Upgrade from Klipsch Quintet SL to Polk Monitor II?

[napes22]

In 2008, I bought the Klipsch Quintet SL set, and have enjoyed them (with the exception of weak vocals from the center channel). Newegg is having a deal for the next 3 days with significant money off the Polk Monitor Series II set.

http://www.newegg.com/Polk-Audio-Hom...t/ID-12345-494

Is it worth the upgrade? I could get a pair of Monitor 50's for $75 each, the center channel CS1 for $99, and a pair of bookshelf Monitor 40's for $125. That's about $375 for a new set.

I just want to make sure it wouldn't be a marginal upgrade from my existing Quintet SL's.

 

[A5]

First, your math is $125 light. The total set would be $500.

It would probably be better, but that isn't the set composition I'd go with unless you have to use the Monitor 50 as the rear speakers.

If I were building a Monitor set, I'd do Monitor 60s for the Mains and R150s for the surrounds. Maybe think about bumping the Center to a CS2 if there's room left in the budget.

With the coupon on the R150s, I think you'd be far more satisfied with this system (for the same money with a CS1, +$50 with a CS2) than the one you're proposing.

Surrounds just aren't super important relative to mains, centers, and subs. If you don't have a sub, that would be a better use of your budget than upgrading your existing speakers.

 

[napes22]

I have an older sub from a Yamaha set I owned it 2006.

Also the Monitor 70's are down to 150 with a coupon code.

Is the difference in sound worth the upgrade? The Quintet SL are an older set.

 

[boomhower]

If you have the receiver to drive them I'd do it. The upgrade from the small sattelites you have now would be huge. I went with the 50's over the 70's today. It's just a matter of how much sound you want for the $ spent. I couldn't justify double the money for already good speakers. You also need a new sub. Don't underestimate how much of a difference a good sub can make. Newegg has a Klipsch on sale for $300 that's great for music or a BiC F12($200) from Amazon if your more home theater focused.

 

[napes22]

I was looking at the 50s also. The Quintet SL actually isn't all satalites..2 half towers., a center channel and two rear satalites.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0011YZ018

The room I'm moving into next month is 16 by 12 so I think the 50s would be plenty.

Edit: If I get the 50's and a Center CS1 can I use my Quintet L/R as the surround? Or would I be better off getting the surround Monitor 30 satalites?

 

[Aharami]

how would the polk floor standers compare to these pioneer speakers? - http://reviews.cnet.com/surround-speaker-systems/pioneer-sp-pk52fs/4505-7868_7-35477425.html

 

[boomhower]

how would the polk floor standers compare to these pioneer speakers? - http://reviews.cnet.com/surround-speaker-systems/pioneer-sp-pk52fs/4505-7868_7-35477425.html

Those things are getting rave reviews. If you can get them for $100/each for the towers your getting a good value. I haven't found a head to head comparison of them. I chose the Polk 50's over them. Largely for cost and partly aesthetics/size. The Pioneers are very very good but I would personally wait for the Monitor 60's to go on sale for $100/each, which they will before the end of the month. But, you really can't go wrong with either.

 

[napes22]

Those things are getting rave reviews. If you can get them for $100/each for the towers your getting a good value. I haven't found a head to head comparison of them. I chose the Polk 50's over them. Largely for cost and partly aesthetics/size. The Pioneers are very very good but I would personally wait for the Monitor 60's to go on sale for $100/each, which they will before the end of the month. But, you really can't go wrong with either.

Do you really think they will go on sale for that by the end of the month? I think I may wait and grab them then.

Also, is it bad to mix and match sets? I don't like the center channel on my Klipsch Quintet SL set (hard to hear speech at mid level volumes), would it have a negative affect to grab a Polk CS1 but use the rest of the set?

My current subwoofer is the discontinued Yamaha YST-SW320. Do you think it needs to be upgraded?

 

[boomhower]

Do you really think they will go on sale for that by the end of the month? I think I may wait and grab them then.

Also, is it bad to mix and match sets? I don't like the center channel on my Klipsch Quintet SL set (hard to hear speech at mid level volumes), would it have a negative affect to grab a Polk CS1 but use the rest of the set?

My current subwoofer is the discontinued Yamaha YST-SW320. Do you think it needs to be upgraded?

I really think they will, but that's just a guess. I don't work for newegg nor know anyone that does. It's just that it's November, they have lots of sales, and they almost always have a monitor speaker on sale. With the 50 and the 70 at their rock bottom price now they have to put something on sale later this month. But like I said, just a guess.

Get the Polk center. LCR speakers from the same manufacturer are timber matched, you want to keep that. It's a $100 well spent.

As far as the sub, I don't know anything about that sub. I can tell you this, in general people way way way underbuy on sub. If you want to upgrade and are doing primarily home theater then go with the BiC F12 for cheap. If you lean towards more music the $300 Klipsch on sale at newegg would be a good choice. Both aren't really good subs but will get the job done on a budget. I bought the F12. But when money allows either a second one will be added or a much much better single to replace it. Subs add a lot more to the overall sound than people want to realize.

 

[A5]

You don't want to mix/match brands across the front. Having a different brand of surrounds is no problem though - I'm using Polk RTi's across the front, but my rear surrounds are leftovers from my Klipsch Promedia 5.1 computer set

I agree with the person above - people generally underbuy on the Sub and Center. Spending more on those two parts can really change the movie experience.

 

[boomhower]

The Monitor 60's are now on sale for $100.

 

[napes22]

Just found the deal on Slickdeals. I'm trying to figure out if an upgrade would be a true upgrade in speaker quality / performance, or just personal preference.

 

[A5]

Yes, they would be better, mainly at the low-end. It's kind of like with cars - there's no replacement for displacement.

 

[Aikouka]

The Monitor 60's are now on sale for $100.

Yeah, they're trying to push them out to make room for the Monitor III series, which is a lot like the previous generation, but with an extra 'I'.

 

[boomhower]

Yeah, they're trying to push them out to make room for the Monitor III series, which is a lot like the previous generation, but with an extra 'I'.

Pretty much just some minor design changes but they've been on sale for $99 quite a few times before.