Polk Audio Monitor 50

[JasonR]

Congrats!!! Takes some pics!!!

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Congrats!!! Takes some pics!!!

Thanks. I just got done setting up my new entertainment center and rewiring and moving everything. I'm exhausted. I didn't really finish up wire management but it's all working. I'll need to re-calibrate but will probably just put up with it until the center comes in.

I also bi-amped my 60's. Dunno if it made much difference but that or the new placement really helped with the acoustics of the room. Can't wait to drag down my couch from upstairs to make some more prime seating.

Ugh. I'm off to bed. My back is killing me. Don't try and mount a 42" set by yourself.

[blu-mood]

I just got a CS1 from Polk Direct on eBay- should I stick with Monitor 50s to match with it, or would there be that much of a difference for the $ to go up to the Monitor 60s?

[plowmanjoe]

i actually really like the 60's over the 50's. try to find a place locally where you can listen to them both. my circuit city had both in their listening room.

[aramis109]

I'm starting to really love my 60's. The 50's just have a slightly smaller woofer and of course one less. They're both going to sound VERY similar. Best Buy has both I believe in the clearance section (still overpriced, but you may be able to listen to them that way).

I don't think the CS1 would be overpowered by the 60's. I'm going with the CS2 because I have the room and I believe it will make a difference in the overall sound with the 60's.

[aramis109]

Ok, just posted this over in the home theater discussion, but here ya go. Again, excuse the quality of the pics, I'll snap something better later:




Philips 42" HDTV
Z-line Entertainment Center
40gb PS3
Onkyo 605
Xbox 360
Wii
Polk Monitor 60 fronts
Polk RM6750 center, surrounds, sub.

I'll be getting my CS2 center in this week. I also pointed the sub in at the listening area and it sounds much better. If you think my movie arrangement looks odd, I have DVD alphabetized, followed by my BD's and games, then my kid's movies down where she can reach them.

[fionaincusa]

I am in the process of purchasing speakers for my home theatre. I currently have Onkyo TX-SR606 A/V Receiver. I went to local store. The sales person recommended me to buy 4 Polk TSi400 Floorstanding Speakers and a Polk CS10 Center Speaker and a Polk PSW125 Sub-woofer, that would cost $1,800. I have 2 questions:
(1) Is this a good choice of setup for Onkyo TX-SR606;
(2) If it is a good choice, I have a Pinnacle Widescreen Center Channel Speaker and a DCM Sub-710 Sub-woofer at home. Can I use my Pinnacle Widescreen Center Channel Speaker and a DCM Sub-710 Sub-woofer to substitute Polk CS10 Center Speaker and Polk PSW125 Sub-woofer without sacrificing the quality of the sound?

The following is the spec sheet of Pinnacle Widescreen Center Channel Speaker and DCM Sub-710 Sub-woofer for your reference:

Pinnacle Widescreen Center Channel Speaker:
* Designed for 27" big screen TV and larger
*Video shielded
*Four 4" wideband drivers
*One 1" soft dome tweeter
*Dimensions: 25-3/4" x 6" x 5-3/4"
*Nominal Impedance 8 ohms
*Power handling: 15-100 Watts RMS, 300 Watts Peak

DCM Sub-710 Sub-woofer:
*Frequency Range: 32 Hz to 80 Hz
*Sensitivity: User adjustabale
*Usable Power Range: Low Lever: 500mW. High Lever: 1 watt minimum input, 150 watts max. output
*Nominal Impedance: 1K Ohms, using speaker level inputs
*Low Frequency Drivers: (2) 6-1/2" active polypropylene drivers with butyl rubber surrounds
*Enclosure Type: Hybrid transmission line
*Connection Options: (A) Hook up via speaker level inputs from source device's R and L FRONT SPEAKER terminals via speaker wire pass through (B) Hook up via RCA line nputs from source device PREAMP OUT OR SUB OUT
*Video Shielding: Drivers magnetically shielded form us near TV
*Diminsions: 15-3/8" H x 18-7/8"L x 9"H
*Net Weight: 27.5 lbs

Thank you very much for your insight view.

[aramis109]

It looks like your subwoofer is actually just something with a couple small woofers in it, and it looks like it's not powered. I can't imagine that's going to compare well at all with a true powered subwoofer. Subs are typically 8" and up, and bring in true LFE as opposed to just some bass. I would recommend upgrading this- it'll also create a mess for the Onkyo and your front speakers.

The center sounds like a soundbar, and probably isn't going to timbre match your fronts. As such, it'll either be dwarfed (kind of like how my center is now) and you'll have to do a lot of volume adjustments, and/or panning sounds will sound like hell as they move across the front viewing area. Again, I'd recommend upgrading.

However, if you can tolerate it or need to, you can use these and save up for later.

The Polks he brought up are definitely going to be solid. I don't know your room setup but you can probably get away with going bookshelf speakers for your surrounds and save a lot of money. I would also recommend looking elsewhere for a subwoofer. I have a Polk sub and I like it, but knowing what I know now, I could've definitely gone better. There's a few sub threads already up and running.

[aramis109]

New shot w/CS2!

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Look at the cherry ones in my sig below. Scroll down and you'll find two for around $90 each shipped. That's the way to go.

Crap, followed the link looking for this deal, then noticed somebody here grabbed 'em.

On the monitor 30's it says they're bookshelf... does that mean they do not have the appropriate doo-dads to be mounted on stands?

Also - I'm new to speakers as well... are monitor 30's supposed to be used as fronts or l/r surrounds? If I'm considering those very awesome looking monitor 50's and a cs1, will having monitor 30's as surrounds be overkill in a 12x24 space?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Crap, followed the link looking for this deal, then noticed somebody here grabbed 'em.

On the monitor 30's it says they're bookshelf... does that mean they do not have the appropriate doo-dads to be mounted on stands?

Also - I'm new to speakers as well... are monitor 30's supposed to be used as fronts or l/r surrounds? If I'm considering those very awesome looking monitor 50's and a cs1, will having monitor 30's as surrounds be overkill in a 12x24 space?

12x24 space? Overkill with Monitor 30s? My space is about 13 x 20 and I'm using 3 Monitor 50s for rears. There is NO such thing as overkill, my dear Doctor.

[matthewrounds]

Originally Posted by aramis109

New shot w/CS2!

Why did you take the front grills off? How do you like the CS2? I love mine. Your setup with the CS1 made the CS1 look really tiny. The setup looks great now!

[JasonR]

That was a 6750 center, it would be hard to make the CS1 look small.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Originally Posted by aramis109

This looks eerily similar, right down to the rug...

It looks fantastic!!!! Bet it sounds pretty good too.

[aramis109]

Hah, I just now noticed we both had Kill Bill on- I just got #2 in from BB Online. That rug of ours is pretty old- it's been in my office for years.

Rock on Polk!

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

12x24 space? Overkill with Monitor 30s? My space is about 13 x 20 and I'm using 3 Monitor 50s for rears. There is NO such thing as overkill, my dear Doctor.

Pulled the trigger on a pair of monitor 50's for $99 each (in Cherry) from J&R, a CS1 (Cherry) from Amazon for $108.

A local joint will soon have a pair of 30's for 199, but will be looking for cheaper online. I'll probably do a sub before surrounds though. Any thoughts as to which is more essential (surrounds vs. sub)?... I'm thinking the sub would be - can't be huge though, I like my downstairs neighbors...

Now looking for speaker wire and plugs. Looking through threads, people seem to prefer bananas. I'll only be running the speakers about 7 ft maximum from the receiver, would 16 gauge be fine???

[Kryptron]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Pulled the trigger on a pair of monitor 50's for $99 each (in Cherry) from J&R, a CS1 (Cherry) from Amazon for $108.

A local joint will soon have a pair of 30's for 199, but will be looking for cheaper online. I'll probably do a sub before surrounds though. Any thoughts as to which is more essential (surrounds vs. sub)?... I'm thinking the sub would be - can't be huge though, I like my downstairs neighbors...

Now looking for speaker wire and plugs. Looking through threads, people seem to prefer bananas. I'll only be running the speakers about 7 ft maximum from the receiver, would 16 gauge be fine???

16 gauge would be fine. I upgraded my 4 year old 16 gauge wire to 14 gauge recently with bananas and noticed no audible difference. But thicker is better because it creates less resistance so if you have a choice go for the thickest wire you can find. I use "in wall grade" 14awg from Monoprice.

[Driver_King]

Just because you like your downstairs neighbors , it doesn't mean you can't have a "large" subwoofer. It's called volume knob.

[SS316SRV]

How are the TSi500? I have been a Klipsch fan my entire home theater life. Polk is intriguing to me. I am not sure if I will like them more than my Klipschs.

[zweet77]

Originally Posted by Kryptron

16 gauge would be fine. I upgraded my 4 year old 16 gauge wire to 14 gauge recently with bananas and noticed no audible difference. But thicker is better because it creates less resistance so if you have a choice go for the thickest wire you can find. I use "in wall grade" 14awg from Monoprice.

+1 I You can get a great deal on that wire.After I upraded I did notice better sound but it is probably all subjective,banana plugs help with rewiring more than anything.