R50 or M50?

Kenshin81

I have a M50 right now and I just saw a set of R50 on sale for $59/Pair so which one is a better sound and better quality? Which one should I get? Should I keep my M50 or buy R50?

coolsax

The M50's should be better than the R50, but you could always use the R50 for surrounds if you have a surround sound set up.

Kenshin81

Which sound better??? How's the sound quality?

grimmace19

I have both pairs and when I tested them using the same receiver the sound difference was a minimal. The R50s were a bit lower and the M50's had better highs. However this was of course in stereo mode so the true test would be placing them as fronts with a center, sub, and surrounds hooked up. For 59 a pair on the R50s I say you cant beat that but they wont be an "upgrade" from what you already have. Buy them and use them elsewhere. Is this a craigslist deal or somewhere online?

cnh

M50s have a tighter more detailed sound with better highs. And pretty phenomenal mids for so small a foot print! The only department they're lacking in is deep bass but that's what a sub is for.

cnh

Kenshin81

at Fry's for $59 each

cnh

At 59 a pair I'm sure you could use them either in another application or as tower surrounds...that's CHEAP!!

cnh

Kenshin81

Should I use R50 for the fronts?

cnh

If you have a CS1 center or a CS2 definitely not. Use the M50s--they have the superior tweeter and should be voice matched with one of the centers mentioned...If you have a good sub the extra bass you'd get from the R50s up front won't matter. The M50s are better in all other areas.


cnh

grimmace19

I saw that deal at Frys, however shipping kills unless you are able to do pickup. If you plan to ship them I got an email today from newegg where the M50's are only 85 each with free ship. Run 4 of those and you will be doing great.

VSchneider

If you already have a sub helping your Monitor 50's out, I wouldn't replace them with R50. R50 are very good for their today's $$, but not exceptionally good speakers, IMHO.

As already mentioned in this thread, moving from Monitor 50 to R50 you are trading clarity and detail for a bit of bass extension in terms of sound, and loosing a bit in built quality.

You have not told your application, that may help your decision.

mystik610

I've owned both the R50's and the TSi300's (Monitor 50's). The Monitor 50 a much better speaker IMO. The R50's are muddy as hell, don't image very well, and are pretty harsh overall. I found the TSi's to be much smoother....the R50 may play lower, but they don't have nearly as much detail in the mid-bass region. In the higher frequencies, the Monitor 50 flat out blow the R50's out of the water. I wouldn't even use the R50's as surrounds...your money would be better spent on a pair of Monitor 30's, which can be had for around 100 bucks a pair.

mystik610

double post

Knucklehead

mystik610 wrote: »

The R50's are muddy as hell, don't image very well, and are pretty harsh overall.

Couldnt be farther from the truth.

tommyboy

Don't expect an upgrade, you get what you pay for(though its still a GREAT price for the r50s).

If you already have the cs1 or 2 and surrounds, don't even bother switching them out. If you want to still buy them, use the r50s in a different room for stereo purposes. You can buy an ok stereo reciever for a 150ish and you'll be set.