Grabbed a pair of ES20's

heiney9

Slowly getting moved into the new place. Having some things done before we fully stay there. But we are moving things and having things delivered.

Since I will now have a dedicated 2 channel space I will no longer be using the main rig in the main living area and TV area. Because of the open concept 5.1 or any multi-channel rig is not ideal. I wanted something more than the Magnifi-Mini sound bar we use for movies and/or music video's as well as non-critical streaming.

I agonized about going with another pair of R200's but for the use, it was overkill. I want a system that sounds good, but no critical listening will be done. I wanted something fun and something the GF could operate with out turning on multiple pieces of gear and settings.

It also needed to blend in and have a minimum amount of cables. The TV stand I bought has 3 component openings. 1) for a cable box 2) power center/conditioner 3) integrated amp w/dac. Plus it needed to be fairly inexpensive.

This was one of the harder choices as I didn't want to compromise the audio too much, but I had to keep it in budget. Big bang for the $$$.

Polk ES20's, Rockville wood stands and Marantz PM6007 integrated. I have read really great things about both pieces. The ES20's are just very slightly smaller than the R200's but have gotten excellent reviews. The press has gushed about the Marantz it punches above it's price range. Add to that a new pair of 8' MTI AVt 3 speaker cables.

They will be delivered next Monday, but it'll be a few weeks before I can listen to them. We'll see if I can just listen and have fun rather than pick apart deficiencies and evaluate the gear.

Anyone else experience either the Marantz PM6007 or Polk ES20's

H9

P.s. I tried hard to go for a different speaker brand just to mix it up, but I didn't know where to start for bookies. Many of them (in reviews) needed a sub for any kind of bass. The ES20's seem to be like the R200's....have a bit of bass.

billbillw

heiney9 wrote: »

...
I wanted something fun and something the GF could operate with out turning on multiple pieces of gear and settings.

It is sad that we can't buy a new Harmony remote to help with issues like this anymore...
That said, the HDMI-CEC and HDMI-ARC have come a long way at helping with these issues.
It looks like that Marantz integrated doesn't have any HDMI features. Are you sure that was the best bet? Even my older Pioneer SC-71 will respond and turn on to the correct input when my TV is turned on.

heiney9

You misunderstand. My current main rig requires powering up the tube pre-amp, amp, dac, switching the dac to the correct input (all manually). Since we are using a soundbar the TV audio output has to be changed from Dolby DTS (using the soundbar) to PCM.

Doesn't seem like a hassle, but it is and my GF doesn't want to do all that messing with my gear. Now with the basic Marantz and a pair of ES20's it will be a bit simpler.

I'll run HDMI from the cable box to the TV and optical out from the TV to the Marantz for sound. This will be when not using the soundbar. For movies, music, Youtube stuff, etc.

The sound bar will be hooked up as always and I do have a blu-ray player to hook up to the TV as well. I didn't want an AVR or all that complication since we are strictly 2 channel. My guess is we will stream music more than we will use it for TV audio, but we'll see.

The main rig will reside in the man cave in the finished basement. As well as all my other audio goodies and office rig, etc.

H9

F1nut

I haven't heard ES20 or looked into what differences it may have vs the S20. That said, I found the S20 to be wooly no matter what gear was driving them.

VR3

Does wooly mean boomy/lacking detail

F1nut

VR3 wrote: »

Does wooly mean boomy/lacking detail

Pretty much.

rooftop59

what about this?

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/marnr1200/marantz-nr1200-2-x-75-watts-a/v-stereo-receiver-w/hdmi/1.html

Has multi HDMIs with ARC, and HEOS built in. Should be plenty of power. Wouldn't need the soundbar anymore...

VR3

I would track down a pair of definitive pm700 but that's just me




https://www.ebay.com/itm/266809764348?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=chgHH7d4SGa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=yHso81k-SmG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

billbillw

heiney9 wrote: »

You misunderstand. My current main rig requires powering up the tube pre-amp, amp, dac, switching the dac to the correct input (all manually). Since we are using a soundbar the TV audio output has to be changed from Dolby DTS (using the soundbar) to PCM.

Doesn't seem like a hassle, but it is and my GF doesn't want to do all that messing with my gear. Now with the basic Marantz and a pair of ES20's it will be a bit simpler.

I'll run HDMI from the cable box to the TV and optical out from the TV to the Marantz for sound. This will be when not using the soundbar. For movies, music, Youtube stuff, etc.

The sound bar will be hooked up as always and I do have a blu-ray player to hook up to the TV as well. I didn't want an AVR or all that complication since we are strictly 2 channel. My guess is we will stream music more than we will use it for TV audio, but we'll see.

The main rig will reside in the man cave in the finished basement. As well as all my other audio goodies and office rig, etc.

H9

I don't think I misunderstood. I knew you were not going to be using your "main rig" in this setup. My question was choosing a 2-ch integrated versus an AV receiver with HDMI ARC. It can be a 1-button setup, especially if you get away from using a cable box. I can hit the home button on my Apple TV remote, and it turns on the TV and receiver and has everything on the correct input. It also worked like that when I was still using a Roku Ultra.
The suggestion above for the NR1200 might be worth considering...although, the PM6007 is likely a cleaner sounding unit and would probably last longer with no potential HDMI failures. I'm sure it will sound nice and hopefully not too wooly.

heiney9

F1nut wrote: »

I haven't heard ES20 or looked into what differences it may have vs the S20. That said, I found the S20 to be wooly no matter what gear was driving them.

I did read the ES20 is an improvement. We'll have to see.

H9

heiney9

VR3 wrote: »

I would track down a pair of definitive pm700 but that's just me




https://www.ebay.com/itm/266809764348?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=chgHH7d4SGa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=yHso81k-SmG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Way too big for the intended use.

H9

billbillw

heiney9 wrote: »

Way too big for the intended use.

H9

That never stopped Trey.

VR3

I mean can you really go to big? Is that a thing?

Power monitor 500 is much smaller, I use a set on my desk

heiney9

VR3 wrote: »

I would track down a pair of definitive pm700 but that's just me




https://www.ebay.com/itm/266809764348?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=chgHH7d4SGa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=yHso81k-SmG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

NM wrong post

heiney9

rooftop59 wrote: »

what about this?

https://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/marnr1200/marantz-nr1200-2-x-75-watts-a/v-stereo-receiver-w/hdmi/1.html

Has multi HDMIs with ARC, and HEOS built in. Should be plenty of power. Wouldn't need the soundbar anymore...

Hmmmm, didn't even look at receivers, thinking an integrated would give better audio performance. I may have to rethink this. As this might work on several fronts.

HEOS is complete crap I've heard so that's not an advantage.

heiney9

billbillw wrote: »

heiney9 wrote: »

You misunderstand. My current main rig requires powering up the tube pre-amp, amp, dac, switching the dac to the correct input (all manually). Since we are using a soundbar the TV audio output has to be changed from Dolby DTS (using the soundbar) to PCM.

Doesn't seem like a hassle, but it is and my GF doesn't want to do all that messing with my gear. Now with the basic Marantz and a pair of ES20's it will be a bit simpler.

I'll run HDMI from the cable box to the TV and optical out from the TV to the Marantz for sound. This will be when not using the soundbar. For movies, music, Youtube stuff, etc.

The sound bar will be hooked up as always and I do have a blu-ray player to hook up to the TV as well. I didn't want an AVR or all that complication since we are strictly 2 channel. My guess is we will stream music more than we will use it for TV audio, but we'll see.

The main rig will reside in the man cave in the finished basement. As well as all my other audio goodies and office rig, etc.

H9

I don't think I misunderstood. I knew you were not going to be using your "main rig" in this setup. My question was choosing a 2-ch integrated versus an AV receiver with HDMI ARC. It can be a 1-button setup, especially if you get away from using a cable box. I can hit the home button on my Apple TV remote, and it turns on the TV and receiver and has everything on the correct input. It also worked like that when I was still using a Roku Ultra.
The suggestion above for the NR1200 might be worth considering...although, the PM6007 is likely a cleaner sounding unit and would probably last longer with no potential HDMI failures. I'm sure it will sound nice and hopefully not too wooly.

I see your point.

heiney9

VR3 wrote: »

I mean can you really go to big? Is that a thing?

Power monitor 500 is much smaller, I use a set on my desk

Somewhat limited on space for speakers and WAF (in this case girlfriend acceptance factor). This is just for occasional movies and occasional music streaming. Nothing fancy, nothing super loud, nothing too complicated, nothing critically listened to. But better than your typical soundbar.

VR3

Understood. I'm also assuming in wall or in ceiling is out of the question

ken brydson

heiney9 wrote: »

F1nut wrote: »

I haven't heard ES20 or looked into what differences it may have vs the S20. That said, I found the S20 to be wooly no matter what gear was driving them.

I did read the ES20 is an improvement. We'll have to see.

H9

I'm really enjoying my S20's FWIW...

heiney9

Hey Ken,

How are they used and what gear are you using? I don't expect they will have the smooth, detailed, extended highs like the models with the vifa tweeter, but reviews have been very positive for the ES20's.

H9

heiney9

VR3 wrote: »

Understood. I'm also assuming in wall or in ceiling is out of the question

There are inwalls already through out, but not in places that make "audio" sense if you know what I mean. There is no way to set the room up around the current (late 80's) in walls that would make any sort of audio sense.

Ceilings are vaulted. Plus that's far too complicated for what the purpose is. Really just having an option other than the sound bar that sounds decently good.

I am a bit apprehensive as it's been hard for me in the past to compromise too much on sound quality. But I need to keep the overall use in perspective.

If I had my way I would have bought the R200 AE's and moved my R200's to this rig and bought a nice high end tube integrated and dac and spent $1K on cables, etc. But that's not what is needed.

All critical listening and audio experimentation will be done in the man cave.

H9

heiney9

Listening to the R200's all day while doing some packing and now sitting here listening again. Holy crap do they sound good. May be I should cancel the order for the ES20's and just get another pair of R200's. That tweeter is so extended and smooth and clean and open.

ES20's are here Monday, maybe I'll hook them up in the office rig now to get an idea how they compare to the R200's.

H9

treitz3

Gotta consider break in time broski'..... (just sayin'....)

Tom

mrloren

I like my S20's. They are in a combo use system with my Marantz 5010. pretty good for just general music listening

mhardy6647

F1nut wrote: »

VR3 wrote: »

Does wooly mean boomy/lacking detail

Pretty much.

S20 -- Definitely a little thick sounding but not obtrusively so. I use a pair (kindly resourced by a kind-hearted Polk fourmie who may or may not wish to remain nameless) for livestreams, radio- and general-purpose listening and (ahem) I kind of like them.

I'd be really interested to hear the ES20. Amir at ASR liked 'em. Judge that as you wish.

heiney9

Here's a quote from this review comparing the S20's and ES20's. Sounds like perhaps the wooliness has been rectified. We'll see. This is just one person's observation. Enough for me to pull the trigger and see for myself.

https://audiofi.net/2022/11/polk-signature-elite-es20-speakers-enjoyment-effected/

But wait … there’s more! The Editor also provided me with a pair of the older Polk S20s to see how the new differed from the old. While the two sounded similar overall (surprise!), the new ES20s were cleaner in the treble and had a clearer midband, and did seem to sound firmer and better integrated. I felt treble detail to be improved, noticeable on how the ES20s conveyed the shimmer of lightly struck cymbals and sustained high notes of soprano saxophones.

H9

heiney9

I've had some "budget" bookies in the past that didn't quite live up to expectations or hype. Mirage, Pinnacle, Athena. Perhaps adjusted for inflation they might be close to the cost of ES20's today.

My use for these (also girlfriends request) is for a better experience when watching movies than a sound bar and for watching Youtube concerts,, etc. Background streaming (non-critical listening) for company, doing stuff about the house or doing home projects. Need to take up a small amount of space and hopefully sound bigger than they are.

For me, I have a certain minimum standard of accuracy, sound stage, and clarity even when listening casually. I am hopeful these will fulfill my expectations and check all the other important boxes. If they don't I'll grab another pair of R200's.

If I wasn't going to have (2) other rigs (maybe 3) in the house I would out more time, effort and $$$ into it. The girlfriend is happy with a bluetooth speaker (except movies)....lol.

H9

billbillw

For the purpose you are talking about, I can't see these ES20 being a letdown, although, I probably would have sourced a local set of used bookies that fit the bill. If you think the R200 needs to be choice, maybe wait until Oct-Dec. There seems to be a trend of big discounts being offered directly from Polk, with additional forum member savings. When I bought mine in Nov '21, the price was $393 shipped from Sound United. A year or so later (Dec '22), I grabbed an R300 to use as a center with them and it was marked down to under $200 shipped with forum discounts.
Last Fall, I wasn't really paying attention since I wasn't in the market for any more speakers. Anyway, looking forward to hearing your impressions.

heiney9

I also have another favorite Polk set of bookies I could try. RT25i's, but I thought they might be a bit too bass shy. I will try those too. Oh yeah, I almost forgot about my beloved and heavily modded 5B's. They are a bit clunkier and stand out more..........I'm sure I'll try those out too. I have options

H9

billbillw

RT25i are what started my Polk journey. I still have 2-pairs in my HT setup.

heiney9

They are such a great speaker. The midrange clarity and accuracy as well as the highs are superb. I also had a pair of RT35i's and while they were also great, they just didn't quite have the same magic.

I am looking to buy another pair of RT25i's just so I have some spare parts if anything is needed in the future.

ES20's arrived Monday, stands arrive today and hopefully tonight I'll get them up and running tonight (at the new place)

H9