I'm now a Polkie

bsoko2

I started with a set JBL's (E-90 mains, EC-35 center, and Infinity Beta-250's for surrounds). Hanging around the Vintage Polk forum has turned me to Polk . I now have a set of Monitor 10's for my mains and have added another set of Monitor 10's that I have for my L&R surrounds, with a CS-350 for my center. I still kept my JBL E-50's for my rear surrounds as they are mounted up on the rear wall and do blend with everything else. The mains and center are a excellent match. I went through several movies tonite as well as some CD's and I'm in audio heaven! Thanx guys for the tech help.

Bill

akajimmy

I would be in so much trouble with the Mrs., if I used Monitor 10's for surrounds;) I am lucky I can use the monitor 5jr+ for the front speakers, but I like the idea. I only get to use RM101 for surrounds:(

zingo

Nice grab on the 10s Polkie.

bsoko2

I've done it again! Ebay discription was this center tested and it works and plays loud. Well, this CS350 center (4.5 inch & 8 ohm) has 3 frozen drivers, I mean when I push on the cone it doesn't move. One of them moves but the other 3 are frozen. I called Polk and was told that the 4.5 inch mid driver is no longer in production. I've been on the net and have not found a replacement driver. Anybody have any ideas?

Bill

Kex

bsoko2 wrote: »

I've done it again! Ebay discription was this center tested and it works and plays loud. Well, this CS350 center (4.5 inch & 8 ohm) has 3 frozen drivers, I mean when I push on the cone it doesn't move. One of them moves but the other 3 are frozen. I called Polk and was told that the 4.5 inch mid driver is no longer in production. I've been on the net and have not found a replacement driver. Anybody have any ideas?

Bill

You need to file a dispute with eBay IMO. These are sometimes resloved very quickly and you will get your money back. It's at least worth a try, even with dishonest sellers sometimes.

bsoko2

Kex wrote: »

You need to file a dispute with eBay IMO. These are sometimes resloved very quickly and you will get your money back. It's at least worth a try, even with dishonest sellers sometimes.

Well I would, but by the time you do all of this and pay shipping again yhou might as well fix the speaker and keep it.

Bill

mmadden28

I would expect the seller to handle return shipping fees for a SNAD item.

Kex

bsoko2 wrote: »

Well I would, but by the time you do all of this and pay shipping again yhou might as well fix the speaker and keep it.

Bill

If it's broken, they may either pay to have it shipped, or just leave you to keep it. I would leave negative feedback (it gets their attention if they are dishonest, since they rely on a good feedback score to attract business) and file the dispute with eBay immediately ... then let the seller decide if they want to pay to have it returned or not.

This happened to me recently, on a smaller item, but I was refunded in full by PayPal, including shipping, and the seller never asked for the faulty item back (it was useless to me anyway, but they could probably have resold it).

mmadden28

I would try to work with the seller before leaving any feedback.

Jonesy

After you sort out your mess with ebay.....

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72960

bsoko2

Jonesy wrote: »

After you sort out your mess with ebay.....

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72960

Too big and ugly!

Kex

mmadden28 wrote: »

I would try to work with the seller before leaving any feedback.

Negative comments can be withdrawn, if necessary, afterwards. At least, that was how it was about six months ago when I had my SNAD incident.

bsoko2

I'm keeping the CS350 center, I just have to find where to get some 4.5 inch mids for it. Polk no longer has it as of 4 years ago. I can't find any speaker manufacturer that makes a 4.5 inch mid. I quess I need to ask some of you, can I use a 4 inch mid? I think I can but I don't know which one will work best? And, I'm willing to modify the face of the cabinet to get it to work.

Bill

mmadden28

Kex wrote: »

Negative comments can be withdrawn, if necessary, afterwards. At least, that was how it was about six months ago when I had my SNAD incident.

Yes, (although I don't know how it has changed with the recent changes-I think for the better-more flexible IIRC) but I'd like to think it's still common courtesy to at least give the seller a chance to rectify the situation before resorting to that. If they don't respond or respond negatively, then you do what you need to do.

When I do my feedback research on eBay, I see it time and time again on negative feedback, where the seller rebutted "If you have a problem call us first", To me it just starts thing off on the wrong foot. For all we know (just using this sale as an example) something could have happened in transit or could have been a sneaky seller. Odds are if the seller has a good feedback history, they won't want to ruin that status and may just make it right.

I've had a couple SNAD transactions on eBay (seems like 3 in a row IIRC) (as a buyer-I've never sold anything anywhere), I gave the sellers a chance, and things all worked out well-and I didn't have to pay return shipping in any case and all monies (including initial shipping) were refunded. And I didn't have to file a report.

Just saying a little sugar can go a long way. I think this page from eBay says it best:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/communicate.html

mmadden28

bsoko2 wrote: »

I'm keeping the CS350 center, I just have to find where to get some 4.5 inch mids for it. Polk no longer has it as of 4 years ago. I can't find any speaker manufacturer that makes a 4.5 inch mid. I quess I need to ask some of you, can I use a 4 inch mid? I think I can but I don't know which one will work best? And, I'm willing to modify the face of the cabinet to get it to work.

Bill

You might want to post your needs in the Want To Buy section. I've seen sales for various drivers pop up here at CP from time to time.

Bsoko, just curious, what kind of feedback are you likely to leave for the seller? If you at least contact them about this, even if you intend to keep it anyway, you might be able to work out a deal and perhaps get a partial refund.

BIZILL

got the link for the auction? don't wanna dogpile the seller. but maybe we can spot something in the add that you should have caught...for future reference.

John30_30

mmadden28 wrote: »

I would try to work with the seller before leaving any feedback.

ditto. hold that negative over their head.

bsoko2

I have been in contact with the seller. Seller claims that they worked when he shipped them. The wording in the ebay ad said that the center had been tested and everything worked. Seller will refund $ to me but I want to keep the CS350 and try to replace the drivers. I contacted Polk and they aren't any help with replacement drivers. I will hope that some Polkie has drivers in their collection that they will part with or Parts Express or someone else can recommend a replacement with a 4 inch driver.

Bill

Dennis Gardner

The 350 is a beast and worth the effort to rebuild. I've had mine going on 6 years. I would watch for CS150 or CS250 to come up cheap. They have the same mids.

bsoko2

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

The 350 is a beast and worth the effort to rebuild. I've had mine going on 6 years. I would watch for CS150 or CS250 to come up cheap. They have the same mids.

Thanx, Dennis

dorokusai

On behalf of 4-6 current members....We're sorry and we didn't mean those comments like they came out. I figure those words will be uttered at some point while you're here.

bsoko2

dorokusai wrote: »

On behalf of 4-6 current members....We're sorry and we didn't mean those comments like they came out. I figure those words will be uttered at some point while you're here.

It's ok dude, I've heard worse in my 65 years. I was a jar head and did some time in Cuba and Nam twice, so little comments don't bug me. I pulled the mid drivers and got one to work after hitting the backend with a hammer. I have both good drivers on both sides of the center tweeter and the bad drivers on the ends. Disconnected the end drivers and everything sounds good. I have a line on a CS150 for $100 and might go for it (for parts and drivers).

Bill

bsoko2

Question for Ben or anyone else: My monitor 10's as mains are great for music, Standard DVD and most HDDVD content (have a Tosh HD-AX2. They sound really bad when using BluRay. When the reciever is set to "small" for speakers, the monitors sound harsh with distortion on voices (sounds good with large setting). Will upgrading the crossovers cure this?

Bill

ben62670

I never heard that description before, but upgrading the caps, and resistors really does improve things pretty dramatically.
Ben

McLoki

bsoko2 wrote: »

Question for Ben or anyone else: My monitor 10's as mains are great for music, Standard DVD and most HDDVD content (have a Tosh HD-AX2. They sound really bad when using BluRay. When the reciever is set to "small" for speakers, the monitors sound harsh with distortion on voices (sounds good with large setting). Will upgrading the crossovers cure this?

Bill

Interesting problem.

Not sure about the Tosh - XA2 vs Blu-Ray. How are they each hooked up to your reciever? (HDMi cable, optical cable, Red\White audio cable, etc.)

Regarding the Large \ Small issue. It sounds like your setup is not quite right in your reciever. The difference between setting a speaker to large or small in the reciever is this:

When using Large the speaker recieves a full range signal.

When set to small the speaker recieves a signal above the crossover point. The subwoofer recieves the signal below the crossover point. (this is true for all speakers in youir setup)

It sounds like an integration issue with your Monitor 10's and your subwoofer. First things first - what subwoofer do you have and how is it hooked into your system. (LFE out on AVR to LFE in on sub, through the speaker terminals, etc.) Let us know that and we can help you further.

Upgrading the crossovers will make your monitor 10's sound better - but it will not cure this integration issue.

Michael

mmadden28

bsoko2 wrote: »

Question for Ben or anyone else: My monitor 10's as mains are great for music, Standard DVD and most HDDVD content (have a Tosh HD-AX2. They sound really bad when using BluRay. When the reciever is set to "small" for speakers, the monitors sound harsh with distortion on voices (sounds good with large setting). Will upgrading the crossovers cure this?

Bill

How are you connected to your AVR/Pre from the BR player? HDMI? Can you try another choice just for troubleshooting? Such as Digital Coax or Toslink? Or even all analog. Just to see if that make a difference.


EDIT---Doh looks like McLoki beat me to it. :cool:

bsoko2

I run all my speakers flat at 76 db calibrated from the Pio '94 receiver pink tones and the LFE crossover is 100 hz. All hookups of audio/visiual is HDMI with 1.3a spec cable. I have a Paradigm X-30 sub volume controller and a Anti Mode 8033B (subwoofer room EQ) on the LFE line going to my three subs and two MBM's. I have two HSU 3.3's (50 hz down) nearfield behind the couch and in between them is a Dayton 15" sub (was a kit from PE) and it also is set to the MBM's 50-150 hz (I like the mid bass). The two MBM's (one with each main) have a reciever LFE crossover of 100 hz and the audio is really quite dynamic, with 200 amps (Outlaw M2200 mono blocks) per main (Polk Monitor 10's with MBM's stacked on top with Aulrex Subdude between them and also on the floor). The X-30 volume is tuned to 76-78 db and I needed the other speakers set to 76 db. The X-30 controller allows me to dial up the LFE to whatever I want when playing a movie. However, for most listening (music and movies) I do prefer the current settings. With all of this, SD DVD & HD DVD sound good. BluRay is another matter as the voice and background audio is too distorted at times and is harsh sounding. I also have to turn down the volume between the good listening and the BluRay by 2db in order to have the same level. Will an upgrade of the monitor crossover help the BluRay audio. My center speaker is a Polk CS350.

Bill

McLoki

I am having a hard time visualizing what is going on with the subs in your setup and how it is hooked together. (I have never used the MBM's or that particular volume controller or EQ)

So you go from LFE out to sub eq to sub volume controller to 5 subs?

On each of the subs do you go to LFE in? (bypassing the EQ on the subs) I stand by my earlier comment - something is not jelling correctly between your monitor 10's and subwoofer crossover and cancelling things out. If you really want to find the offender - disconnect all your subs but one. Set the crossover to 80 and see how it sounds. Then add a sub, see how it sounds. Keep going one change at a time (adding a crossover or sub one at a time) until everything is rebuilt the way you want it.

You mention that the monitor 10's sound harsh with voices but also that you have a CS350 center channel. Most of the voices should come out of the center. How does it sound compared to your monitor 10's? How do your rears sound compared to the fronts? With everything set to large does it sound ok and only when set to small does it start to sound bad?

If you want to improve clarity of voices in a movie - I would upgrade the crossover in your center before your mains. The mains mainly just carry sound effects and backing music for the movie. Do you have any examples what voices or parts of a movie sound distorted?

Regarding the blu-ray VS hd-dvd.
Could there be an issue in the setup of your blu-ray player? (not passing bitstream or some such thing) If they are all passing a similar sound through a similar cable - it has to be a setup issue somewhere. The only thing that changes is the player used so I would conclude it is a setup issue in the player. Look in there and see if it is anything obvious.