Polk Monitor 50 not very loud

[cmstric]

ok guys i have the monitor 50 floorstandings with the matching CS1 center channel and using a Denon AVR-1909 to power it all. I have the center at +2.0db and each tower at +1.5db and playing mp3 on the ps3 or even a concert dvd at -10db on the receiver isnt really that loud.

I know the back of the towers have two sets of posts and im only using wires to the top. Could this be the reason or could my speaker cables be too small?

I figured at -10db it should be really really loud. im not even seeing the woofers move at all on the center or floorstandings.

Please help me out here! THANKS!

Chad

 

[Nomo]

As long as the strap between the upper and lower binding posts is present it doesn't matter whether you use the upper or lower posts.
The monitors can be a bit power hungry, but not terribly so.

How big is your room?

 

[cmstric]

its like 14x12 by 8' high. not big at all. i just figured i could push them to where it would hurt my ears. i couldnt tell a difference when i changed the crossover from 40 to 60 to 80 at any point either

 

[Nomo]

I'm sure you could easily push them to a point that they hurt your ears.
-10 on my 60s is ear bleeding depending on the source.
Loud is subjective.

 

[zhimbo]

-10 should be pretty loud, although this depends on the source material, too. I assume you've tried more than one source, though.

It probably isn't the wire, but how long are your runs of wire, and what gauge is the wire?

It probably isn't that you're using only one set of posts either...but are the pairs of posts connected? I didn't find a picture of the posts to see how they're connected on the Monitor 50s, but they should be connected somehow.

Did you run the Audyssey auto-setup?

 

[cmstric]

i havent ran audyssey i just picked up the denon and still learning.. i think i have to hook the mic up for it. the posts are stacked together i assume they are connected.

 

[Nomo]

There should be a piece of yellow colored metal conformed to fit the contour of the back plate between the terminal pairs.

 

[cmstric]

yes they are connected like you say.but i dont need to hook up the other set? I just ran auddessey and it seemed to help a bit. it bumped the db to each speaker to about +5db .

 

[Nomo]

yes they are connected like you say.but i dont need to hook up the other set? I just ran auddessey and it seemed to help a bit. it bumped the db to each speaker to about +5db .

Nope, as long as the strip is there, you're good.

 

[cmstric]

ok the only thing now is when audyssey is running and i change the volume the speakers kind of crackle as it gets louder. but if audyssey is off it doesnt. Are the settings to much or something?

 

[TLS Guy]

ok the only thing now is when audyssey is running and i change the volume the speakers kind of crackle as it gets louder. but if audyssey is off it doesnt. Are the settings to much or something?

If that is happening then Audyssey is trying to boost a null somewhere and either running your amps and or speakers out of gas.

If you run them with the crackle you will have speaker and or amp damage.

I suspect you are expecting too high an spl for you grade of speaker. Polk are far down my list in speaker ratings.

Don't forget high spl = permanent hearing damage, so may be there is a silver lining to your experience.

Could you post what the Eq settings are that Audyssey came up with That may shed some light on the matter.

 

[BudgetHT]

Sounds to be either a setting in the receiver or the receiver is bad. I have a set Polk Monitor 50s and at -10 dB in that small of a room the volume should be unbearable.
I would double check your speaker wires and make sure nothing is shorting out.
The Polk Monitor 50s should play very loud.

 

[TLS Guy]

Sounds to be either a setting in the receiver or the receiver is bad. I have a set Polk Monitor 50s and at -10 dB in that small of a room the volume should be unbearable.
I would double check your speaker wires and make sure nothing is shorting out.
The Polk Monitor 50s should play very loud.

Not necessarily; there is always the unknown factor of the amp and speaker interface. The amps of his receiver are rated at 90 watts, but all the other specs are vague to non existent in the extreme. It looks highly suspicious they are hiding something.

The other thing is those are only 5 1/4" drivers X2. There really is a very finite limit to the spl of a design like that, especially at that price range. I have no idea if the OP's expectations are realistic.

 

[cmstric]

Not necessarily; there is always the unknown factor of the amp and speaker interface. The amps of his receiver are rated at 90 watts, but all the other specs are vague to non existent in the extreme. It looks highly suspicious they are hiding something.

The other thing is those are only 5 1/4" drivers X2. There really is a very finite limit to the spl of a design like that, especially at that price range. I have no idea if the OP's expectations are realistic.

I totally agree, this is why i am looking at upgrading the speakers to a klipsch rf-82 or something but then im concerned my reciever cant push them hard enough to sound good. I once heard in the car audio world that if your speakers require 100 watts rms and you run at 85watts rms then its actually harder on the amp and speaker.

the main reason im worried is bc my new house ill be in , in 4 weeks, has an open living room/kitchen which makes it like 22x17x10 so i have a lot of room to fill.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have pushed some 6 ohm, NHT 2.5's with a sensitivity of 86 plenty loud with a 15 year old, 90 watt Pioneer AVR so your Denon should be ok unless you get speakers with really low ohms or sensitivity.

I think something is off somewhere in your system. Did you recheck the wires? Are you using bare wire or bananas?

TLS, I am not syaing the speaker will sound good up high but they should get plenty loud.

I totally agree, this is why i am looking at upgrading the speakers to a klipsch rf-82 or something but then im concerned my reciever cant push them hard enough to sound good. I once heard in the car audio world that if your speakers require 100 watts rms and you run at 85watts rms then its actually harder on the amp and speaker.

the main reason im worried is bc my new house ill be in , in 4 weeks, has an open living room/kitchen which makes it like 22x17x10 so i have a lot of room to fill.

 

[cmstric]

I have pushed some 6 ohm, NHT 2.5's with a sensitivity of 86 plenty loud with a 15 year old, 90 watt Pioneer AVR so your Denon should be ok unless you get speakers with really low ohms or sensitivity.

I think something is off somewhere in your system. Did you recheck the wires? Are you using bare wire or bananas?

TLS, I am not syaing the speaker will sound good up high but they should get plenty loud.

Bare wire , planning to upgrade wires after new house move. could that be why?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Only if they are frayed at the end and touching something other than the binding posts. It is likely that this is happening at the AVR side since it is difficult to get your hands in there.

Bare wire , planning to upgrade wires after new house move. could that be why?

 

[cmstric]

it is like if as you hold down the upper volume control on the remote and every click on the number increases you here a slight tick from the speaker ....gradually getting louder as the number (volume) increases in loudness. you almost have to be right up on the speakers to hear it. but i noticed it and thought it was very odd.

 

[TLS Guy]

it is like if as you hold down the upper volume control on the remote and every click on the number increases you here a slight tick from the speaker ....gradually getting louder as the number (volume) increases in loudness. you almost have to be right up on the speakers to hear it. but i noticed it and thought it was very odd.

A lot of digital volume controls do that.

 

[BudgetHT]

Not necessarily; there is always the unknown factor of the amp and speaker interface. The amps of his receiver are rated at 90 watts, but all the other specs are vague to non existent in the extreme. It looks highly suspicious they are hiding something.

The other thing is those are only 5 1/4" drivers X2. There really is a very finite limit to the spl of a design like that, especially at that price range. I have no idea if the OP's expectations are realistic.

Okie dokie.