Monitor 50 vs. Monitor 40

Eugene_biker

Did a search, but didn't find what I am looking for.

Decided to pull the trigger on some new speakers for the HT.

Can get the Monitor 50 and Monitor 40s for about the same price.

Opinions: Are the 50's sound much better than the 40's?

Have the room for the 50s, but the 40's will work ok with my existing setup too.

Looking for anyone who has listened side by side to tell me they opinion.

Thanks

CD

curved

If you have the room, get the 50's. The bottom end sounds a little more "full" to me on the 50's compared to the 40's.

wutadumsn23

I have the 40's for my surround speakers and they work well in this area, however I would agree with curved on getting the 50's if you have room and can get them for about the same price. The 50's are considered floorstanding speakers (because of their size obviously) and the 40's are considered bookshelf speakers (because of their size obviously) and other than being over twice the size of the 40's, the 50's only handle about another 25 watts and only have a slightly better overall frequency response (about -5hz) IMHO, there isn't much difference sound wise, but I have never heard them side by side. Maybe being bigger the 50's have better sound with the bigger cabinet and whatnot, but that is going to be a question for the real experts. Long story short, I would go with the 50's, lol.

leroyjr1

My first POLK setup was Monitor 50's, cs2 and monitor 30's for the rear. The 50 will give you a fuller sound with better lower end. Are you plan on running a sub?

Eugene_biker

That's about what I figured, the 50's being the choice. Just thought I would ask.

I am planning on running a sub. I have a Definitive Tech. Pro sub 10 right now. When money allows, I might look into a higher end Polk sub.

I love Polks.

twoodrum23

leroyjr1 asked if he was planning on running a sub - is this because if he were running a sub it would pretty much negate the difference between the 40s and 50s?
I run Monitor 30s as fronts as surrounds, CS1 center, and PSW10 sub.
I just bought a CS2 because it was really cheap but am selling it because it won't fit in my TV/Media stand. I was planning on getting 40s to go with the CS2, but Polk recommends running 30s, 40s or 50s with a CS1 so I'll probably grab one or the other off of Polk Direct.
Do 40s ever come up on there? I see 50s often enough.

wc97

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but I'm looking for the same info. I have a CS1 and PSW10, and am debating Monitor50's and/or Monitor40's for my fronts and rears. I know I'll get 40's for the rears, but uncertain what to do for my fronts.

I can get the 40's for about $100 less (per pair) so am curious if there is that much noticable difference to justify the extra $100 for the 50's as my fronts. Or if I should save my money and just get 2 pair of the 40's.

Thanks!

cnh

M50s are great entry level fronts for a HT system. And the 40s will match nicely as surrounds. What I'd think about is upgrading that sub....or maybe running another one if your room is mid/large size.

cnh

Pycroft

Eugene,

We have a similar setup. I currently run Montior 50's as Fronts, Monitor 30's as surrounds, and CS1 as a center. I also use a Def. Tech Prosub 800 as a sub (I love that little sub . I agree with most of the posters. 50's, have a fuller sound (I have heard the 40's and 30's to compare them to). Will you be using them as the main's or the surrounds? Since they are the same price, and you have the room, may as well go for the 50's, but if there was a price difference, and you were using them as surrounds, I think the 40's would do the job nicely! Good luck!

Pycroft

nooshinjohn

go for the 50's They sound great and look better IMHO. I just sold my 50's to my neighbor when I got my LSi15's, and they sound fantastic in his HT setup.

wutadumsn23

+1 on the 50's, I use 40's as my surrounds and they do very well but the 50's would do better as fronts as the 40's would.

jacob.simpson

Does M50 and M40 use the same mid /tweeter and other components please help... if anybody know the Part Nos for M50 and M40 Pls post.

cnh

The specs for the two are identical to the crossover point and efficiency so it seems very likely that that drivers are exactly the same. Don't know what the part numbers are.
But why do you ask. It's not like these are old enough to need parts?

cnh

jacob.simpson

if the part no as same i can build a M50 cabinet for my M40 cuties, i cant carry them India when i relocate in couple of months... You guys are so lucky to have such wonderful stuff in the US in Electronics and others... M40 are small enough to be put in a big case to carry them, if it was M50 for each it will cost me 150$ on the flight.:(
If any of you can confirm this that will great. Thanks again for the quick reply.

cnh

I see, that does make sense...you might even be able to boost the low end like they did for the newer TSI-300s with a slightly different cabinet design with a bottom port. Short of calling Polk CS and asking them...I'd have to pull drivers and unfortunately I don't own M50s or M40s, only M70s and TSI-300s, and a couple M30s which probably have the same woofer and tweeter as 50?

Just give Polk a call; they would know. Good idea, by the way...

cnh

jacob.simpson

Thanks for the inputs request if any others have M50 which they can help me with or Tsi300 with part nos and cabinet measurements

cnh

M50 cabinet and weight...on Polk's site...

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/specs/recent/monitor50/

TSI-300s are current just look at speaker links above for those!

cnh