's n con's. keep the ones you like. Their your ears and your choices. You have some nice speakers to choose from. Decissions. Decissions. It is a hard one huh

The only con's right now is my limited space that limits how much I can test and decide.
I mean I may like 12's a lot now in my small room at low volume but they may sound crap in bigger room at louder volume or vice versa.
That's why I need inputs so I can keep those that sound better in louder than normal volume which I can't test here.

boston1450 wrote: »

Hope ya dont say''i shouldnt have got rid of those ones. Weve all been there

I'll have to do that regardless of what I sell as all are fairly decent speakers but if I chose the better ones among Polks, I don't have to worry about getting rid of the lower/less preferable models.
It's little easier on the same brand to chose as whether I keep 7 or 10, CRS+ or 2B, I still have similar sound more or less.
But it's completely different/difficult to choose among Boston, JBL and Polk as they all sound good in their own way.

Mystery

DSkip wrote: »

...If/when you start branching out, you'll see there are many speakers out there that will best the monitors in all aspects. They are fun and great for rock out duty, and id that's what you want I'd keep the 10's or 12's. The sda is harder to beat due to the technology. They are rather one of a kind...

I know there are better but I need to upgrade my amp/source etc... first for those.

Agreed SDA are unique but 12's don't show up often either.
In fact, this is the only pair of 12's I ever saw in Denver in last 3 years or so that I started watching.
4,5,7,10,RTA,SDA all show up more frequently.

As for rock, it'll be fun to have Polk 12's and JBL L100T (that is renowned for rock as well as music).

DSkip wrote: »

...Honestly, you might sell all but a big monitor and the CRS and pool that money together to start playing at a higher level.

I think you are now more in line with my thinking.
Now I'm more inclined to keep 4A's, 7A's, 12's and CRS+.

Okay, Monitor 10A's will be listed soon... I wish I could swap the peerless from 10A's with 12's SL2500 or CRS+ SL2000's. :cheesygrin:

Mystery

Move the 12's in front next to 2B's.
2B's are around 3" outwards of the 12's.

Man they both are good but so different sound.

2B's are brighter but sound thin. Vocals are dry sounding.
Bass is amazing and has subwoofer type throw.

12's are much smoother, relaxed. Vocals sound natural.
Bass doesn't have as much throw as 2B's but is tighter and punchier.

I like the slight echo/hall type sound from 2B's (SDA effect) but they are not as smooth/natural as 12's.
There is no similar sound between these two. :eek:

I had to alternate 2B's and 12's so my listening position is in the middle of 2B's.

Mystery

Thanks for push.
So far 10A's and Monitor 12 series II are gone.
I didn't realize 10A's are that big.
They are same dimensions as SDA-2B except little shorter.

Next is 2B followed by Monitor 4's.

I'm keeping the following Polks for now:
1. SDA CRS+
2. Monitor 7A
3. Monitor 4A

Drenis

Sell me your CRS+ :razz:

gudnoyez

Wow I hate decisions like that, I'am a speaker hoarder myself. I have room to store the ones that I don't listen to but swap out a lot. I regret parting with every pair that have left. If you don't have the room then I guess your doing the right thing, as that room is way to jam packed. I wish you luck on your decision with no regrets.

Mystery

Drenis wrote: »

Sell me your CRS+ :razz:

If the 2B's don't sell for a while, I may sell CRS+ but that's a long shot.

gudnoyez wrote: »

Wow I hate decisions like that, I'am a speaker hoarder myself. I have room to store the ones that I don't listen to but swap out a lot. I regret parting with every pair that have left. If you don't have the room then I guess your doing the right thing, as that room is way to jam packed. I wish you luck on your decision with no regrets.

Ya the problem is I don't have a room to store anymore.
My guest room's wall has speakers to the ceiling. :eek:
When I have room and space, I can find the speakers I want or similar to what I sold as I found all these Polks plus 40 pairs of other nice brands in less than 2 years.

Big Dawg

The problem with your 2bs is that you haven't yet upgraded them. You liked the 12s because they had the sl3000 tweeters. TL the 2Bs, use the 7s and 5s for surrounds, and sell the rest. Or, sell all of them and get something better, like sonus faber or whatever sounds best to you.

Mystery

Big Dawg wrote: »

The problem with your 2bs is that you haven't yet upgraded them. You liked the 12s because they had the sl3000 tweeters. TL the 2Bs, use the 7s and 5s for surrounds, and sell the rest. Or, sell all of them and get something better, like sonus faber or whatever sounds best to you.

Yes, need to sell what sells now.

Drenis

Mystery wrote: »

Yes, need to sell what sells now.

...like those CRS+ to me :razz:

PolkieMan

Sell the smaller ones they are easy to ship hold on to the biggest Sda as you won't get as much as they are really worth cause the shipping will eat up the money unless you find someone local I would keep the 2B and the Crs the rest are just speakers

Mystery wrote: »

Yes, need to sell what sells now.