What's best for two channel?

polkfan38

Hi everyone. I am curious about which setup is best for two channel listening. Would it be two "monitors" (I have a pair of Monitor 40s) and a sub or a pair of towers with no sub?
Thanks!

comfortablycurt

They can sound great either way.

Many people are running setups with smaller monitors and stereo subs.

There really is no "best" way. Some people will say floorstanders sound best. Others will argue that monitors tend to image better.

One advantage to running monitors and subs, is that you can place the monitors for optimal imaging, and place the subs somewhere else, where they may get better bass response. With floorstanders, you're limited to one enclosure. You have to find the happy medium of good imaging, and good bass response. I've always run floorstanders for 2 channel, but I do plan to play around with some smaller monitors and stereo subs sometime down the line.

cnh

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!

Have fun with the Monitor 40s...not a bad bookshelf....Curt is right...people run all kinds of systems here! Whatever floats your boat is best!

cnh

packetjones

Welcome to CP.

As others have said it is really up to the individual to determine what they like better. I started with bookshelves and a sub and was pretty happy with them. Then I upgraded to the A5's I have now and was impressed with them as well. I am not sure that i can say one is better than the other, they both sound great. I think it would really depend on placement options.

Either would be great. I would say make a decision and roll with it.

nooshinjohn

Big bad SDA's, lots of power and a turntable is the way I roll...

There are many options and opinions here, but the very best opinion will be your own. trust your ears and you will find your way.

jaxwired

It also depends on the room. A small room will work better with stand mount speakers. Also, you don't necessarily need a sub. Sometimes it's better to skip the sub.

treitz3

Hello and welcome to Club Polk. You have asked a rather loaded question that very much depends on your own listening preferences, listening levels, type of music played as well as a host of other considerations. I have heard some "to die for" monitor rigs as well as tower rigs. Both have there own sets of attributes and deficiencies. As mentioned before, it will depend on your own ears and preferences.

polkfan38

I just wrote a whole paragraph here only to find I was kicked off! Anyway, I was wondering if the mids on the Monitor 50s or 60s are just as pronounced as they are on the Monitor 40s. I can listen to the TSi line at Best Buy but, the listening environment there is horseshit!
Thanks all!

polkfan38

Does anyone here just run M 40s?

zingo

I prefer full range towers wit no subs, but that's my best-case-scenario. Monitors with a sub is a great combo for saving on space and money, but so is towers with a sub since I wouldn't consider most tower speakers "full-range".

polkfan38

On a side note, does anyone here have experience and thoughts of Infinity SL50s? I know this is a polk site but, just currious. I have some. I got them off of Craigs List for dirt cheap.

bluecomet

I you want a true 2 channel bookself experience go out and find some SDA CRS+ speakers. You will not need a sub and they will blow away any of the newer Polk speakers you are thinking about. A nice set will set you back between three and four hundred dollars. If you do this you will end up selling your monitor 40's by the end of the week and the SDA's will cost next to nothing. Just something to think about.

zingo

bluecomet wrote: »

I you want a true 2 channel bookself experience go out and find some SDA CRS+ speakers. You will not need a sub and they will blow away any of the newer Polk speakers you are thinking about. A nice set will set you back between three and four hundred dollars. If you do this you will end up selling your monitor 40's by the end of the week and the SDA's will cost next to nothing. Just something to think about.

Good suggestion.

dpowell

bluecomet wrote: »

I you want a true 2 channel bookself experience go out and find some SDA CRS+ speakers. You will not need a sub and they will blow away any of the newer Polk speakers you are thinking about. A nice set will set you back between three and four hundred dollars. If you do this you will end up selling your monitor 40's by the end of the week and the SDA's will cost next to nothing. Just something to think about.

+1 on the SDA's. For $300 - $400 you could probably land a good pair of Studio 1C's and you'd sell your Monitor's even faster.

That said, welcome to Club Polk and be aware of those of us who, when we first joined, were led down the slippery slope of 'investing' in audio bliss by other members and are now seeking out other new members to 'help' do the same thing.:D Hold onto your wallet! :eek:

To answer your original question, it really does depend on your tastes but a decent sub can really help fill in what is usually missing from bookshelf speakers.

polkfan38

bluecomet wrote: »

I you want a true 2 channel bookself experience go out and find some SDA CRS+ speakers. You will not need a sub and they will blow away any of the newer Polk speakers you are thinking about. A nice set will set you back between three and four hundred dollars. If you do this you will end up selling your monitor 40's by the end of the week and the SDA's will cost next to nothing. Just something to think about.

You have SRS 1.2tls! Lucky SOB! I saw a guy on Ebay selling his for about $1,200! Mint and all original. Hell of a deal! The only problem was that they were about 1,000 miles away.
Anyway, Like the Infinity SL50s I got, I am going to keep looking at the used market. I will keep an eye out for the SDAs

polkfan38

For the sake of argument, would a reciever like a Denon 2310 or 3310 power a pair of SDA SRS 1.2tls adequitely?

Cpyder

Welcome! I am only running a pair of LSi9 bookshelves and love it! If you plan on watching movies you'll probably want a sub, but if music is your main concern, you don't have to get a sub to enjoy great sound. If cost is of little concern, I'd probably go with a pair of towers without a dedicated sub for critical 2 channel music listening.

polkfan38

I have a small no name sub I use for movies with another set up. it is fun sometimes with movies.
Anyway, I think I have made a decision and am going to get some Monitor 60s.

wayne3burk

I'm using a pair of Dynaco A-25s with a JBL PB10. I have the crossover set around 50HZ and the volume set quite low.

When only the sub is on it's barely perceptible when used with my two channel setting. But if does fill in nicely.

-- wayne --

p.s. the Dynaco A-25s are rated down to 30HZ and the JBL PB10 is only rated down to 35HZ. So who knows, maybe i shouldn't be using it at all.

Cpyder

polkfan38 wrote: »

I have a small no name sub I use for movies with another set up. it is fun sometimes with movies.
Anyway, I think I have made a decision and am going to get some Monitor 60s.

Sounds good. What finish?

bluecomet

To answer your question about an AVR powering SRS 1.2tl's, I would say no AVR is going to power them to there true potential. You are going to need a seperate amp at 200 watts per channel to get the most out of these speakers. I am fortunate to own two sets of the SRS 1.2tl's and a set of the SRS 1.2's and yes the neighbors hate me. I guess you could say I am a lucky SOB. The drawback to the big boys is you need a big room to let them breath. It's like having a Dodge Viper with 500hp and your driving in the city. You can't let loose until you hit the highway. Same premise with SDA's, look for SDA CRS+, SDA 2B's or SDA 1C's if you have an average room to listen to them in. The bigger speakers will overpower you.

heiney9

polkfan38 wrote: »

For the sake of argument, would a reciever like a Denon 2310 or 3310 power a pair of SDA SRS 1.2tls adequitely?

No

H9

polkfan38

Kind of what I figured! Those things are monsters. And on my dream list! To Cpyder, I like the cherry finish. I just can't go with the black. I actually wish they came in a light oak.

polkfan38

Speaking of finishes, has anyone re-vaneered their speakers? How did it turn out?

polkfan38

Now that I know what to do for speakers, i am curious about the reciever. I need a 5.1 model for the occasional movie. I was going to get a Denon AVR 1910 (a 7.1 model but, it has the video stuff I need) Would this model do or is there something else in the $4-500 range that has a "better" 2 channel sound? Thanks!

cnh

Depending on your tastes, possibly a Harman Kardon AVR254 or a Marantz 5004? These receivers are often perceived as a bit more musical. You may also want to think about pre-outs for external amplification in the future. The Denon 1910 does not have those--only the 3310 does and that ain't cheap! Whereas you might find the above closer to your price range. Listen and decide.

cnh

steveinaz

I don't care for subs in 2-channel, personally. After years of tower type speakers I recently made the switch to (nearly full range) monitors; I couldn't be happier with my decision.

Trade offs? Sure. But it depends on your priorities. With the a good monitor, imaging and soundstaging are typically far better--they more easily escape their enclosure, making for a very real feel to the performance. Towers have the ability to dig deeper in bass, and sometimes have higher dynamic capabilities. For me, the outstanding imagaing/soundstage was far more important than another 5-8Hz of bass extension, and my monitors actually produce a more musical bass than my Energy towers. Another often over-looked aspect is that you can get a very good monitor, for the price of a moderately good tower.

It really comes down to (like practically everything in this hobby) personal preference. I NEVER thought I'd own a standmount monitor...now my thinking is, I don't think I ever want to own another floorstander.

cnh

steveinaz wrote: »

I don't care for subs in 2-channel, personally. After years of tower type speakers I recently made the switch to (nearly full range) monitors; I couldn't be happier with my decision.

Trade offs? Sure. But it depends on your priorities. With the a good monitor, imaging and soundstaging are typically far better--they more easily escape their enclosure, making for a very real feel to the performance. Towers have the ability to dig deeper in bass, and sometimes have higher dynamic capabilities. For me, the outstanding imagaing/soundstage was far more important than another 5-8Hz of bass extension, and my monitors actually produce a more musical bass than my Energy towers.

It really comes down to (like practically everything in this hobby) personal preference. I NEVER thought I'd own a standmount monitor...I was wrong.

I have to agree with that on a personal note. I've been noticing those very qualities in some of the bookshelves I've had a chance to hear in Hong Kong on Primare Pre/amp separates with a high end Marantz CDP. The smaller speakers filled the room better than their bigger brothers most of the time. It has made me rethink two channel for my home office on the return.

cnh

polkfan38

I will look into the HK stuff. But, this is interesting about the monitors vs towers debate. Now, I don't have a lot of listening experience with different speakers by any means but, I think you guys are on to something. I have the Infinity SL20s, SL50s and the Polk Monitor 40s. I like my SL20s and Monitor 40s much better for sound quality. The 40s dig a little deeper than the SL20s. They both seem much clearer in the mids than my SL50s and do create a slightly bigger sound stage. I would not say they fill the room better however. The SL50s and the Monitor 40s seem to "dissappear" better however. As you can still tell where the sound is coming from on the SL20s sometimes.
I guess overall, I like my monitor 40s the best. My Infinitys are doing duty in my livingroom and will not be in my more dedicated HT/ listening room.

steveinaz

Some bookshelf/monitors don't pull-off a disappearing act as well--you get what you pay for. My Energy C-3's can't seem to stretch much outside of the confines of the cabinets, nor do they have the depth in soundstage of my Carbon 7's (nor the bass), but then they listed for 2/3rds less.

polkfan38

So true. I would love to someday to buy some more upscale speakers to see for myself. For $1000 it would be the Focal 806v. For $1,500, the B&W CM5. I would like to try some RTis at some point however.