New Monitor line over Monitor 7C's for HT?

Jimbo18

I haven't heard many different models of Polk speakers, just those I have owned (some briefly) like the Monitor 7C's I currently have, as well as Monitor 10's, RT600's, RT55's, RT35's and a CS20 center channel (which was included with the RT600's I got off CL).

Anyway, I am not sure I want to put about $300 into upgrading the Monitor 7's, or if, for almost strictly home theater, would I better off getting some of the new Monitor line?

There are often Monitor 50, 60 and 70's on CL for reasonable prices. For instance there is a set of Monitor 50's for $100 available now, and the centers come up pretty often too.

I don't intend to upgrade my AVR anytime soon, and it drives the Monitor 7's pretty well, at least for HT, so I assume that the Monitor 70's aren't a good idea since I have read they like more power.

Anyway, for HT, would Monitor 50/55's or Monitor 60/65's and a matching center be better than upgrading the Monitor 7's?

tonyb

I would say go get an ear on some first before making that decision. Seeing that you want to keep an AVR that pumps out 63 watts into 5 channels, I can't see getting more power hungry speakers.

drummer86

What do you think is missing from your current setup?

Jimbo18

tonyb wrote: »

I would say go get an ear on some first before making that decision. Seeing that you want to keep an AVR that pumps out 63 watts into 5 channels, I can't see getting more power hungry speakers.

It's not that I want to keep it, I just can't afford an upgrade right now. Since the AVR doesn't have pre-outs, I would be looking at a new AVR as well as, eventually, an amp in order to get any significant increase in power.

If the new Monitors require even more power than my old 7's, then yes, I am better off sticking with what I have for now.

Jimbo18

drummer86 wrote: »

What do you think is missing from your current setup?

It actually sounds pretty good to me. But since I am not familiar with that many different speakers, I don't know what I might be missing. I can't afford to do too much with it, but still can't help but want to do the most that I can with what I have.

Maybe I would be better off keeping the 7's and upgrading the AVR. I just thought that the 7's were pretty efficient and didn't need a lot of power, so wasn't sure if more would make much difference.

gmjungbluth

Are you using your system more for music or movies? If you're mostly watching movies and using the Monitors for surround sound duty I don't think you're really going to see a ton of improvement out of moving from the 7Cs to a newer set if your system is matched and dialed in right now. That CS400i is a good match to the Monitor 7s and as long as levels are set correctly timbre-matching across the front channels should be very nice. I have a set of restored Monitor 7s as my left and right fronts paired with a VSX-820K and I'm very happy.

If you listen to a lot of 2-channel music and feel you're missing something then maybe you should think about new speakers. You could also think about speaker placement - perhaps you have your 7Cs in dead zones for your room.

Here are my recommendations:

1. Perfect your current system through dialing in your sound levels across the front, center and surround channels and subwoofer. This can make your speakers sound 100% better, believe me. And the Pioneer receiver should make this easy to do. One -thing- after using MCACC manually set your front speakers as 'small' and set the sub crossover at 50hz.

2. Do some simple mods to your current polk monitors. I recommend re-sealing the midbass woofer and passive radiator if there is air leakage (search the forum for posts on this) as well as epoxying your midbass woofer magnet. After that the sky is the limit on amazing upgrades to these speakers. You can get a lot of mileage out of modding the 7s. search my posts if you want the play-by-play on my full Polk Monitor 7 restoration.

3. If you have upgrade-itis (happens to me all the time) be patient and lowball folks on CL and try out some of the new Polk Monitor line. You can always sell them on to another person afterwards.

4. Here are some other speakers I would try in place of your Polk Monitor 7s if you're curious (they can all be found cheap on CL):
- Klipsch KG4 - these are fun and have a huge bottom end if placed right - you could sell your sub and get by without it!
- Boston Acoustic A150 or A200 - 3 ways with beautiful midrange and top. Very pleasant.
- Pioneer sp-pk52fs - these are actually new and cheap, and very well received. Less efficient than the Monitor 7s however.
- Anything in the new Polk Monitor line - experiment!

Enjoy!

G

Jimbo18

gmjungbluth, thanks for the suggestions. On that system it's almost strictly HT, I listen to music in my bedroom for the most part, so sticking with the 7C's and doing some upgrades is probably the best thing. I can't do any of the electronic upgrades myself, but the physical stuff is doable.

I did run the MCACC and set the speakers to small but the crossover is at 80, I think.

I thought is interesting that you mentioned the vintage Klipsch speakers, there just happens to be a pair, probably a bit overpriced, on CL right now. http://charlotte.craigslist.org/ele/4296307987.html

rooftop59

Jimbo18 wrote: »

Anyway, for HT, would Monitor 50/55's or Monitor 60/65's and a matching center be better than upgrading the Monitor 7's?

No. Absolutely not. The monitors sound great without much power: smooth, musical, and pretty tight and deep bass all things considered. My buddy Has M70s, top of the line monitors from the previous generation, and I would rather use my monitor 5s I think. I would suggest a couple things:

1. Run them large, let the sub just handle the crossover from the center and surrounds. I think you'll be happier with you setup. I would also suggest - considering your center and surrounds are pretty big and your subs not great - that you lower the crossover to 60.

2. Save up for a receiver and sub upgrades. These will bring you the most satisfaction. You can of course go used on them both. SVS and HSU do come up if you keep your eyes open.

Just my 2 cents. Enjoy the music!

Jimbo18

Thanks, Rooftop. I probably tried both large and small when I ran the setup, but can't remember for sure. I will check it out both ways and lower the crossover as well. And I agree the receiver is probably the way to go if the new Monitor line isn't really any better. I will keep a look out for an Elite on CL.

Eventually, I will get back in touch with Trey about upgrading my crossovers as well. I had started discussing it with him but then decided if I was possibly going to change speakers, I probably shouldn't put the money into them.

gmjungbluth

One more upgrade which is pretty simple and brings huge benefit is a tweeter upgrade - look for info on this forum on the RDO-194 tweeters. It's a drop in replacement.

Re the Klipsches - 250 in my book is a little high. I think I got mine for 120.

Jimbo18

gmjungbluth wrote: »

One more upgrade which is pretty simple and brings huge benefit is a tweeter upgrade - look for info on this forum on the RDO-194 tweeters. It's a drop in replacement.

Re the Klipsches - 250 in my book is a little high. I think I got mine for 120.

I thought that sounded high for the Klipsch.

As far as the tweeters go, I think I need the 198. I have the Polk SL2500's in my 7C's and I think the replacement for them is the 198.

Jimbo18

Update - I am getting some RT800's, a CS400i and pair of RT25's on Saturday from someone on CL. I had the RT55's at one point and liked them so I expect to like the RT800's even better. I liked the RT600's better than the RT35's because I thought the bass was deeper and assume I will get similar results between the 55's and the RT800's.

I will see how they sound in the HT versus the 7's and then decide which to sell. Or I will get rid of the Mariah Acoustics, which sound good but want more power, in my bedroom and move the 7's up there.

[Deleted User]

Congrats on the purchase.
Couldn't Jimbo go DAC and some more life out of the AVR and also keep the 7's?
I love choice!

boston1450

+ 1 on keeping the 7's once there gone, most want them back. Enjoy your new to you speakers

Hofy

Keep the 7s. I am still waiting for some to pop up around me.

Jimbo18

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab1/Dillywick/DSCN9820_zps942b73e9.jpg
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I picked up the speakers on Saturday and did a little listening, some music and one movie, Skyfall. Initial impression is that the Monitor 7's are better for music and the RT800i's are better for HT. The 7's seem more open and directionless than the RT's.

The condition of the cabinets on the new, to me, speakers is not as good as I would have liked. Some have scratches but nothing too big. One of the 800's has the dome badly pushed in on the tweeter but it sounds fine. And fortunately the grill covers are in excellent shape. Sonically I didn't find anything wrong with any of them.

I am not sure which I like better, I think it will depend on what I am listening to, but I like both the 800's and the 7's a lot. I really don't have the room or need for all the speakers I just bought so some will go back on CL, just not sure which ones yet. May just list them, and the Mariah Acoustics, and keep what doesn't sell.

I briefly hooked up the 25's as fronts to see how they sound and was surprised at how good they are, although I should have expected that from the RT35's I owned.

Oh, I ended up paying $220 for the 5 speakers.

Jimbo18

Sorry, didn't figure out how to actually post the pictures on here, just the links to Photobucket.