Monitor 50s sound better than 70s?

tommyboy
tommyboy Posts: 1,414
edited January 2006 in Speakers
I know in this forum, more people talk about the higher end LSI and Rti series but I thought I would shake thinks up a little. I work at circuit city where their goal is to get cheaper and cheaper to become exactly like best buy.Anyways I was looking to buy either the monitor 50s or 70s(both i pretty much get half off). we have both monitor 50 and 70s in two different rooms and i always felt the 50s sounded better but maybe thought it was because of room size, shape, reciever, etc. so I brought the 70s in the same room and had them both hooked up to the onkyo tx8511 stereo reciever. Turned on the 50s then switched to the 70s and i couldn't believe my ears, of course the monitor 70s had more lower frequencies but the 50s sounded much more crisp and clear. Could the 70s Ive tested been blown? Has anyone else heard or was told the 50s sounding better?
AVR: H/K AVR240
Fronts: Monitor 50s
Center: CSI3
surrounds: R15s
Sub:Velodyne DPS10
Dvd/Cd: Samsung HD upconverter (for now)
TV: 50" Sammy Plasma
game hardware: 360 and gcn.
Gamertag: kovster27
Post edited by tommyboy on
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Comments

  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2006
    I thought the 50's sounded better as well when I did a CC demo after the "new" Monitors came out.

    The 70's bass seemed a little bloated while the 50's were very tight. SPL-wise the 50's kept up with about 2 dB more on the AVR volume control. With a sub in the picture, I'd do the 50's all day long...

    Except possibly for the 60's/ T90EB...

    Welcome to the Club...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited January 2006
    50's sound better to my ears as well, and look better.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • tommyboy
    tommyboy Posts: 1,414
    edited January 2006
    I could get the monitor 60s more than half off also but since cc doesn't carry them and i never heard them with my own ears I was skeptical.
    AVR: H/K AVR240
    Fronts: Monitor 50s
    Center: CSI3
    surrounds: R15s
    Sub:Velodyne DPS10
    Dvd/Cd: Samsung HD upconverter (for now)
    TV: 50" Sammy Plasma
    game hardware: 360 and gcn.
    Gamertag: kovster27
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2006
    There are a number of reviews of the T90EB, which is just a "euro styled" Mon 60. After break-in and the tweeter settles down, folks grew quite fond of them.

    The T90EB is what I heard as well, but at a different retailer, so I could not A-B them against the 50. Definitely a bit fuller than the 50, i.e., more bottom, but I heard no bloat. With a sub, either would do well.

    I will say the T90EB is more attractive than the Monitor series.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • BjornB17
    BjornB17 Posts: 752
    edited January 2006
    Tour2ma wrote:
    There are a number of reviews of the T90EB, which is just a "euro styled" Mon 60. After break-in and the tweeter settles down, folks grew quite fond of them.

    The T90EB is what I heard as well, but at a different retailer, so I could not A-B them against the 50. Definitely a bit fuller than the 50, i.e., more bottom, but I heard no bloat. With a sub, either would do well.

    I will say the T90EB is more attractive than the Monitor series.

    I thought they looked exactly the same, except the T90EBs have the wood veneer instead of vinyl?
    KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2006
    Yes... I wasn't trying to say anything other than that...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • FicmanS
    FicmanS Posts: 134
    edited January 2006
    Love my 70's, I have a large room to fill maybe that has something to do with it. I thought the 50's and 60's sounded a little bright to me in the Demo room, I just love my 70's...
    Rockin' In My House :D


    Pioneer 50 inch Plasma TV
    Denon AVR-3806
    Denon DVD-1930ci
    Polk Montor 70's
    Polk PSW-12
    Polk CS2
    Polk Monitor 40's
    Sirius Satellite Radio, Monster 3500MKII
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  • BjornB17
    BjornB17 Posts: 752
    edited January 2006
    FicmanS wrote:
    Love my 70's, I have a large room to fill maybe that has something to do with it. I thought the 50's and 60's sounded a little bright to me in the Demo room, I just love my 70's...

    The good thing with the 70s is that if the bass is too bloated, you can turn down the bass. It's better than turning up the bass on the 50s if its not enough :) Either way, i love the sound of the 50s AND 60s, but i had to have the big ones (and in the end they only ended up costing me about $40 more, good deal!)
    KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2006
    My God... are you talking about tone controls??? :D
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Bob Richards
    Bob Richards Posts: 27
    edited January 2006
    I listened to all the monitor speakers and ended up with the 60's. I also have a Onkyo 8511 and really liked the 60's best. I couldn't detect any difference in the 50's and 70's really, but of course it was in store conditions, different amp, different sub.
    Polk Monitor 60's
    PSW 10 Sub
    Bose Acoustimass 5 Series II
    Onkyo TX-8511 Two Channel Receiver
    Sony DVP NV800H5 CD/DVD Changer
    Denon DP-29F Turntable
    AudioQuest 4 Cables

    Sansui AU-X901 Integrated Amp
    Yamaha RX-797 2 Channel Receiver
    Polk Lis 9's
    Yamaha 697 CD player
    AudioQuest 4 Cables
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  • BjornB17
    BjornB17 Posts: 752
    edited January 2006
    Tour2ma wrote:
    My God... are you talking about tone controls??? :D


    well, they arent really necessary with polk speakers :)
    KEF Q150 | Rythmik F12 | Yamaha Aventage RX-A780
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  • Bob Richards
    Bob Richards Posts: 27
    edited January 2006
    I listened to all the monitor speakers and ended up with the 60's. I also have a Onkyo 8511 and really liked the 60's best. I couldn't detect any difference in the 50's and 70's really, but of course it was in store conditions, different amp, different sub.
    Polk Monitor 60's
    PSW 10 Sub
    Bose Acoustimass 5 Series II
    Onkyo TX-8511 Two Channel Receiver
    Sony DVP NV800H5 CD/DVD Changer
    Denon DP-29F Turntable
    AudioQuest 4 Cables

    Sansui AU-X901 Integrated Amp
    Yamaha RX-797 2 Channel Receiver
    Polk Lis 9's
    Yamaha 697 CD player
    AudioQuest 4 Cables
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited January 2006
    could it be that one model favors HT and the other music? (as i haven't seen this brought into the equation...)
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2006
    ^^ You're repeating yourself, Bob... Welcome to the Club...

    zb2k,
    I was going to say "no", but in the case of the 70's, you might be onto something there...

    Driver Complements
    Mon 70
    Subwoofer 2 - 6-1/2" Dynamic Balance Bi-laminate
    Mid/Woofer 2 - 6-1/2" Dynamic Balance Bi-laminate
    Tweeter 1 - 1" Dynamic Balance Silk/polymer
    Mon 60
    Mid/Woofer 3 - 5-1/4" Dynamic Balance Bi-laminate
    Tweeter 1 - 1" Dynamic Balance Silk/polymer
    Mon 50
    Mid/Woofer 2 - 5-1/4" Dynamic Balance Bi-laminate
    Tweeter 1 - 1" Dynamic Balance Silk/polymer

    That the 70 opts for larger, as well as more, MW's indicates to me they may be going after DVD audio reproduction.
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • FicmanS
    FicmanS Posts: 134
    edited January 2006
    I run my 70's completly flat, +1.5db on my sub and it sounds awesome... Messing with tone controls just makes my rig sound bad... Course I think a lot of it has to do how well something is mixed, some CD's are just poorly mixed (in my mind).

    Movies or CD with me sounds good either way...
    Rockin' In My House :D


    Pioneer 50 inch Plasma TV
    Denon AVR-3806
    Denon DVD-1930ci
    Polk Montor 70's
    Polk PSW-12
    Polk CS2
    Polk Monitor 40's
    Sirius Satellite Radio, Monster 3500MKII
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