Help me choose: Polk 60 vs 70

[SJP0tato]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to replace my ancient (late 80's) hand-me-down stereo system for something a little newer. I'm planning on starting with a good L/R/Center speaker combo, and am thinking of getting the Polk Monitor 60 or 70, with the CS2 Series 2 center from Newegg. I'm not sure if the 70's will be worth the price premium, but with my livingroom I think the 70's might be a better choice. My main issue right now is voices/quieter sounds are difficult to hear, so it requires turning it up to the point where everything else is way too loud.

Here's a rough sketch of my floor layout where things are/will be, if anyone could make a suggestion between the 70's vs the 60's (or anything from another brand in the same price bracket with better features). The ceiling is vaulted which is why I think my current system is inadequate:


Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[slashbinslashbash]

I don't think the 60's vs. 70's would give you much benefit. Adding a dedicated center channel should make dialogue easier to hear.

Your best bet for this problem is to get a receiver with a low-level listening mode. These basically compress the dynamic range of the signal, so instead of the quiet parts being quiet and the loud parts being loud, the quiet parts are moderate and the loud parts are louder but still not too loud. It adjusts automatically depending on the volume level. Some receivers have Audyssey processing called "Audyssey Dynamic Volume" which does this. THX-certified receivers also have a feature called "THX Loudness" which does the same thing. On other receivers it might be called things like "Late Night Listening Mode" or "Midnight EQ".

 

[ScoobMaster]

I just recently went through a full Home Theater Audio upgrade a few months ago and went through similar choice agony (LOL)

I replaced a JVC HTIB (with TINY satellite speakers) with a Harman Kardon AVR 2600 (factory refurb from their official eBay store: half price!) and went with all Polk speakers from Newegg. I opted for Monitor 50s for my fronts, A CS10 center (I needed the 1/2 inch shorter dimension than the CS1 to fit in front of my TV), Monitor 30s for rears, and a PSW505 sub.

If it were me, I would get the 60s and put the savings in price toward a PSW505 or other nice sub. According to many posts I read at AVS forums and club Polk, the extra drivers in the 70s are overkill if you are going with a decent subwoofer. If you are not getting a sub, then the 70s have a bit more "bottom-end" bass to them. Are you getting rears at some point as well? The Monitor 30s do a great job as rear/surround speakers.

Good luck with your purchase!

 

[sdifox]

Go to 70.

also, any flexibility on pushing the couch further back so your fronts are further out from the rear wall?

 

[SJP0tato]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback!

The low-level listening mode sounds like it might be really helpful, when I upgrade the receiver I'll def have to look for that feature.

I'm not planning on getting the surround speakers for quite awhile (if ever). I've been to friend's house with them, and while they're nice/cool, the bang:buck ratio just isn't there for my ears. That's a good suggestion for 70's alone vs 60's w/ subwoofer. I'm planning on using it 99% of the time for home theater needs, so that's something good to keep in consideration. That makes me lean more towards the 70's, since the sub would be quite a ways off and I'm sure we could "make do" with the 70's solo for awhile.

I could probably move the couch back a little ways, would having the speakers further away from the back wall be beneficial to the sound? What if I put something with sound dampening capabilities on the wall directly behind the speakers themselves?

Thanks again!

 

[sdifox]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback!

The low-level listening mode sounds like it might be really helpful, when I upgrade the receiver I'll def have to look for that feature.

I'm not planning on getting the surround speakers for quite awhile (if ever). I've been to friend's house with them, and while they're nice/cool, the bang:buck ratio just isn't there for my ears. That's a good suggestion for 70's alone vs 60's w/ subwoofer. I'm planning on using it 99% of the time for home theater needs, so that's something good to keep in consideration. That makes me lean more towards the 70's, since the sub would be quite a ways off and I'm sure we could "make do" with the 70's solo for awhile.

I could probably move the couch back a little ways, would having the speakers further away from the back wall be beneficial to the sound? What if I put something with sound dampening capabilities on the wall directly behind the speakers themselves?

Thanks again!

Dampening helps, but speakers just like to breath for lack of a better word. Mine are about 1.5m from the back wall and 50cm from the side.

Also, you can move your current speakers to the back as surrounds. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

 

[SJP0tato]

Dampening helps, but speakers just like to breath for lack of a better word. Mine are about 1.5m from the back wall and 50cm from the side.

Also, you can move your current speakers to the back as surrounds. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

I'll try pulling them forward a ways to give it a shot. If it were just me I'd put the old ones in the back, but the wife would prob get annoyed with them being "in the way".

 

[sdifox]

I'll try pulling them forward a ways to give it a shot. If it were just me I'd put the old ones in the back, but the wife would prob get annoyed with them being "in the way".

get her an iphone to distract her.

 

[SJP0tato]

Just wanted to followup:
I decided on the 70's over the 60's. Reason being the budget for a sub is a long ways off, and from people's opinions the 70's are the better of the two with no sub present.

Plus this way I won't have to do the double-guess "This sounds great with the 60's, but I wonder what the 70's would have sounded like" in the years to come.

 

[sdifox]

Just wanted to followup:
I decided on the 70's over the 60's. Reason being the budget for a sub is a long ways off, and from people's opinions the 70's are the better of the two with no sub present.

Plus this way I won't have to do the double-guess "This sounds great with the 60's, but I wonder what the 70's would have sounded like" in the years to come.

Conglats. Please tell me you did not buy Monster Cables from Best Buy

 

[Aikouka]

Your diagram is kind of weird.. the 11ft to the couch is shorter than the 9ft to the wall behind the couch . The 70s could work well given the longer distance... I use 70s and I'm about 14' away from the TV... and I definitely need to run Audessey to fix the loudness on my center channel. I also own the Polk Monitor CS2 (Series II) center channel speaker.

 

[SJP0tato]

Conglats. Please tell me you did not buy Monster Cables from Best Buy

Oh I did alright, I got the sales guy to give me a great price on a 6-ft HDMI cable, only $128.93!!!


...


Kidding, kidding!

Your diagram is kind of weird.. the 11ft to the couch is shorter than the 9ft to the wall behind the couch

I knew I should have gotten out the ruler and protractor to get it drawn to scale. hehe