Polk Audio or Boston Acoustics

[Clark.Mac]

Hi, I would like to know what some of you "Pros" would recommend between the Polk Monitor 70's or the Boston HS460's. Or others that would be better for a similar price range. Also I have a Onkyo SR605 Receiver, would this be sufficient to power these speakers?
Thank You

 

[bandphan]

which of them do you like? Have you heard them?

 

[peterL]

I agree, go listen. I used to have Polk stuff (Rt35i bookshelves with a matching center and R10 rears). It was my first set of audio gear and over time, I found the highs to be lacking for my tastes, although if you don't have anything to compare them to, I found that my ears would adjust. But I was always envious when I would go over friend's houses and listen to their Magnepans or JMLabs though.... Hence I was bitten by the upgrade bug. I have PSBs now and some complain about the aluminum tweeters being harsh, so to each his own. It probably depends a little on the amp as well.

I've never listened to any of the Boston Accoustics stuff. Again, go listen!

 

[1tribeca]

Speakers more than anything else in CE are personal taste. You need to audition each pair with music of your choosing plain & simple. I've owned lots of BA speakers since '87 (A40, A60, A150, A400, VR 975) obviously I like the Boston sound, Some don't.

BTW, I'm selling both my VR975's and A400's!! Not that I don't still enjoy them both, but it's a space thing! Gotta go on-wall for the HT in construction.

 

[Pyrrho]

Hi, I would like to know what some of you "Pros" would recommend between the Polk Monitor 70's or the Boston HS460's. Or others that would be better for a similar price range. Also I have a Onkyo SR605 Receiver, would this be sufficient to power these speakers?
Thank You

As pretty much everyone else is saying, you need to listen for yourself and decide. I have not heard the models that you mention, but, in the past, I have tended to like the fairly low end Polk's at their price point. The Boston speakers I have heard seem less good at their price point. But since sometimes companies improve, and other times they get worse, my "old" information is useless, and would be useless anyway, since you are the one who will be listening to them, not me.

For what it is worth, in the past, I have liked Polk speakers that are at the bottom of their real wood veneer models for the money. They also have a nice finish, if one does not get them in black.

 

[Clark.Mac]

Well, I was leaning toward Boston because I liked the Design as well as sound but do any of you think I could get a much better Speaker for about 800.00/pair?

 

[MUDSHARK]

Ascend Acoustics and Axiom come to mind but stretching your budget a little could get you two Mackie 824 which are light years better. They were on sale a few months back at 400 each but I do not know if they still are.

 

[bandphan]

Well, I was leaning toward Boston because I liked the Design as well as sound but do any of you think I could get a much better Speaker for about 800.00/pair?

http://www.axiomaudio.com/m50ti_main.html

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ENRC30

monitor audio bronze series

are you limited to floor standing only

 

[peterL]

Man, if you are going to 800 a pair (and especially if you don't mind going used), you can get all sorts of wonderful speakers (that blow Polk and Boston stuff out of the water IMHO ). The aforementioned axioms are supposed to be very good although I haven't heard them. The PSB T45s (or even T55 or T65 if you go used) come to mind (I own the T45s). Saturday Audio has some good prices on the PSB stuff right now. I'll also 2nd the Monitor Audio Bronze recommendation (or even some of the silvers if you go used and get lucky). I'm one of the few who liked the Bronze series better however.. Saturday has some MA deals as well although it may be bookshelves only at this point. Even some JMLab Chorus 7XX series can be had for that if you shop for a deal. Definitely slso check Energy. I want to audition some of the Energy stuff for a bedroom setup I think. Other people will recommend other things at this price range as well. There are a lot of (good) options at $800-1000 (which again, is doable if you are looking used).

I'll second the question, are you limiting yourself to floorstanders?

 

[Clark.Mac]

Thanks to everybody for the excellent and helpful input.

No, I'm definetly not limited to Floorstanding. I am not able to hear the other brands you speak of, but you guys definetly know so I'll stay away from low end Polk or Boston. I think I should also mention that this is for a 5.1 Home Theater Setup but I am not replacing all the speakers at once, but I would like eventually to have all the speakers made by the same company(being 18 I don't want to spend alot at one time). Also will the Onkyo SR605 drive any of the previously mentioned speakers?

Thanks again Guys and probably not but maybe Girls.

Also what do you think of the RTi A7 From Polk Audio.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

There was a time when I would have said Boston without hesitation. They have gone severely downhill since then, however, while Polk has remained consistent. Nothing by Boston today is even in the same league as the classic A60s.

 

[Cruise Missile]

Just an interesting little tid bit for ya.
I had a friend over who's a retired BA engineer(Advent b4 that). While showing off My RTi 12's in stereo playing Santana Abraxas SACD, I was accused of having the playback in multi-channel. The imaging is indeed pretty darn good!! I actually had to unhook the center to convince him! I was such a proud GEEK!!!

 

[bkmerrill]

im looking at the rti a7's myself, the new rti series is supposed to be pretty good, ill let you know what i think whenever im able to get an audition in! but you should check em out if you have somewhere to do so!

 

[dorokusai]

I haven't heard much from BA since the "A" series and certainly not since 2005. Polk has maintained a fairly consistent, and changing model line, the market noteable being the LSi series to this point.

The RTiA series was debuted at last years CES and I can only suggest you get your ears on it. The cabinet construction alone is something we haven't done before and it's provided much better results than the traditional monkey coffin idea. If you can report back with your thoughts, good or bad, that would be great.

I'd really like to hear from you guys in regards to the RTiA, either here or in PM.

Mark
Polk Audio CS