Decisions, Decisions. Keep monitor 10b or go for Monitor 70

BigMac

Thanks in advance to all that chime in. I currently have monitor 10b Polks and have the opportunity to pick up a pair of monitor 70s on the VERY cheap. They are in fantastic shape and everything is as it should be on them. I recently purchased the RT55 to try out (WAF) and hated the way they sounded compared to the 10b. The wife actually was the first to say they sounded dull and muted compared to the 10s. They had great bass for an oversized bookshelf speaker but lacked everything else imo. For those that have heard both the 10s and the 70s, in your opinion do you think I would be happy with the sound the 70s produce? The speakers will have to pull double duty.......2 channel and ht. Love the 10b Polks for both.

I know some will want to say to listen for myself and decide but I have no way of doing that. I am looking for personal opinions here......the good,thebad,the ugly.:eek:

**My main speakers are hooked up to a Luxman M-117 amp run through my receiver so power is not an issue.**

BigMac

Lasareath wrote: »

I think you need some SDA's, SDA 2B's, 1C's, or SRS 2's!

I wish my room was big enough to handle these. Heck, even the 10s really need more room to bring out their full potential but wth. Just today a nice pair of SDA SRS 2.3 popped up locally that I am salivating over but do not have the room. If only................

oifvet0608

I used to have a pair of 70's before I bought Infinity Beta 50's and I loved the 70's, they are very crisp, clear and they are really loud. Their midrange production is fantastic, highs could be a little better but do a very good job as well, lows are lacking a little but a good sub will more than make up for the difference. At the time I had a crappy sony sub so I went with ini's but I wish I would have kept the 70's. If you can get a good deal get them...you won't be sorry.

Conradicles

I say keep the 10B's. Just a classic killer speaker.

comfortablycurt

Conradicles wrote: »

I say keep the 10B's. Just a classic killer speaker.

x2

I've got a pair of Monitor 7A's...and love them. I've never heard the Monitor 70's before, but I have heard both the 50's and the 60's. My 7's trumped them in every category IMO. The 70's might be better though...I'd like to get my ears on them sometime.

wutadumsn23

comfortablycurt wrote: »

x2

I've got a pair of Monitor 7A's...and love them. I've never heard the Monitor 70's before, but I have heard both the 50's and the 60's. My 7's trumped them in every category IMO. The 70's might be better though...I'd like to get my ears on them sometime.

If you are ever in WA. state Curt feel free to stop by, I will proudly show off my 70's anytime. I love mine, they are amazing and I have been very pleased with their performance. They work surprising well w/ out a sub, but a sub will def. fill out the low end as stated above. If you can get them for a decent price I would say grab them, they are hard to find these days with the introduction of the TSi series.

Ern Dog

I've never heard the 10's, but the 70's were my first speaker. They are a great entry level speaker. I had them for about 2 years then upgraded to something with higher resolution because I noticed complex passages got blurry.

cnh

I haven't heard the 10s either. But I do own a pair of M70s and agree with everything above, nice highs (though not overly 'detailed', more laid back than the RTI-tweets), great mids, decent, very 'tight' bass. With good amplification they will 'surprise' you. Image better the MORE POWER you give them. With a good power amp they sound like a completely different speaker!

On the other hand (10s are a collectors item--would like to hear them).

M70s at a good price are worth it, I got mine really cheap, for the price I paid you can't beat them!

cnh

bluecomet

I have monitor 10a's and 7a's with peerless tweeters that to me sound better for two channel listening than any newer polk monitor type speakers. I can't see why you would even need a sub with a monitor 10b. The SDA series speakers are in a league of there own. Newer speakers seem to be geared for HT usage more than 2 channel usage. There would be no way I shelve the Monitor 10's for the 70's. Just my opinion.

BigMac

Thanks for all the replies. I am keeping the monitor 10s for sure but wanted to hear others opinions regarding the monitor 70s. I can pick up the monitor 70s for $200.00 for the pair. I actually listened to them earlier (told the guy I would not buy them until I heard them) which I did not think I was going to be able to do and after hearing them I am staying with the 10s for sure. I guess my 10s must have been blessed by the Pope or something because everytime I listen to another speaker I can actually afford they end up sounding like crap compared to the 10s. Btw, I do use a sub with my monitor 10s for 2 channel and ht to get the most out of my listening experience. I actually have 2 pairs of monitor 10s but one pair I am taking everything out of so I can have extras should anything need replacing in the future. My 10s are in great shape cosmetically but I still want to get them reveneered to make them mint.

woodsman10b

good choice mac, ive heard both and the 70's dont really compare imbo(in my biased opinion). ive only listened to the 70's in a 2 channel setup, which ive used my tens in both 2 channel and HT. the friend of mine which has the 70's also agrees that my tens are a better all around sounding speaker. dont get me wrong though, i do like the sound of the 70's and for that price i would pick them up also, but then i have way to many speakers as it is lol.

cnh

Probably for the best! I can believe that the 10s might sound better in 2 channel. Just haven't heard them. But people rave about the early Monitor series here, and Polk did build a lot of its reputation with those first affordable designs. I'd probably pick up a pair myself if and when I finally hear that 'sound'.

The other question is, of course, what was driving those M70s when you heard them. IMO they need at least 150-200 quality watts/channel to hit their peak..even though they're supposedly an 'efficient' design?

cnh

Ron Temple

The only thing I've heard better than M10s are SDAs, RTA series (I'm giving the 8s the benefit of the doubt), the LS series and the LSis. You've got the bread and butter speaker that created the Polk brand. Keep them until something better comes along...it probably won't be in your price range .

comfortablycurt

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

If you are ever in WA. state Curt feel free to stop by, I will proudly show off my 70's anytime. I love mine, they are amazing and I have been very pleased with their performance. They work surprising well w/ out a sub, but a sub will def. fill out the low end as stated above. If you can get them for a decent price I would say grab them, they are hard to find these days with the introduction of the TSi series.

I might take ya up on that offer sometime. I'm planning a trip out to the west coast sometime in the next couple years...doing a bunch of backpacking, visiting some old friends out that way and whatnot. I'll likely head up to WA for a week or so when I make the trip. Perhaps I'll swing by when I'm out there.:)

BigMac

cnh wrote: »

what was driving those M70s when you heard them.

I used 2 different amps. My Luxman M-117 and a Classe model 70. I took a few of my cds with me to demo the speakers with. The m70s did ok but I was use to hearing ALOT more. Everything seemed "softer" to me. I think since I started with the 10s (had LSi7 first but I did not have the right equipment to bring out their best so I sold them locally) my only real move is to move up to the SDA line if I stay with Polk. I have added a few pieces of new gear here and there to try out. So far I am keeping my Luxman M-117,Adcom 535II. Not sure about anything else yet.

cnh

No problem with ampllification there! The M70s will tend to sound 'softer' in the way you describe. When I compare them to my JBL monitors that is also the case...the titanium tweeters/crossovers, etc., are more revealing. Looks like a good call. SDAs for you!

I've really got to here some more of the vintage stuff so I can compare them to the JBL Monitors. Old school JBLs are also a subjective preference. I'm just wondering what I would think of the peerless tweeter because I like mine quite a bit? I also wonder, since RDOs are still made, why Polk didn't continue with that tweeter design if the old Monitors resolve better sound than the newer Monitor series. Was it a question of 'money', or lack of manufacturers?

I know the 'answer', THE SEARCH FUNCTION IS MY FRIEND! No need for veterans to reply. But isn't it a dis-service to buyers to produce an inferior tweeter in the newer Monitor series?

cnh

polkforme

Hi guys .. new here .. great forum!

I have 4 Monitor 10a's .. all with Peerless tweeters being driven by a vintage Marantz 4230 Quad receiver. I LOVE the sound of the 10a and can still find quad material (encoded into Dolby Digital) that sounds awesome. You haven't heard Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" until you have heard it in Quad.

To sum up .. I would keep them

Ender

Welcome to Club Polk!

Nice on the Monitor 10A's! You should try for SDA's next!