Help deciding between the DefTech and Polk 3.1 systems

[Adam D'Agosto]

Hello,

Between my last two posts, you guys have got me pretty close to knowing what to look for in my price range.

It's a toss up between:
the Definitive Technology ProMonitor1000 mains with ProCenter1000 and ProSub800
or the...
Polk Audio Signature S15/S20 with the Signature S35 center channel and a PSW125 sub.

Of these two, does anyone have any experience with them or have any particular strong feelings about either rig?

Thank you,

 

[lovinthehd]

Why DT or Polk subs? They don't need to be same brand. Why these particular speakers? Budget and room details?

 

[Adam D'Agosto]

The reason for these two option is that for one, I have found very good used options. I can save about half of retail. Then I have also heard good things from these two options but that's from sales people.

As for the sub, the DT system is being sold used that includes the ProSub800. In the case of the Polk option, it does not have the sub so I just kept it simple and assumed a Polk sub, but that's not required by any means.

If you want room details, they are posted here: http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/floor-tower-speakers-on-a-shelf.107822/

Of course there are a ton of options out there, but these are the two I'm looking at right now. I have to decide which one pretty quick. I don't expect these to be available for very long.

Many thanks getting me straight on this speaker HT stuff!!

 

[Pogre]

DT makes some decent speakers. I have the Promonitor 1000's and when I first heard them I was impressed. I've heard more speakers since then and know there's better out there.

I would say no to DT because of the sub that comes with them. Polk, you can do better there as well. Again, not the best subwoofer tho. Got a budget? We might be able to do you better for the same money.

 

[Adam D'Agosto]

Hi.
Budget is tricky. If I act today and get a used Polk S35 and a Sony STR-DN850 receiver, my budget is $300.
If I hold out for the DT 1000/1000/800 sub with an older Onkyo receiver that has been poorly reviewed, that's $500.

In terms of a deal, the DT one makes a lot of sense, how knows how long that will be around. That's always the game.

In the case of the Polk S35 and Sony receiver option, I can get it, then save up for the next round of gear and just store it. Its a good deal as well.

I just really wanted to know what you though of those two options. Which has a better quality sound and will give me a better experience based on your own knowledge. That's what I was looking for.

If I hold off, always a good idea....I can grow the budget, but to answer your question, I'm honestly going to have a hard time spending more than $1000. Both of these options will come in under that with room to spare.

 

[Pogre]

Hold off. You can do better, even in your price range. I've seen the AA's suggested many, many times as a budget speaker option. They punch way above their weight class and from everything I've seen they have pretty decent bass response by themselves. Maybe get a pair of those and a receiver from AC4L to start, then work on saving for a good subwoofer (or 2).

 

[lovinthehd]

If you haven't heard either speaker set that would be the first step, just to see if it basically meets your approval. Hard for us to tell you what will sound good to you. What's the situation with a "poorly reviewed" Onkyo? You already own it? What model? Reviews are only worth so much....

As to the AA's @Pogre suggested, I built a pair of the speakers in kit form they're based on (the Dayton BR-1) and that is a very decent speaker, and with Dennis Murphy's improved crossover network, even better.

 

[zieglj01]

For sure you do not want that Polk sub -- it is no where close to a real sub. The measurements are >
The PSW125’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 45 Hz and the –6dB point is at 39 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 115 Hz with the Low Pass control set to maximum.

 

[Adam D'Agosto]

I'm holding off.

 

[Adam D'Agosto]

Hi all, just an update.

I ended up going with the DT ProMonitor1000 and ProCenter1000 along with the ProSub 800. I got them used on Craigslist. They were sold with an older model Onkyo receiver (TX-NR807 7.2) more on that in a minute, a Panamax M5300-PM 11 and a Logitech Harmony 900 remote. Everything was in very good, if not near mint condition. The speakers are a bit old, but he said they only had about 2 years or less on them. Closet speakers for a while....

Anyway, few comments/questions.

The speakers, to me, sould much better for tv shows and movies than they do for music. The music seems to lack clarity and precision in the mid range, but overall, not too bad.

The receiver is fine, except it puts out a lot of heat. I hope that newer models have better performance over this one.

The Logitech remote is freak'en cool!!

The sub seems under powered for the room. My room is not huge (26x22) but the ceiling is very high, about 16" feet tall. Question....am I better off adding a second sub or just replacing this one with a much larger one? Are two subs better than one or can one do the job if sized properly and would a ProSub 1000 be enough? Its not terrible, but could use a bit more low end support.

Thanks!!!

 

[lovinthehd]

Actually in terms of subwoofer, and the prosub800 barely qualifies as a woofer let alone a subwoofer, a room of 9152 cuft is considered very large. Try this article http://www.audioholics.com/loudspeaker-design/subwoofer-room-size

In a room that size I'd want several very large subs (and I do have such, but in a smaller room!).

ps You should make sure that avr gets lots of breathing room, and perhaps consider a cooling fan to extend its life.

 

[everettT]

No DT sub except their flagship will be enough. Look at ID companies for better cost to performance ratio. To fill that room look at $799 and up for budget

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Congrats on new gear. That's always fun.
Ummm, that's a LOT of cubic feet.(9152) Very few single subs would pressurize that if any. I would not waste any time/money with more DT subs and start budgeting for 2 competent ones. Be prepared to spend some money though. Once your subs are able, I think you'll find du to the space your speakers won't keep up. As noted, they're lacking for music and even though you said fine for movies, that experience would be greatly improved too. Hope I don't sound like jerk. Just trying to be realistic and help spend your money the right way. 2 subs can give up to 6db more output over one and also provide more headroom. They'll also help with more even sound over more seats.

 

[lovinthehd]

No DT sub except their flagship will be enough. Look at ID companies for better cost to performance ratio. To fill that room look at $799 and up for budget

Even DT's "best" sub isn't going to do it, not by a good bit.

 

[Pogre]

Congrats on new gear. That's always fun.
Ummm, that's a LOT of cubic feet.(9152) Very few single subs would pressurize that if any. I would not waste any time/money with more DT subs and start budgeting for 2 competent ones. Be prepared to spend some money though. Once your subs are able, I think you'll find du to the space your speakers won't keep up. As noted, they're lacking for music and even though you said fine for movies, that experience would be greatly improved too. Hope I don't sound like jerk. Just trying to be realistic and help spend your money the right way. 2 subs can give up to 6db more output over one and also provide more headroom. They'll also help with more even sound over more seats.

That's larger than my space (~6000^3) and I have 2 VTF-3 MK5 subwoofers. That li'l Deftech is woefully underpowered for that room.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

Everyone here seems anti DEFTECH, they must own stock from competitors companies!

 

[lovinthehd]

Everyone here seems anti DEFTECH, they must own stock from competitors companies!

Not anti-Def Tec per se but their subs are chiefly about small form factor, not performance. They also provide funky specs.

 

[Adam D'Agosto]

Yeah this group does seem a bit negative on DefTech, but still I agree with what is being said in terms of subwoofer needs.

I was afraid of the answer, but not suprised by it. In fact I think the same would be said about the mains and center speaker. Currently I have 5.25" mains and 4.5" centers. I think the mains ought to be closer to 6+ at a minimum to get the room filled up.

What I have now will have to work for a while. I'll need a pay grade change to think about the subs needed for this room!!

 

[Adam D'Agosto]

Ok fair enough.

What subs would you all suggest for my 9000cft room?

Can you suggest a couple options for a single sub and maybe a couple options for a dual-sub setup?

At least I can poke around on eBay and CL. You never know what might pop on sale...

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Not anti-Def Tec per se but their subs are chiefly about small form factor, not performance. They also provide funky specs.

Yeah this. Seems their speakers have earned plenty of love throughout the years, and Sandy Gross is quite interesting. I do wonder about the liberties taken with specs though. For me any negativity is directed at their subwoofer offerings. They're just not that good.