Upgrade Monitor 70 Series II or add external power instead ?

Options
Sarge72
Sarge72 Posts: 1
in Speakers
Current system used 85% for music with movies the other 15%

Monitor 70 Series II (purchased back in 2011 for $199 each from newegg)
CS 2 Center
Outlaw LFM-1 Sub
Denon X3500
AT-LP120 x Turntable
FLACs loaded to thumb drive in front panel
AppleTV 4K

Room is 24x13 and system is on the left side of one of the long walls


Looking for some options that will be a nice step up musically… the monitors sound good but is there “much better” for an investment of $1-2k?

I’ve heard the Denon may not drive them as much as they need and my normal listening volume is about 75 db so not crazy

Thoughts ?
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,064
    Options
    I’d look for a two-channel amp to drive the mains. That will allow you to get the most out of the Monitor 70.

    Also, when you decide to upgrade the 70’s down the road, your power needs are already met. You’ve got lots of choices with your budget, especially if you look at used. Don’t forget to budget for cables as well.

    I’ve had Adcom, Emotiva, Carver, and Parasound amps (maybe a couple of others) and I prefer Parasound,
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,474
    Options
    You could also upgrade your center speaker for your HT. As it's the most important speaker for movies if you got space
    ..
    ..
    ..
    Randy/Maine
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ChrisD06
    ChrisD06 Posts: 886
    Options
    I'm gonna go with upgrade the speakers (crossover rebuild) first. My M5JR+, even on my Onkyo AVR listed in my signature, sounded leaps and bounds better with just a crossover rebuild. The amp upgrade will be probably more noticeable with a better crossover.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,009
    Options
    From the little bit I read about your Denon, it seems to be no slouch musically and has decent wattage. Eventually for 2 ch you're going to need a dedicated 2 ch amp or integrated. But for the moment I would replace the Monitor II's. I had those speakers for a few years. Picked them up about the same time you did, also from Newegg and cheap, too. Had them in a separate system for awhile powered by a Rotel receiver. They did OK for rock music, loud parties, background music, etc. Later I moved them to my living room as dedicated HT speakers hooked up to my AVR. They were side by side with my dedicated 2 Ch setup. They did well for HT but not super awesome for critical music listening. Since music is 85% of your listening I'm thinking best bang for your buck right now is a more well-rounded set of speakers. For 1-2K there is a lot to choose from looking at USAudiomart.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,159
    Options
    I'll throw in my 2cents here. I also got my Monitor 70 series II from new egg in 2011. Was driving them on an Emotiva XPA3, a three channel 200wpc amp and they sounded.......okay to pretty good.

    Fast forward to upgrading to A9's and now an XPA2, two channel 300wpc amp, it's time to sell my M70's.

    A perspective buyer comes over for a demo, I now run the M70's off the different amp. I did the kill box scene from Iron Man II.....whoa, I heard bass I'd never heard before. I played Pink Floyd Animals and Lynyrd Skynyrd and heard highs and mids I'd never heard before in fact I started having second thoughts of even selling them while giving this demo.

    Now, I'll tell you this, after the demo, the buyer didn't hesitate, didn't even bother to haggle, anxiously gave me my asking price, which I had already made room for haggling, so I feel like I did good on that sale.

    What I found out, the M70's love the extra power and respond well to it. Now I did give the kid a disclaimer by telling him they might sound different due to room, driving power and set up, he didn't care, he loved what he heard (i did too) and he made off with my M70's, 40's, 30's and a CSI II, what ever the larger center channel was.

    So, food for thought there.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,064
    Options
    Geoff4rfc wrote: »
    I'll throw in my 2cents here. I also got my Monitor 70 series II from new egg in 2011. Was driving them on an Emotiva XPA3, a three channel 200wpc amp and they sounded.......okay to pretty good.

    Fast forward to upgrading to A9's and now an XPA2, two channel 300wpc amp, it's time to sell my M70's.

    A perspective buyer comes over for a demo, I now run the M70's off the different amp. I did the kill box scene from Iron Man II.....whoa, I heard bass I'd never heard before. I played Pink Floyd Animals and Lynyrd Skynyrd and heard highs and mids I'd never heard before in fact I started having second thoughts of even selling them while giving this demo.

    Now, I'll tell you this, after the demo, the buyer didn't hesitate, didn't even bother to haggle, anxiously gave me my asking price, which I had already made room for haggling, so I feel like I did good on that sale.

    What I found out, the M70's love the extra power and respond well to it. Now I did give the kid a disclaimer by telling him they might sound different due to room, driving power and set up, he didn't care, he loved what he heard (i did too) and he made off with my M70's, 40's, 30's and a CSI II, what ever the larger center channel was.

    So, food for thought there.

    This was my experience with a pair of R50. Couldn’t believe how much better they sounded with good clean power. It can honestly be like getting new speakers.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tn2036
    tn2036 Posts: 16
    Options
    I have some good news: I've done some of your testing for you.

    I have the same speakers (Monitor 70 Series II) connected to a similar receiver (Denon AVR-X3400H). I also have a solid state amplifier (Rotel RB-1080), and was powering the Monitor 70s with it for a time (class AB amplifier plus slightly more WPC).

    The increased power will round out the sound and make it more powerful, but it will not significantly improve the sound stage, imaging, bass, or crispness of treble. You will definitely notice a difference at louder listening levels, where the sound is not merely loud but is also "moving." It also seemed like the speakers "finished breaking in" when connected to the stronger amplifier. This is my "not an audio professional" subjective opinion.

    If I had a $1K-$2K budget, I would definitely upgrade the front three channels and then I would try to pick up a solid state amplifier for those same three channels with what was left. I just did exactly this (stayed in the Polk family), and even without the Rotel the sound improvement from the new speakers is staggering.

    I don't think there is a way to accomplish this significant of an improvement via curve tweaking or power changes.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,981
    Options
    Sarge72 wrote: »
    Current system used 85% for music with movies the other 15%

    Monitor 70 Series II (purchased back in 2011 for $199 each from newegg)
    CS 2 Center
    Outlaw LFM-1 Sub
    Denon X3500
    AT-LP120 x Turntable
    FLACs loaded to thumb drive in front panel
    AppleTV 4K

    Room is 24x13 and system is on the left side of one of the long walls


    Looking for some options that will be a nice step up musically… the monitors sound good but is there “much better” for an investment of $1-2k?

    I’ve heard the Denon may not drive them as much as they need and my normal listening volume is about 75 db so not crazy

    Thoughts ?

    Get the amp first. If you don't get the improvement you want from it, save up for better speakers. Better speakers will also benefit from an external amp...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter