Monitor 70

Marcial

Hi all,

This is my first day in this forum. I wish I knew it before I purchased my new speakers; not that I am unhappy with it but it would've been better some research before all this trouble.

I bought a new receiver (Onkyo TX-SR304) and a pair of Polk Monitor 70.

My music equipment is mainly for classical music and my intention is to make it sound as close to the real instruments as possible.

I have been playing with the bass and treble settings on the receiver but still haven't found the correct combination: it sounds too metalic when the treble is set above the normal position (0) and the bass too unnatural.

In other words, I haven't found the realistic sound I am looking for. Maybe my ears are used to a warmer (muffled) sound from previous speakers.

Telling from the way these Monitor 70s have been designed, their sound is supposed to be by far superior to anything I had before.

I would appreciate any comments and suggestions.

curved

They will need a little time to break-in....

Marcial

Wow! I would never imagine it on speakers. Any comment on Monitor70, curved?

curved

Some speakers will take longer than others.

I like the 70's....I think they sound great for their price point.

Montoya

The problem is you don't enough wattage to push them. You would have been better off buying a set of monitor 40's using that receiver.

curved

You will probably need a little more juice to hear those things sing. Are you able to return that receiver and get one with pre-outs?

Eric W

If you're looking for a "warmer" and more natural sound, turning up the treble is not the way to go Try listening to the speakers on the flat setting first.

Unless the system does not play loud enough, then wattage is not the problem.

On a Onkyo TX-SR304, that's an A/V receiver. Do you have a subwoofer? If not, be sure the speaker configuration settings are correct on the receiver (subwoofer = no, front speakers, large). Also, if you have only the front speakers connected, be sure the receiver is in "stereo" mode, otherwise Pro Logic will delete information and send it to speakers not there.


Also, don't forget the room that's the second weakest link behind the speakers and often overlooked... does it have lots of hard surfaces? How are your speakers positioned and the seating area?

maximillian

Could it be that these are simply not the speakers for him? Perhaps he needs some nice LSi's or at the minimum RTI's?

Marcial, how critical of a music listener are you? Do you care about imaging, and are willing to pay for it?

Upstatemax

Considering his speaker and receiver choice, I would guess he is going for a budget system...

I love my Monitor 70's, I have mine hooked up to a Denon 2808CI and they sound great. I also have mine "Bi-Amped" from my Denon and I found that helped them with music... Better seperation and low end response.

Marcial

Are you able to return that receiver and get one with pre-outs?

I don't think I can return the receiver at this point. But I'd rather change the receiver (or buy a new one) than returning these heavy speakers.

Then again, I don't know much about speakers because I am still amazed by the idea of letting them break in. (Maybe my ears have to break in too)

Maybe the "warmer" sound I was talking about comes from the fact that my old speakers (TDL Electronics) have only one 6-inch speaker for bass and middle ranges together, and one tweeter. On the other hand, when I first set the new speakers (both treble and bass go from -10 to +10), I set the treble to +10 and the bass to +6. (I was kind of fascinated with the response to the high ranges like violin and flute). Now I reset both to the middle point and the sound is more acceptable or natural to my ears.

Again, I try to compare the reproduced sound with the original live sound of the instruments, mainly of classical or symphonic music. I know I would never get the same sound, of course.

The system plays loud enough, I have no problem with that. I got the feeling that the wattage is ok.

I don't have a subwoofer. When I first installed the receiver, I followed the instructions about the size of the speakers, no subwoofer, no center speaker, only stereo (front), no surround, etc.

Next consideration is the room, of course. The speakers and my sit form a perfect equilateral triangle. I don't have a lot of hard surfaces, but the floor has no carpet on it and it is wood, which can vibrate or even reflect the sound. Although the speakers rest on 4 little legs or spikes, the weight makes the floor vibrate a little, I am pretty sure. I was thinking or using some kind of insulation under the speakers but, which one?

Yes, I tried to get a reasonably "decent" or budget equipment (receiver and speakers) for that amount of money. I followed the New York Times advice. As you can see, I still don't know if I did the right thing.

I feel it is too soon for me to decide if I'll be happy with it or not, I can see that after all your valuable comments and the changes I made just resetting the receiver.

Unfurtunately, that's the way it is for me when it comes to sound and selecting the best reproduction. It takes time playing with different settings and listening to different recordings.

Upstatemax

I would really think about an upgrade to the receiver...

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580TXS606B/Onkyo-TX-SR606-Black.html?tp=179

Something like the SR606 can help push them a bit harder and you have the option to "bi-amp" them and I think that helped my 70's in the music department... The SR606 seems to be a popular "budget" receiver.

comfortablycurt

Upstatemax wrote: »

I would really think about an upgrade to the receiver...

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580TXS606B/Onkyo-TX-SR606-Black.html?tp=179

Something like the SR606 can help push them a bit harder and you have the option to "bi-amp" them and I think that helped my 70's in the music department... The SR606 seems to be a popular "budget" receiver.

That would be my suggestion as well. The 304 is a nice receiver, as far as entry level equipment goes, but it's still just that...entry level. Something like the 606 would probably be more what you're looking for. It would be driving the 70's with 90 watts instead of 65, plus since you're only using a two channel system, you'd be able to bi-amp the speakers with the surround back outputs.

That would give you a much better sound. The 606 is just a much better all around receiver, and can be had for about 350 dollars...which is still reasonable.

If you're looking for a warmer sound without having to upgrade your receiver you might want to look into a powered sub. That would help thicken your bottom end a lot, which in turn gives you a much warmer sound.

Poee7R

Heya Marcial, Welcome to Club Polk.

Now, you have some good speakers. I've owned a set of Monitor 70's myself, and regardless of how the heirarchy works in speaker levels, I believe for music they only come 2nd to the Lsi's in the Polk line (currently speaking of course, I dig SDA's over anything current).

That being said, you have to feed them properly also. When I first bought them, I ran em off of an Integra DTR-7. Which is one of the only reciever's I would own and use its internal amplification. It sounded great, and yes I am still kicking myself for selling them. But my point is, dont judge them by their sound just yet, letem break in for a couple of weeks. And if after that they still dont do it for ya, then you should maybe look at different reciever's, or if you have decided the speakers arent your taste, then its time to look at other speakers.

And I completely agree with Eric Wong on the wattage issue. If they dont get loud enough for you then you may need more wattage. But remember, the amount of wattage really doesnt equate to much, its the quality of said wattage that matters.

Onkyo and Monitor's have a nice sound to them. Dont count em out.


Dave

Marcial

Thanks, Dave, that's what I am doing, just waiting for something to break in, either the speakers or my ears. I am suspecting that the problem is not with the speakers but with the settings (treble-bass) and the type of recording. An additional factor is my ears being accustomed to other speakers.

This is what I call a learning period, learning by playing and trying with system and learning in this great forum from people like you.

curved

If you are still not happy with the sound after a few weeks, try out other recievers. If you like a warm sound, HK or NAD might be the trick for you.

Kchill

I own an onkyo, yamaha and tried a HK. From my experience with all three non of them did stereo well. I have Rti 10's and there is no way that the stereo setting sounds good. I think its due to the recivers being and wanting to be a home theater rather than a stand alone stereo reciver. I would suggest you try the Dolby Music II setting. I would also tell you to buy a center and then you will see the seperation of sound. The center will catch all the high's from your instruments. Jazz will come alive as you hear the sax or trumpet seperate. Also your clarinet and violen will be seperate as well. Go to polk ebay store and pick up a cs2 or a csi3, a4 or a6. I can't speak enough on how well the system sounds from my onkyo (hr520 from a htib) on the Dolby music II setting.

Yes get a sub as well. oh yeah...Welcome to the club. We will all tell you to upgrade at some point or another. I will say also that those speakers need power, but then again my 10's sound good without an amp but I know they will blow me away with.