Fellow Polkies...........LOL!!!

[polkyphil38]

Good morning people. Been a while since I last posted to this forum. I recently did a direct A/B comparison of the Rti6 and the Paradigm Mini Monitor v.4. I have been a huge Paradigm fan for several years now BUT I preferred the sound of the Rti6. The bottom end was more defined and controlled whereas the Mini was boomy and slighlty on the sloppy side of things. The Rti6 was also more open and engaging. The Mini sounded a bit blanketed and rolled off. However, I concluded that the Rti6 was better than the Mini Monitor v.4 but not as good as The Studio 20 v.3's that I do own. I am sure the Rti4 would also perform very well. My question is about the Polk Monitor line. I have noticed that most forum members prefer the Rti line to the Monitor line. I can certainly understand that when listening to the Monitor 30's. However, the Monitor 40's IMHO are quite nice. For some reason or another I really like the way the 40's sound. Sure, you will need a powered sub BUT when mated with a good powered sub the 40's rock. So, is there anybody here that has found the same????? Oh, how would the CS1 center sound with the 40's??? I know the CS2 is bigger but is it really that much better than the CS1? Please elaborate and try to be as unbiased as you can. Speaker preference is very subjective and most people feel the "need" to justify their purchases. What I am after is obtaining some unbiased info with repsect to the Monitor 40's and the CS1/CS2 center channel speakers. Care to help????????

[polkyphil38]

Wow, thought I would surely get some replies. Guess nobody here but me likes the Monitor 40's. Surely I am not the only one. Come on people please share your sentiments and enlighten me. That is what makes this hobby so enjoyable---you know us audiophiles learning from each other and sharing ideas.

[jakelm]

The CS1 is the perfect match for the 40's. I have both. Same drivers for the optimum timber match

[Holydoc]

I cannot give you any input because I am happy with the RTi line and have not messed with the Monitors.

I think the problem that you will find is that you are asking for an Unbiased opinion on a manufactorers website about how something sounds which inherently is subjective and bias.

Not sure what you want the others to say. Do you want them to say Yes, it does sound better to you. Or do you want them to say No, your ears did not hear them sounding better.

Confused....as always

[Zero]

For one reason or another, the Monitor series never really settled with this crowd. The time I spent with the monitor bookshelfs is so miminal that I wont even comment on their sound. I did like the Monitor 60, especially on tube's. Dollar for Dollar, it is a fantastic value.

Otherwise, thanks for sharing your thoughts and impressions versus the P'digm's. As much as so many would hate to believe, Polk and Paradigm really do go head to head on every single series and price-point.

Just for references; my favorite Polk Rti speaker is the 4. It won't have the full impactful sound of the 6, but I find it to be more refined from top to bottom.. Check it out if you ever have the chance to.

[*Seby*-Polk-]

The Monitor series .... are GREAT. It's the "low end" models of Polk right ?? OK. For low bicks you've got a great crystal clear sound..EXTREMELY CLEAN. Far better than JBL, better than Infinity's and same quality of Klipsch (obviously in the same price range). Also, looks great. Very elegant.

Surely, the RTi series has better ... but have higher prices. If you have a middle-small room, and average bucks...the Monitor series are the best speakers on the market you can find.

The "Monitor combo" FRONTS: Monitor 50 - SURROUNDS: Monitor 30 - CENTRAL: CS1 - SUB: PSW 10. is a fantastic budget with a good receiver.

Bye !!!!

[polkyphil38]

The CS1 is the perfect match for the 40's. I have both. Same drivers for the optimum timber match

Jake do you think the CS2 would had worked better for you??? I mean do you think it is that much better than the CS1????? Just curious. Looks like you got a nice set-up.

[polkyphil38]

I cannot give you any input because I am happy with the RTi line and have not messed with the Monitors.

I think the problem that you will find is that you are asking for an Unbiased opinion on a manufactorers website about how something sounds which inherently is subjective and bias.

Not sure what you want the others to say. Do you want them to say Yes, it does sound better to you. Or do you want them to say No, your ears did not hear them sounding better.

Confused....as always

Well actually I was looking for an honest answer. You make a good point about this being a manufacturers website BUT it never hurts to try to obtain an objective opinion. No pun intended. Have a great day.

[polkyphil38]

For one reason or another, the Monitor series never really settled with this crowd. The time I spent with the monitor bookshelfs is so miminal that I wont even comment on their sound. I did like the Monitor 60, especially on tube's. Dollar for Dollar, it is a fantastic value.

Otherwise, thanks for sharing your thoughts and impressions versus the P'digm's. As much as so many would hate to believe, Polk and Paradigm really do go head to head on every single series and price-point.

Just for references; my favorite Polk Rti speaker is the 4. It won't have the full impactful sound of the 6, but I find it to be more refined from top to bottom.. Check it out if you ever have the chance to.

Yeah I wanted to compare the Rti4 to the Paradigm Atoms BUT the place I was at did not have any of the Rti4's in stock. Have been told by several that the Rti4's were very punch and articulate sounding. Will definitely have to check them out next time I want to do some demoing. Thanks for your thoughts.

[polkyphil38]

The Monitor series .... are GREAT. It's the "low end" models of Polk right ?? OK. For low bicks you've got a great crystal clear sound..EXTREMELY CLEAN. Far better than JBL, better than Infinity's and same quality of Klipsch (obviously in the same price range). Also, looks great. Very elegant.

Surely, the RTi series has better ... but have higher prices. If you have a middle-small room, and average bucks...the Monitor series are the best speakers on the market you can find.

The "Monitor combo" FRONTS: Monitor 50 - SURROUNDS: Monitor 30 - CENTRAL: CS1 - SUB: PSW 10. is a fantastic budget with a good receiver.

Bye !!!!

Thanks for your comments BUT am still hoping to hear from someone who uses the Monitor 40's as fronts in their set-up. If any of you have please feel free to chime in.

[ohskigod]

I dont own the monitor line but have heard them. the monitor line overall sounded very good to me, even in a circuit city set up (which wasnt to bad) great entry levels. can be a little bright on the wrong gear, but on HK or Onkyo, things were fine

there are some closet fans of the monitor 60 floorstander on this site. It seems to be the gem of the line according to some I have heard from, I never critically listenned to the 60, but I respect the opinions of whom I heard it from though.

I definitly like the monitor better than the R series, which I never warmed up to.

[*Seby*-Polk-]

I dont own the monitor line but have heard them. the monitor line overall sounded very good to me, even in a circuit city set up (which wasnt to bad) great entry levels. can be a little bright on the wrong gear, but on HK or Onkyo, things were fine

there are some closet fans of the monitor 60 floorstander on this site. It seems to be the gem of the line according to some I have heard from, I never critically listenned to the 60, but I respect the opinions of whom I heard it from though.

I definitly like the monitor better than the R series, which I never warmed up to.

It's true. The monitor 60 is the gem of the line. Better balance than monitor 70 and more power than mon 50.

Really great, i mean G R E A T, entry level floorstanding

[jakelm]

Phil. The CS1 has the same drivers as the Monitor 40's. I had the M40's set up as my front left and right along with the CS1. Now they are channel B, being that I have 7b's now. But when they were my mains they blended very well with the CS1. The CS1 accually blends better with the M40's than the 7b's. I dont think you could get a better timber match with any other center channel, being the driver and the setup is the excact same except for very minor differences in the boxes. If you were to use the CS2, then you would change the timber, going from 5.5" drivers on the mains and 6.5" drivers for the center. I have tried different center channels but the CS1 was the best. Timber matching in the front (L,C,R), IMO, is the most important.

[jakelm]

I cant complain one bit about my M40's. They handle plenty of power and sound absolutly fantastic. I think in all the brands at that price point, you cant go wrong. Your getting the best speakers avaliable in that price range.

Jake

[*Seby*-Polk-]

It's true. The size of speakers will be the same for perfect sound. Balanced sound. All 5" 1/4 works great.

[jakelm]

Im sorry , I did mean 5.25"

[jakelm]

Not only the size, but they are the excact "same" drivers. Same 5.25" and same tweeter. I dont think you can get a better match than that.

[aaharvel]

what Zero said. All of it.
The monitor 40's can't touch the rti4 in anything except how much port bass it plays below 60hz.

And yes, I'm a fan of the monitor 60 as well, but that's all.

[jayman_1975]

well here's my 2 cents....i had the 40's hooked up as front l/r and the cs1 m30's in rear. I thought that set-up sounded awesome. But in the true nature of the upgrade bug i went and returned the 30's and cs1 and went to m70's front l/r, cs2/ and put the 40's in rear. Sounds pretty awesome as well. But i think the 40's had clearer highs and mids than the 70's. I wish i would have gotten the 60's.

[MikDrago]

I have never heard the 60's but would like to. I have 50's in the front, 40's in the rear and CS1. I use a PSW350 for sub with Harman receiver. I used to have the 40's up front because I found them to be a little more balanced than the 50's, but later moved them to the rears for asthetics (WAF). The
40's sound great with music and fantastic on home theater. I would like to hear the 60's sometime and then use them for fronts, 50's side and 40's rear. Maybe two subs up front. I really like the Monitor line for the money. I know that alot of people feel that the RTi line is much better, but I don't feel that for the money there is a huge difference.

[polkyphil38]

Phil. The CS1 has the same drivers as the Monitor 40's. I had the M40's set up as my front left and right along with the CS1. Now they are channel B, being that I have 7b's now. But when they were my mains they blended very well with the CS1. The CS1 accually blends better with the M40's than the 7b's. I dont think you could get a better timber match with any other center channel, being the driver and the setup is the excact same except for very minor differences in the boxes. If you were to use the CS2, then you would change the timber, going from 5.5" drivers on the mains and 6.5" drivers for the center. I have tried different center channels but the CS1 was the best. Timber matching in the front (L,C,R), IMO, is the most important.

Yes I am aware of the same size drivers and all BUT the M40's have (2) 5.25" drivers so I was concerned as to how the CS1 would be able to keep up with the M40's. Your post here is very informative. I appreciate that.

[polkyphil38]

what Zero said. All of it.
The monitor 40's can't touch the rti4 in anything except how much port bass it plays below 60hz.

And yes, I'm a fan of the monitor 60 as well, but that's all.

Funny thing here is that when I did get to demo the Rti4 (it has been a while) my impressions were very good BUT I liked the sound of the Paradigm Atoms better. Now the Rti6 was much better than the Paradigm Mini Monitor v.4's/Titans v.4's and I just demoed them last week. Maybe I need to take a closer look at the Rti4. The place I go to listen to them will have some in stock soon. IMHO, I still preferred the M40's over the Rti4's from what I remember. For one thing, the size of the sound stage was bigger than the Rti4's and the M40's had much better low end extension. Now keep in mind I am going strictly off of memory here. I will take a closer look in the next few weeks.

[polkyphil38]

It's true. The monitor 60 is the gem of the line. Better balance than monitor 70 and more power than mon 50.

Really great, i mean G R E A T, entry level floorstanding

Too bad because I do not care for tower speakers. I prefer a stand mounted speaker with a good powered sub any day. Personally, I believe the Monitor 40's are the gem so to speak. Just something about the way they sound that I like and the price is affordable.

[jakelm]

Phill , the M40's and the CS1 have the same 5.25" drivers and the same tweeter

[polkyphil38]

I have never heard the 60's but would like to. I have 50's in the front, 40's in the rear and CS1. I use a PSW350 for sub with Harman receiver. I used to have the 40's up front because I found them to be a little more balanced than the 50's, but later moved them to the rears for asthetics (WAF). The
40's sound great with music and fantastic on home theater. I would like to hear the 60's sometime and then use them for fronts, 50's side and 40's rear. Maybe two subs up front. I really like the Monitor line for the money. I know that alot of people feel that the RTi line is much better, but I don't feel that for the money there is a huge difference.

I agree the real wood veneering is a nice touch but the Monitor 40's are hard to beat for the money. I must say though the Rti6's are nice. Never heard the Lsi7's or the Lsi9's. Bet they sound excellent BUT the 4ohm load would be hard to drive w/o proper amplification. Thanks for the info.

[jakelm]

Both the M40 and CS1 have 2 5.25" and 1 silk dome tweeter. It is the same speaker just different boxes.

[jakelm]

I have seen a system with a M40 as center and left and right.

Same sound quality as Cs1

[polkyphil38]

I have seen a system with a M40 as center and left and right.

Same sound quality as Cs1

Good point........LOL!!!! Guess my head has been in my *ss!!!!!! Really got me thinking now.

[jakelm]

Hell if you really like the M40's , you can do your whole system. 5.1\6.1\7.1

[jakelm]

They might be alittle heavy for the wall...but if you find a strong bracket and a good stud.