Monitor 50 vs. R50

critical_gp
critical_gp Posts: 84
edited April 2006 in Speakers
Im thinking of getting a new HT so help me out here...replacing R50s and R30s
Is there a big difference between Monitor 50 and R50? Monitor 60?
Tweeter has some good deals on Monitor 60 and 30....or woukd you recomend 2 pairs RTi4s instead?

Let me know what you all think
Thanks
Audio system lost to water damage... :(
Post edited by critical_gp on
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Comments

  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2006
    I'd move up to the higher quality of the RTi speakers myself. which RTi's is up to your budget.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • critical_gp
    critical_gp Posts: 84
    edited April 2006
    I'm in college and my budget is LOW...RTi4s. They are only $130 each at Tweeter. Monitor 60s are $175 each and monitor 30s are $130 pair....so no more than $500. Are Monitor 60 much different than my R50s anyway?
    Audio system lost to water damage... :(
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  • *Seby*-Polk-
    *Seby*-Polk- Posts: 375
    edited April 2006
    The drivers of R-50 are 6"½ and the Monitor 50 are 5"¼. Result: The low frequencies are more strong in the R's and have more power.

    The 50's sounds great...very clean and more bright than R50, but if you think bought a sub in the future, i recommend you the monitors. IMHO.
    My current new system (step by step :D)

    A/V Receiver: YAMAHA RX-V657
    DVD Player: YAMAHA DVD-S657
    Main Towers: polkaudio® Monitor 50
    Wiring: NeoTecH KS1007 OFC High Definition Speaker Cable ( 2 x 2.64 mm² )
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  • crazy
    crazy Posts: 443
    edited April 2006
    I have the Monitor 50's - they sounds great. Monitor 60's is an upgrade but the Monitor 50's will do unless you want to go the Rti route. When I was in college, I got the Monitor 50's and have been extremely happy with them.

    Check out my earlier post ...

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39648
    Distant Dream - A New Beginning
    www.distantdream.com
    (Now also available on iTunes)
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  • critical_gp
    critical_gp Posts: 84
    edited April 2006
    Believe it or not that is exactly how i wanted my new system to look like exept Monitor 60 and Yamaha Receiver. I already have a sub and center chan.

    Anyway, I know I would get better sound quality from the RTi series but right now i cant afford any Rti tower speakers and for some reason I dont like seeing speakers on stands or hanging on walls next to the TV...So

    Monitor 60
    Monitor 30
    CSi1
    PSW10
    Yamaha THR5730

    ...those would do the trick.
    Is there a place where I can trade in my curent speakers? I live in Chicago....and those Cash Converter places wouldnt give me much...
    Sugestions
    Audio system lost to water damage... :(
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,059
    edited April 2006
    I'm with DB on this one go for the Rti4's, you won't regret them. They are a sweet lil speaker.
    I've got a pair which have since been sent to the rears, but as mains they kick major butt. They also have received some great reviews. Do yourself a favor if you even think that you might uphrade in the future, buy the 4 and be done with it
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  • *Seby*-Polk-
    *Seby*-Polk- Posts: 375
    edited April 2006
    ohhh i forgot !!! monitor 50 looks better and elegant than R50's :)
    My current new system (step by step :D)

    A/V Receiver: YAMAHA RX-V657
    DVD Player: YAMAHA DVD-S657
    Main Towers: polkaudio® Monitor 50
    Wiring: NeoTecH KS1007 OFC High Definition Speaker Cable ( 2 x 2.64 mm² )
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  • crazy
    crazy Posts: 443
    edited April 2006
    critical_gp - if you are thinking about Monitor 50 instead of the 60, I could sell you the pair I have. It's less than 3 months old and bought from an authorized dealer.

    I decided to upgrade so I'm (thinking of) selling those ...
    Distant Dream - A New Beginning
    www.distantdream.com
    (Now also available on iTunes)
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  • Drumingman
    Drumingman Posts: 348
    edited April 2006
    *Seby*-Polk- wrote:
    ohhh i forgot !!! monitor 50 looks better and elegant than R50's :)


    That's you opinion, next to my Cherry R 50's, Monitior 50's look cheap and
    the build quality looks cheaper too. Personally, if I was going to upgrade, it would not be to the cheap looking monitor series with the smaller drivers.
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  • *Seby*-Polk-
    *Seby*-Polk- Posts: 375
    edited April 2006
    Different opinions. I don't like the looks of R'50
    My current new system (step by step :D)

    A/V Receiver: YAMAHA RX-V657
    DVD Player: YAMAHA DVD-S657
    Main Towers: polkaudio® Monitor 50
    Wiring: NeoTecH KS1007 OFC High Definition Speaker Cable ( 2 x 2.64 mm² )
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  • Drumingman
    Drumingman Posts: 348
    edited April 2006
    I guess thats why you don't have any.
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,586
    edited April 2006
    Lets not fight guys...
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Maestro
    Maestro Posts: 92
    edited April 2006
    Speakers head-to-head...

    Tweeters:
    R50 - 0.75" Dyn Balance Slk/Poly
    M50 - 1" Dyn Balance Slk/Poly

    (2) Mid/Woofer:
    R50 - 6.5" Dyn Balance Poly/Mineral
    M50 - 5.75" Dyn Balance Bi-laminate

    Efficiency:
    R50 - 90 db (40 lbs)
    M50 - 89 db (30 lbs)

    Size:
    R50 (H/W/D) - 36.75"/7.75"/11.875"
    M50 (H/W/D) - 35"/7"/9.625"

    I actually A/B'd these two before I made my final purchase decision. The R50 has a more natural and full range sound - a wider soundstage. More bass - deep and tight - is prevalent in the R50 as well. The Monitor 50 has a more forward presence and articulates more mids and highs (rock music would definitely shine) - direct on your lap sound. The R50 just seemed to be more versatile with a variety of musical genres. It's size alone dictates its acoustical prowess to move air: the cabinet is taller, wider, and deeper than the M50.

    Again, it's a question of how you like to listen to music and/or HT: I prefer a a wide spectrum, a wide soundstage speaker. Some people might prefer an in-your-face or on-your-lap (forward) sounding speaker; similar to a PA speaker. I even auditioned the Monitor 60s against the R50s. The R50s still had more umph at the same db level! I auditioned all three models using the H/K AVR635 (90w x 2).

    And finally the look and price: The Cherry edition R50s are very attractive with or without the grill; and the PRICE was rediculously irresistible.


    Hope that helps.
    _________________________
    Main: Polk R50s
    Center: Polk CSi3
    Surround: Polk R30s
    Rear: Polk R15s
    Sub: Polk PSW12
    Cherry Wood Edition
    Whirlwind Cables/Connectors

    Harman/Kardon AVR635
    Harman/Kardon DVD 27
    Sony RDR-GX300 DVDR
    Sony Bravia 40" XBR1
    _________________________
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  • MLZ
    MLZ Posts: 214
    edited April 2006
    Not that money should ever enter into this decision, but at Outpost (Fry Electronic's website) R-50's are $69.99 each and Monitor 50's are $200.00 each
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  • AzN_plyR
    AzN_plyR Posts: 96
    edited April 2006
    when the R50's aren't on sale, they are the same price as the Monitor 50s BTW :)
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  • MLZ
    MLZ Posts: 214
    edited April 2006
    With the R50 and Monitor 50 so similar, including price point, size, why does Polk market both? Is one series being phased out in favor of the other? There were only 20 reviews on the Monitor 50 (back to July 2004) vs 53 for the R50 (back to May 2002) so I guess the"R" series is older.

    Just curious as I recently purchased a pair of R50s (Fry's for $159 / pair) for my home office are and love them.
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,586
    edited April 2006
    I've been wondering that as well.... I thought the R series wouldve been discontinued by now, but people still sell them.The Monitor series are a good line up..... I suppose they are the revamped versions of the R series? Not too sure, so dont quote me.

    I will say though, I prefer the look of the Monitor series over the R series - the Monitor in cherry is particularly good looking. My .02.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • AzN_plyR
    AzN_plyR Posts: 96
    edited April 2006
    I hope they don't cancel the R series, I haven't finish my system yet!! I need a center and real surrounds hehe.
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  • tommyboy
    tommyboy Posts: 1,414
    edited April 2006
    AzN_plyR wrote:
    I hope they don't cancel the R series, I haven't finish my system yet!! I need a center and real surrounds hehe.

    The monitor series didn't cancel the R series, the M series did. But the thing is, the M series look almost exactly like the monitor series. If you check out polks website you can see the difference. But in my opinion the M series sound very tinty compared to the monitor or R series. I've listened to r-30,monitor 50, and m-20s... The M20s sounded by far the worst (even though all three are only $60 apart). If I were you though, I would get the R-50s. If it wasn't for the major discount i got for the monitor 50s, i wouldn't have them.

    Still, most online stores still carry the r series so....
    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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  • MLZ
    MLZ Posts: 214
    edited April 2006
    Maestro wrote:
    Speakers head-to-head...

    So to add M20 to Maestro's comparison

    Tweeters:
    R50 - 0.75" Dyn Balance Slk/Poly
    M50 - 1" Dyn Balance Slk/Poly
    M20 - 0.75" Dyn Balance silk/poly

    (2) Mid/Woofer:
    R50 - 6.5" Dyn Balance Poly/Mineral
    M50 - 5.75" Dyn Balance Bi-laminate
    M20 - (1) 6.5" Dyn Balance Poly / composite

    Efficiency:
    R50 - 90 db (40 lbs)
    M50 - 89 db (30 lbs)
    M20 - 89 db (32 lbs)

    Size:
    R50 (H/W/D) - 36.75"/7.75"/11.875"
    M50 (H/W/D) - 35"/7"/9.625"
    M20 (H/W/D) - 33.75"/7.75"/9"
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