Bear with me on my first review

[gshisme]

System:
Mains: Rt800i's (not biwired)
Center: CS400i
Surrounds: Fx500's (sitting on top of RT600i's)
Reciever: H/K 320
Sun: JBL 250e
Power amp: none (wanted, needed badly)
Speaker Cable: 12 GS Sound King to all speakers
Interconnects: Cobalt

I'm terrible at reviews but here goes.

Let me just state that the mids and highs are very detailed, pronounced, solid. You can hear every ping, ding, clatter what have you..very crisp, seperated. And it fills the 15 x 15 room very nicely. Lows are solid with NO boominess (sic.) Surround is very nice with excellent front to back..left to right. You actually feel you are there listening to the planes coming from back to front and left to right.

However, for two channel the sub is not so seemless. I'm sure it is because of it's placement.

Let me just state that I replaced the mo#%$^ flatwire speaker cables with the Sound King stuff and also replaced the medium grade Mo#$^$ interconnects with the colbalt interconects. Not sure which had a greater effect but I do know I'm never going back to that crap. Biggest notice was the more pronounced midrange along with the dialogue. I have never enjoyed watching DVD-V and listening to DVD-A more.

Listening to Steely Dan's "everything must go" in 5.1 is nothing less than incredible. The subwoofer is absolutely seemless and the seperation is something to put a big smile on. Again I state very, very detailed. Mids and lows are very punchy, solid and highs are crisp..right on.

I think I found a setup I can live with for quite a while!!

Now to find me an amp....then i'm finished.

Note: For my listening pleasure and room acoustics the RTxxxi sure do kick but. Just my flav. Will be diiferent for others I'm sure.

Greg

Some pics:

[gshisme]

Sub position:

[gshisme]

And the rear surrounds sitting just above eare level on top of the 600's.

[dorokusai]

If only more people would take the time to figure out that Monster is not the end all of interconnects....hell, they could even save some money.

Glad to hear of your improvement!

[gshisme]

Doro,

I was thinking of hanging all the Mon#$% stuff in my attic on my garbage can with the ends hanging out and take a pic. Send it to Mon$%^ and title it "Monster Garbage." I have some time on my hands....this must be done!

Thanks for your feedback by the way. Appreciated.

[F1nut]

Works for me and I'm glad you've found a new level of enjoyment.

[gshisme]

By the way..that monster of a center channel...I had to make some brackets for the back of 'er just so she wouldn't fall off the TV.

Just my opinion here but both the 245 and 400i just kill the CSi30 that I had. Didn't realize this till after I sold the CSi30 to mlong one day and brought back with me a CS245 and hooked 'er up. Again the detail and dialogue were a notch up. Of course at the age of 48 my hearing is starting to take a hit and both were a big improvement. But with my 800i's the 400i is absolutely a killer. I don't miss a thing now. Even dialogue intensive movies are a treat to watch now.

[pjdami]

Nice looking setup Greg. Very clean and orderly looking.

However, for two channel the sub is not so seemless. I'm sure it is because of it's placement.

Can you move the sub to the left of the left main up front? That might help a little if you have the room.

[gshisme]

PJ,

The front left of the room is where the dang door opens! I'm sure the sub would be perfect there. I'm thinking of rehanging the door so that it swings outword. Of course it is right at the top of the stairs and could get a little hairy when opening it. There is a little landing at the top that might give enough room to navigate around the door. Will give it a thought.

What we do for the perfect (or close to it) sound!

Best cable management yet. I use the velcro wraps from Home Depot to keep the power cables seperate from all other cables. Stuck a couple sticky backed hooks on the back of the rack also to keep things as organized as I can.

Greg

[danger boy]

looking good there. I have the same fronts and center. I still like em too.

Yes an amp for your fronts will do wonders. or a 5 channel amp for all your speakers will also be a big help. or at least fronts and center could benefit from a amp.

what kind of turntable is that?

al

[gshisme]

[i]What kind of turntable is that?

al [/B]

That is a vintage belt drive Pioneer. Used a heat gun to rid the veneer that was all faded and peeling and recieved a new belt, cartridge and stylus from the "needle doctor." Turntable has to be about 20 -25 years old and still works like a champ. I use it with a Rotel preamp.

I'm thinking of replacing the junk interconnects on the player one day. Not sure what that will entail however.

[stevennoland]

Apparently you missed rule #6. Not all Monster products are 'crap'. Some of their stuff is really good (my personal favorite would be my AVS2000 SS and HTPS7000 SS). Their M series of speaker wire is quality stuff. :)

[HBombToo]

Greg it looks great and that is a BOMB of a set up. I know it well;)

As I was looking at the layout I noticed the 800i's next to the RPTV could be moved out if the rack was pushed toward the TV. I'm only saying that because with my 800i's they always seemed to really image up nice both vertically and horizontilly with a wider front seperation and the 400i then adds the fill with ease. Of course the 800i's should be slanted in toward your listening center.

HBomb

[gshisme]

Originally posted by HBombToo
Greg it looks great and that is a BOMB of a set up. I know it well;)

As I was looking at the layout I noticed the 800i's next to the RPTV could be moved out if the rack was pushed toward the TV. I'm only saying that because with my 800i's they always seemed to really image up nice both vertically and horizontilly with a wider front seperation and the 400i then adds the fill with ease. Of course the 800i's should be slanted in toward your listening center.

HBomb

Hbomb, thanks for the tips. I really do think I will hang the door that now swings open into the room to open to the outside landing in the left front corner. It would give me room for my sub and also give me a chance to seperate the 800i's a little bit more. I'll give the 800i's a little twist toward the main listening area...see what happens.

By the way, If the PSW doesn't get sold I may try doubling up on the subs. That ought to bring the men in blue. :D

[gshisme]

stevennoland,

I respect your opinion on some of the Mon#$% stuff but for reasons stated in this forum I will in no way have any respect for or purchase anything Mon@#%!

With respect,

Greg

[gshisme]

Here is a pic of experiment #2,967. Check out the second pic on this thread and you will see the placement of the sub. Not very seemless at all for two channel and 5.1 music.

Decided to stuff the JBL and 450 subs behind both 800i's (right beside the WSTV and it created a VERY cluttered look. So I substituted the RT55i's on the stands and the look is a bit more cleaner not to mention the much, much better sound integration from the placement of the subs. Two channel analog from the yammy 2300 is so much improved. Even at low listening levels the low end is there..there..there! I feel as if I'm sitting center stage. Just crank it up a bit and the experience is exponential in listening pleasure.

This is the first time I used the Dac's from the yammy 2300 and it absolutely puts the H/K 25 Dac's to shame for two channel!! And a good mix of DVD-A is absolutely a killer! I have the sub decibal settings just a little different for the two formats.

Right now I'm experimenting using the 800i's, 600i's and FX's for surround use. For music, the 800i's kick ass back there but I'm gonna' do some more experimenting with the FX's for H/T. I would love to hear some RT35i's back there also. By the way I had the 800's and 600's sitting on some cement blocks to raise their position a bit. The FX's will be on top of the 600's.

Also, as per Hbomb I turned the 55i's in slightly to the main listening position. This just keeps getting better!

By the way, excuse the cable management...it is temporary. Any way, here is pic:

[danger boy]

to get a little more umph out of your sub(s).. you may want to move them to a corner of the room. that way the bass reflects off the walls and out into the room. this usually helps output with subs.

your new set up looks killer. good work.

[jmierzur]

Originally posted by stevennoland
Apparently you missed rule #6. Not all Monster products are 'crap'. Some of their stuff is really good (my personal favorite would be my AVS2000 SS and HTPS7000 SS). Their M series of speaker wire is quality stuff. :)

Actually, you can get better than that for about the same price.

HTPS7000 - See this thread about a side by side comparison.

AVS2000 - You can get an Exactpower voltage regulator for about the same price on Agon sometimes. It also corrects problems with power.

Just want to clear up any confusion that Monster = performance, which it is all about.


gshisme,

I do not think that you should use the phrase "monster of a center channel". You might find your self involved in a copyright infringement suit.

[jmierzur]

ghsisme,

Look at the link I posted in this thread regarding the placement of dual subs. You are on the right track in placing them behind the speakers. Now you can play with different locations along the wall.

[gshisme]

Originally posted by jmierzur
I do not think that you should use the phrase "monster of a center channel". You might find your self involved in a copyright infringement suit.

:D




jmierzur, I'll check out the link..thanks.