Polks new monitor series

jefft1314

So i'm going to preface this with the fact that i'm far from an audiophile at the moment, but here's my impression on the new monitor series from polk. The monitor 30's are a rocking little speaker for 100 bucks a pop, these things are small, and actually similar in design to the nht sb3 with the mid driver and tweeter inverted. Overall a good sound though certainly more foward and bright than the rti series. This is more or less true for the monitor 40's as well, a much taller speaker, with the same width as the 30 (they use the same midrange and tweeter as the 30, but with a second midrange driver). Bass response was pretty good on both of these speakers, and I was pleased with the way they sounded, though i was able to turn them up to a point where they started to sound harsh, something i was unable to do with the rti series. I also listened to I believe the monitor 70's. Pretty aggressive floor standing speaker, again, much like the smaller bookshelves a much more in your face sound. They actually remind me of the Infinity Alpha series in terms of tonal quality, though not quite as harsh. I found myself actually appreciating the infinity beta 20's and 50's more than the monitor speakers, as they were actually more laid back, something i never thought i'd say about an infinity speaker compared to a polk. Also the clarity and seperation in the mids and highs aren't quite as clear on the monitors as they were on the rti's. To sum it up, I like the new monitor series, but it is certianly in my eyes a pretty significant downgrade from the rti series and the price differnece is not enough to warrant it, anybody who was thinking about waiting for the new monitor line to be released instead of snatching a deal on the rti's most defintiely will be disappointed, unless you like a much more foward sounding speaker. Also all speaker sets were run off of an onkyo receiver (the bookshelves a 502) and the tower a 901, with monster xp speaker wire and the speakers set to fullrange. (I'm going to listen to the bookshelves again tomorrow with a subwoofer and see if I appreciate them more) I think my circuit city was one of the first to see the new speakers, probably because we sold our last set of rti's a few days ago.

gregure

I agree with Venom. The Rti line are already a tad bright for music (the degree of brightness depends on receiver), but if monitor is brighter that is truly a crime. I would be interested to hear impressions after break in time as well. However, it seems hardly likely anyone could think the new series is an upgrade from the Rti line, as they are more expensive, and cater to a non-audiophile public. Thus the "in-your-face" quality, I would assume. Personally, I'm starting to look at upgrading to a B&K receiver, possibly separates later on down the line. The last thing I would couple that equipment with is something a step down from the Rti's.

jefft1314

unimaginable or not, it's still the truth, i'll continue to beat on them while i'm at work as i should be getting more time in the audio department of cc in the next couple of weeks or so, thankfully, as I'm very fed up with selling televisions. I encourage anybody else who gets a chance to listen to them to post their impressions here as I'm interested in hearing other people's thoughts.

Soccerplyr

The first thing I notice about them was their build quality. Not nearly as solid as the Rti's. They are also very light, the R30's weigh quite a bit more. I've only played with the monitor 50's and the 30's. I've got roughly 8 hours of constant playing on the 50's and I still think they sound harsh, maybe a little flat as well. I'm trying not to pass judgement until I've given them more time, but thus far I'm not to happy with the sound they produce. i think getting rid of the RTi line a CC is going to bit them in the ****, which tends to be the case with most of the decisions the upper management has made lately.

Airplay355

i think it was a good idea to move out the rti line, now the rti's can be compared with better speakers instead of being the best speaker in the store. this will allow their price/performance ratio to show through. i guess only time will really tell though

Soccerplyr

The Infinity lines, RS through the new beta's have always been a good side by side comparision with the Polk RT's. Now if I want to sell a decent system, what do I have to offer someone interested in one of our higher end receivers? Infinity? As I said the jury remains at large until I get the monitor's broken in (and get the 70's.)

jefft1314

Yeah, I'm not too keen on having Infinity speakers as my go to speakers, and I'm not convinced they will yet, though I certainly appreciate the beta20's more than either polk monitor bookshelf speaker at the moment.

Joey_V

man... i refuse to believe that the infinity betas best the polk monitors.

i havent heard the monitors but i have heard the rti next to the betas and the rti, imho, had much better overall tone, transparency, and midrange reproduction.

the monitors cant be bad... say it aint so.

PolkThug

Aesthetically, the Polk Monitor center blows away the Infinity Beta center. The Beta has a metal grill with little holes in it.

Haven't had time for sound tests yet......

jefft1314

Trust me, I had a hard time believing it myself, but when my sales manager (recently departed, actually that day) said he preferred the Polks to the Infinity Beta's, I knew there was a problem, as he always preferred the brighter sound of Infinity speakers. At high volumes the Polk monitors scream at me to turn them down, which is not a problem I've ever had with even my rm6700 sattelite speakers, and especially not with the rti4 or rti6, they just beg to be turned up. Now for moderate listening levels people may appreciate the monitor speakers, but I'd never, ever, throw a party with them. These new speakers should be filtering into circuit city's across the country, I encourage you all to go out and listen to them. As stated before the Polks haven't been broken in yet, and they won't be broken in probably the whole time they're on sales floor, so if people bring them home and they cool down a little, I'd love to know that, I'd certainly be able to suggest them with more confidence.

VR3

Hmm...

I think you guys may be surprised.

People in CC - regular joes - Like the WOW sound....

and if the Monitor line looks good....other points

jefft1314

I'm not saying that the Monitor line won't sell well to those who shop at CC, but what I am saying is that if I had a pair of RTI-6's and directly compared them to the monitor 40's in front of any customer, they would prefer the sound of the 6's, then ask me what the price difference is, I'd tell them 20 bucks for the pair, and then they'd buy the 6's, I think everytime. Maybe I'm overestimating people's ears, but I find that most people know what good audio is once they've heard it which is why, I always, even if the people said they were too expensive, demoed the rti6's before I played my customers anything else. You're right about the styling on them, they do look pretty good and remarkably similar to the onkyo hts 770 speakers... hmm... I wonder who makes those speakers... Anyway, I'm rambling. Final thoughts: I'm going to miss the RTI line of speakers.

TroyD

People in CC - regular joes - Like the WOW sound....

Pot...kettle...black?

Hello? Is this thing on??

BDT

jefft1314

troy, what do you mean?

Joey_V

im so confused... .

VR3

Originally posted by TroyD
Pot...kettle...black?

Hello? Is this thing on??

BDT

What???

Yeah, Circuit City dropping the RTi line will be bad for those with no tweeters around them.

However, down here - even with 4-5 Tweeters within 30 minutes of home, and closer, there are MANY people in this area that have NO clue what Tweeter is. So the idea they may take the RT over the Monitor is unlikely if they just go to Circuit City --

Either way, I dont think the sales of either line will be hurt.

As for Troy,
Please explain....I am guessing you are saying I like the *wow* sound? If I did, I would own Klipsch...

TroyD

My comment, and I don't mean it in a harsh way, but every time Sid hooks anything up (by all means, go back and read his posts) his immediate reaction is 'WOW this is the greatest thing I've ever heard'....all in the span of a few minutes.

BDT

organ

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3

I am guessing you are saying I like the *wow* sound? If I did, I would own Klipsch...

Excuse me? Are yo saying the *wow* sound is a good or bad thing?

VR3

Troy,
The past purchases I have made, I have actually sat down and taken a listen to the stuff I have purchased as of late.

However, when I go in a store - I usually dont even pay attention to speakers that jump out at you. Which is what I am talking about -

Which brings me back to what I said before, WHAT????

If the Monitor series is anything like they are saying - they have that WOW effect, where speakers jump out at you on the top end and draws your attention in. Most people will dig this.

But whatever...

- Trey

VR3

Organ,
You got a PM

Depends on what you like - some like the 'wow', some dont. I personally, do not -

I don't like incredibly bright speakers...all a matter of opinion...

People like Sean like the speakers that are almost mute on the top end...lol, and I like the middle...not bright, not laid back

TroyD

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Troy,
The past purchases I have made, I have actually sat down and taken a listen to the stuff I have purchased as of late.

However, when I go in a store - I usually dont even pay attention to speakers that jump out at you. Which is what I am talking about -

Which brings me back to what I said before, WHAT????

If the Monitor series is anything like they are saying - they have that WOW effect, where speakers jump out at you on the top end and draws your attention in. Most people will dig this.

But whatever...

- Trey

Oh, come on Sid.....tell me that there aren't a bunch of posts where you hooked something up and less than five minutes later you are typing away about how WOW, that was the greatest thing I ever heard!!

BDT

RuSsMaN

Ignore list Troy, you might as well be arguing with your left ****.

Cheers,
Russ

VR3

Edit -

Yall arnt worth the time...

BTW, Russ - great to hear that news...no more of you replying to me...w00t w00t

Joey_V

what did u mean by "a la lsi"?

do u mean that the monitors will sound like lsi?

or

do u mean that the monitors will have break in like lsi?

cfrizz

The Monitors will never sound like the LSi's they were not designed to sound like them. From what Paul Di Como said, the Monitors are a cross between the R series & the RTI series. Which means it won't really sound like either one, but be unique unto itself. But they are priced for your regular joe who would never think to step into Tweeter to spend THAT MUCH money on a pair of speakers.

Originally posted by Joey_V
what did u mean by "a la lsi"?

do u mean that the monitors will sound like lsi?

or

do u mean that the monitors will have break in like lsi?

kingkip

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Ignore list Troy, you might as well be arguing with your left ****.

Cheers,
Russ

Really? Cause my right **** is much more obstinate.