Monitor 7b for surround system?

natchspire
natchspire Posts: 1
edited May 2009 in Vintage Speakers
I have an 30 year OLD pair of 7b Monitors in perfect shape with stands. I want to add a center speaker for a home audio system. When watching TV, I really notice not having a center speaker. I was thinking of the CS10. Is this a good match? Anybody have any thoughts? Are these 30 year old speakers worth hanging on to for this purpose, or am I crazy to try and incorporate them into a home theater surround system.

I am using them with an 10 year old Denon AV reciever and they sound great to me. I was actually getting ready to junk the speakers when a buddy suggested I get a new reciever. Wow! what a difference a reciever makes. Now I find I need a new reciever since everything is HDMI now. I was thinking about the Yamaha RX-V765.

A final note/question: I have either 20 year old small martin speakers with replacement tweeters or Infinity reference 2002's for my rear speakers. Which makes the most sense or should I replace them with a set of small polks like the TSi100s or the OWM3s.

Final Final Note: My room is 14.5' wide and 60' long with 9' ceiling and an atrium opening to 1st & 2nd floors that is 10' x 12' wide. The TV is about 15' off the one wall & I vew from across the room 14' away.
Post edited by natchspire on

Comments

  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,393
    edited May 2009
    Welcome to the Club Polk. A while back (2005) Polk had a list of recommended surrounds, center and sub for their Vintage models. See this link... http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80080&highlight=center

    If interested, I may have a pair of TSi100's in very nice condition that I might part with.

    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
  • rayslifecycle
    rayslifecycle Posts: 511
    edited May 2009
    What type of tweeters are in your 7b - mine are the peerless - a black silk domed tweeter - I am currently using a CS-245 for a center which also uses a silk domed tweeter - but the best choice would be a CSI-A6. I don't know about your current surround options, but I recommend finding some vintage polk to complement your 7s.
  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited May 2009
    It's interesting that you are using these vintage speakers for a HT system. I am setting up a 6.1 system using vintage speakers. My mains will be Monitor 10A's, the rears will be Monitor 7A's and the center and rear will be 5A's all with the peerless tweeters. I am waiting for the 5A's to be shipped to me. I will let you know how it turns out compared to newer HT speakers. It should be interesting.
    Polk HT system 1: LSIC, LSI25 mains, LSI F/X rears, Lsi F/X rear centers,
    Yamaha RX-V2500 System, Carver A753 3 channel amp.

    Polk HT system 2: , SRT system with f/x 1,000's rear speakers on 7.1 system currently using Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver, powered by Sunfire Grand Theater amp

    Polk Speaker collection: SDA SRS 1.2tl x 2, SRT system, SDA SRS 2 P/B, SDA 2A, SDA 1C Studio, SDA CRS+, Monitor 7B & 4, SRS 3.1tl, RTA 15tl, LS90, LSI 9
  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2009
    I would think a 5A with a peerless tweeter would make a good center channel.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2009
    I've thought about using an all Peerless Monitor setup for my bedroom HT setup before. My 7A's did a great job pulling main duty when they were still in my HT setup, before I got the RTi's.

    If I ever did it, I'd probably build a custom center channel with a Peerless tweeter and a couple MW6502's, use my 7A's for the fronts, and use either 5A's, Peerless 5Jr's or Peerless M4's for the surrounds.

    Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the all Peerless HT Bluecomet.:) Are you planning on using a sub with it? What kind?
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited May 2009
    I had some fun the other day replacing my RT800i's with the Monitor 10's in one of my HT systems I am using. I use a Yamaha RX-V2300 receiver. I was surprised by the base of these speakers but when I thought about it, it made sense. These speakers came out when I was in High school. Way before subs or HT. All the Monitor 10's and higher, meaning 11 and 12's were built to kick your butt with base. All of the SDA's are the same way, even the CRS+ would surprise you for there size. I doubt if I will need a sub. I have Yamaha subs which I like that are very tight for music and movies but I doubt if I will need them. It will be fun to hear this all Monitor peerless setup. I am looking forward to it.
    Polk HT system 1: LSIC, LSI25 mains, LSI F/X rears, Lsi F/X rear centers,
    Yamaha RX-V2500 System, Carver A753 3 channel amp.

    Polk HT system 2: , SRT system with f/x 1,000's rear speakers on 7.1 system currently using Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver, powered by Sunfire Grand Theater amp

    Polk Speaker collection: SDA SRS 1.2tl x 2, SRT system, SDA SRS 2 P/B, SDA 2A, SDA 1C Studio, SDA CRS+, Monitor 7B & 4, SRS 3.1tl, RTA 15tl, LS90, LSI 9