Comparing SDS to Monitor 10 series II

motrctyman

Greetings.

I have a pair of 1.2TL's in my family room. I absolutely adore them and think I may have found my "forever" speakers now.

I have been given the go ahead to replace the speakers in our bedroom stereo rig. Currently using a pair of Advent Legacy's. The reason I want to change them is that I want to try another pair of Polks as I have fallen in love with that wide soundstage.

Will the Monitor 10 Series II have a similar "wide" effect as the 1.2TL's? Trounce the soundstage of a pair of Advent's? There is a pair here locally that just popped up and they have a factory pair of stands with them and they would be about the right size. I am just hoping that there is someone here who is familiar with both models and can give me an opinion.

Thanks in advance, I really appreciate it.

F1nut

It's SDA SRS.

westmassguy

7s would be my choice for a bedroom, well balanced from top to bottom. If you're a bottom dweller, a quality sub will fill in the last octave. If you want SDA in a small package, look for a pair of CRS+s. Can't go wrong with either.

Mystery

Why not go for later series like rt55 or even new ones?

Easy Runnin

I would look for monitor 7s, monitor 5s or rta 8s.

motrctyman

Ok, will pass then.

I just looked up the CRS speakers and those would be PERFECT! I have a new mission in life.....

westmassguy

Be careful, there are several versions. The Single Tweeter, Pin/Blade, 87' or 89' CRS+ are preferred, followed by the 86 CRS+ Blade/Blade. You don't want the 84' Dual Tweeter CRS.

cnh

Wide sound, yeah! You have to go SDA models.

Of the Monitors the best imaging and stereo stage has to be the Monitor 7s. While not SDA wide, they will do a good job in a not too big space. And are cost effective and not that hard to drive!

Have fun!

cnh

gudnoyez

westmassguy wrote: »

Be careful, there are several versions. The Single Tweeter, Pin/Blade, 87' or 89' CRS+ are preferred, followed by the 86 CRS+ Blade/Blade. You don't want the 84' Dual Tweeter CRS.

How do you tell the difference between the 87 or 89 CRS+ pin blade?

westmassguy

gudnoyez wrote: »

westmassguy wrote: »

Be careful, there are several versions. The Single Tweeter, Pin/Blade, 87' or 89' CRS+ are preferred, followed by the 86 CRS+ Blade/Blade. You don't want the 84' Dual Tweeter CRS.

How do you tell the difference between the 87 or 89 CRS+ pin blade?

Date on the crossover and stamped on the drivers. They're otherwise identical

motrctyman

Wouldn't a typical owner be able to answer what "series" of CRS speakers they own?

Do they still have the cable that ties them together? Also, my bedroom is driven by a modified Hafler DH220 (about 125wpc) (stereo only). Any problems foreseen?

Thanks in advance.

nooshinjohn

Look for a pair of CRS and you will be all set.

westmassguy

motrctyman wrote: »

Wouldn't a typical owner be able to answer what "series" of CRS speakers they own?

Do they still have the cable that ties them together? Also, my bedroom is driven by a modified Hafler DH220 (about 125wpc) (stereo only). Any problems foreseen?

Thanks in advance.

Not always. Many are 2nd, 3rd, or 4th owners. Even original owners don't always know which generation they have.
The Hadfler is listed at 115 watt/channel @ 8 ohms. There is no 4 ohm rating.
The 4th Generation 87'-89' CRS+ are 6 ohm, and the Hafler should power them adequately at moderate levels. You must verify that it has a common ground between the two channels. Above moderate levels, the amp will run out of steam quickly. The 3rd generation, 86' CRS+ are 4 ohm, and drop below that at certain frequencies. The Hafler would most likely shut down or blow it's protection fuses.
If you do all the upgrades for the 4th generation 87'-89' CRS+s, including the Sub-Bass Drive Inductors, they will become 4 ohm as well, and the Hafler will not like that.
The original Interconnect Cable that came with the CRS+s were light gauge, and should be upgraded with heavier cable, and SpeakON connectors. If you have a preferred type or brand speaker cable, use the same type cable for the interconnect.

motrctyman

Thanks for the info. I do know, from bench testing, that the Hafler DH-220 will do about 160-165wpc into a 4r load all day. It has four pair outputs on about +/-56Vdc and a rather large PSU. Amperage to the output transistors stays well within specs and doesn't really even get warmer than running an 8r load. You are right that they are not published, but they will do it.

I have an Ashly FET-500 (using on on my 1.2TL's) I could use on them, but even with the conversion to a Vdc cooling fan, they still have a bit of noise that might prove annoying in the bedroom environment. That, and they are absolute beastly heavy/ugly/big. But would run 450wpc into a 4r load all day, every day...will have to see if I have room for it.

DISCLAIMER: I would not recommend 4r loads in most amps unless you can bench test them into a load and verify.....

westmassguy

motrctyman wrote: »

Thanks for the info. I do know, from bench testing, that the Hafler DH-220 will do about 160-165wpc into a 4r load all day. It has four pair outputs on about +/-56Vdc and a rather large PSU. Amperage to the output transistors stays well within specs and doesn't really even get warmer than running an 8r load. You are right that they are not published, but they will do it.

I have an Ashly FET-500 (using on on my 1.2TL's) I could use on them, but even with the conversion to a Vdc cooling fan, they still have a bit of noise that might prove annoying in the bedroom environment. That, and they are absolute beastly heavy/ugly/big. But would run 450wpc into a 4r load all day, every day...will have to see if I have room for it.

DISCLAIMER: I would not recommend 4r loads in most amps unless you can bench test them into a load and verify.....

You already did your homework, so when you get the CRS+s, you should be good.
Just double check, that the Hafler is Common Ground. Measure resistance between the two negative terminals on the back. It should be well under 1 ohm if it's common ground

motrctyman

Actually, I am sorry if I came across as a jerk...it was not my intention. I re-read my comment in yours and it sure came across as such.

I was mainly asking about if it were to be enough output, and it sounds like the DH-220 will not be. I tried the 1.2TL's on it at first and was not happy with the output of it...and quite frankly I was afraid I would torch a tweeter or eight if I pushed it very hard.

I don't play things insanely loud in the bedroom, but when the wife is out of town, I have been known to turn it up a bit.

I just went out and measured and there is indeed a common ground between the two outputs. 0.0r. It is actually visible, but I still measured to make sure.

But, I think I will order another fan and convert the Ashly and have it ready and waiting. Will be more power than I would ever need, but not going to worry about tweeters should things go a little loud.

Thank you for your information, I greatly appreciate. Also thanks for the heads up on the connector cable. I bought a couple of rather large isolation transformers cheap and am going to make a new set of interconnects, and like very much the idea of using Neutriks to replace the existing ones. Once I get that done, I want to see what a legitimate 900wpc would sound like on the 1.2Tl's.....

westmassguy

No worries, it wasn't taken that way. You're comparing apples to oranges. The 1.2s have eight woofers and four tweeters per cabinet. The CRS+s have two woofers and a single tweeter. Much easier load to drive. I suspect the Hafler will do just fine for the bedroom, unless you plan to crank them up to drown out some other noises

agfrost

There's a pair of CRS+ on Chicago craigslist, complete with stands. A bit more than a 'steal' price, but maybe negotiable (it's been on CL for weeks) and not terrifically far away if you are located in Detroit as your handle suggests.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ele/4791443529.html

Sounds like one-owner speakers with records, and would appear to be the most modern model based on his purchase date.

motrctyman

Originally from Detroit, but now living in Fort Worth, TX. I appreciate the heads up though!