Polk TSi300 for $109 or Monitor 65T for $139

[jjcd2002]

I'll leave my life story for another post...

My question is simple: should I purchase two Polk TSi300 @ $109 ea from Best Buy or the "Polk New Monitor 65T" for $139?

I really liked the TSi300s (listened to them @ Best Buy), but saw what appears to be a "bigger" and "better speaker" for just $40 more. From looking at other posts, TSi400 = Monitor 60s and TSi400 > TSi300, but I'm still very new at this, so I just want to make sure my assumption is correct.

The $139 deal ends tomorrow, so I'm on a time crunch.

BTW, I haven't purchased a receiver, center, sub, rears, or receiver yet, so I don't have specs on those (so any advice on those would be helpful as well).

I've never purchased speakers of this magnitude before (so far I have a 60" LCD with Logitech X530 in a 18ishx40ishx8 living room/kitchen great room) so apologies for oozing noob-ness.

Thanks

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

No & No.

I would get the Pioneer speakers instead.

Compare the Pioneer vs Polk at Best Buy and see.

 

[afterlife2]

I agree Don't do it!
Get these Highly Praised Speakers: Pioneer Andrew Jones SP-BS22-LR Bookshelf Loudspeaker - 2 Way, 55Hz-20kHz, 80 W, Gold 5-Way Binding Posts at TigerDirect.com
You can hear them at Best Buy. Bring a CD.

 

[jjcd2002]

I listened to some of the speakers in the Andrew Jones series when I saw the Polks... and I didn't like the Pioneers, but thank you for your suggestion.

Can anyone else help me with my question? I have about 10 hrs left.

Thanks

 

[Grador]

Though I strongly agree with the other posts that the pioneers are the far better choice, this only really displays that you'll have to make this decision for yourself. If your ears think the monitor series are worth the extra $40, then go for it. No one else can really tell you.

 

[j_garcia]

I listened to some of the speakers in the Andrew Jones series when I saw the Polks... and I didn't like the Pioneers, but thank you for your suggestion.

Can anyone else help me with my question? I have about 10 hrs left.

Thanks

Listening to them in Best Buy is less than a far less than ideal situation. Did you give them a serious listen? We can only make recommendations for something for you to listen to, but your personal preferences are what matter in the end. You asked if there were better choices and there ARE, but if you heard the TSIs and liked them, then that should be enough.

I listened to the BS22-LRs at Best Buy and I could still tell they were a solid speaker. I listened to the TSI300 also and thought they sounded OK - they definitely LOOK nicer, but speakers should be selected based on sound ideally.

Though I strongly agree with the other posts that the pioneers are the far better choice, this only really displays that you'll have to make this decision for yourself. If your ears think the monitor series are worth the extra $40, then go for it. No one else can really tell you.

That's an extra $80 since it is per speaker.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I think most of us still can't believe that Andrew Jones designed the $80,000 TAD R1 speakers, and then also designed these $260/pr great sounding Pioneer speakers.

I would have designed some speakers in the $2,000-$4,000 /pr range if I were Andrew Jones. What was he (& Pioneer) thinking?

I mean $80,000 ---> $260? Just weird.

What would happen if Kevin Voecks (designer of $22,000 Revel Salon2) created a new line of Infinity speakers for $260/pr?

 

[jjcd2002]

...this only really displays that you'll have to make this decision for yourself. If your ears think the monitor series are worth the extra $40, then go for it. No one else can really tell you.

I figured that was going to be the response. Unfortunately, I cant listen to those Monitors before purchasing them, so i thought that the larger speaker from the same brand would be better for my size room..... but i dont know if the monitor 65T are "bigger" than the tsi300s, nor do I know if they have the same quality of sound ( which ive now learned that my ear is nowhere near as trained as the folks on this forum)

I will look tk see if the monitors have a return policy and ill go from there. Ill also go with my own cd to best buy and test out the andrew jones again.

Thanks for you help.

 

[jwpkrfan]

I was looking at the same speakers at Best Buy last September before the Pioneers were receiving so much praise. I was considering the Polk Monitor 60's and I heard that the TSI series was similar. When I compared the TSIs with the Andrew Jones Pioneers I found that the Polks sounded fuller and louder. I went home told my wife about what I heard and I asked her to come with me to listen as well. I demoed both speakers for her and she also agreed the Polks sounded better. The next time the monitor 60s went on sale I ordered them. Since that time I've read all the press and user reviews of the Pioneers and I'm sure they are excellent speakers. I just happened to like the Polks better.

 

[j_garcia]

I was looking at the same speakers at Best Buy last September before the Pioneers were receiving so much praise. I was considering the Polk Monitor 60's and I heard that the TSI series was similar. When I compared the TSIs with the Andrew Jones Pioneers I found that the Polks sounded fuller and louder. I went home told my wife about what I heard and I asked her to come with me to listen as well. I demoed both speakers for her and she also agreed the Polks sounded better. The next time the monitor 60s went on sale I ordered them. Since that time I've read all the press and user reviews of the Pioneers and I'm sure they are excellent speakers. I just happened to like the Polks better.

"Louder" and "better" are not the same thing. When you compare two speakers, you need to compare them at the same level. So if they (or you) switched the speakers and left the receiver at the same volume, you were not comparing apples to oranges. The TSIs are basically the same as their old R line with nicer cabinets.

 

[jjcd2002]

j_garcia, I made sure to test them at the same levels (I had to tell the BB associate to stop changing the volume.....) and after doing more research, I concluded that the TSi's were a nicer looking version of the Monitors... but I guess the new Monitors have a different cabinet then the old ones? (looked similar enough to my wife, who is the one who really cares about the appearance)

I decided to go with the Monitor 65T's. I found out that Newegg is in the City of Industry, which is about 35 miles from me, so if I don't like them, I can always return them within 30 days.

Next stop is a receiver...

Unfortunately, I don't have a large budget with this (no more than $200, but would like to stay under $150) and I am willing to spend >$100, then get a better receiver at a later date (most likely within 3 months). I will also need to wait on the sub, center and rears until then as well. My goal is to get all of these by the start of college football season (late August). Any suggestions as to where I can get a temporary receiver for now?

Again, thanks for everyone's help and patience

 

[j_garcia]

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices! Get something refurb if it is temporary, and they should definitely have something decent to fit that budget. I've bought quite a few times from them and have had zero issues. I'd look at these two, but they do have some that are less:

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1613/DENON-AVR-1613-5.1ch-Networking-Receiver-w/AirPlay-3D-ready/1.html

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/DENAVR1612/DENON-AVR-1612-5.1-Channel-A/V-Home-Theater-Receiver/1.html

Sorry, I meant they were a nicer looking version of the Monitor line.

 

[GFOViedo]

I was in the same situation as you. I went to Best Buy and tested the Phase 2 Pioneers and the Polk Audios TSi's. Even my wife said that the Polks sounded much better. With the Pioneers we had to bump up the volume much more to get more sound out of them, but they did sound. I went with the Monitor 70's since they were on sale. I also ordered the 25c and Klipsch RW-12D. Sounds decent for my budget.