Polk R70's vs EMP Impression E5Ti's

[QwikKotaTx]

Hello all, I am new to the forum but have found it extremely helpful so far. Please help me solve a quandary. I have been reading up on the EMP's and if I ignore the good looks and the back-order status, I would like some assistance on deciding on which of these two speaker sets to go with. My price range is less than $500 for a pair of towers. Please, no laughing.

Newegg has the Monitor R70's on sale for $400 ($460 in black) and I am very familiar with their reputation. I have a set of R50's on rain check at Fry's for $120 but I have not yet paid for them and would like something of a higher sound quality.

The EMP's are still available at the discounted price of $400, but they may not be ready for shipping until the end of November per their customer service rep. Not a huge deal but my Onkyo RC160 will be here this week.

I would like to pair whichever towers I get with a center channel from the same company. The Polk CS20 may out rank the EMP E5Ci but I'd like to keep the same look to these 3 speakers. The setup is mainly for TV/movies with occasional music. I'll be adding some decent rear speakers for 7.1. Sub is an older but very well performing 10" Boston. I have a 46" Samsung LCD that these towers will be very close to so hopefully no ill effects. Thank you for any input or alternative suggestions in my price range.

Newegg also has Klipsch F-1 towers for $400. Higher sensitivity.

 

[j_garcia]

I have not heard the EMPs, but I have heard the R50s and I would have to say they are not really anything special.

Just on looks alone, I'd get the EMPs It isn't the looks you need to keep matched, it is the timbre, so you definitely want to get a matching center speaker to whichever speakers you get.

LCDs are not affected by magnets.

 

[QwikKotaTx]

Thank you for the reply. If anything I may use the R50's for surrounds and save money on stands. Mount the two rear centers on the wall. My main comparison would be with the R70's, versus the EMP's.

 

[Matt34]

Thank you for the reply. If anything I may use the R50's for surrounds and save money on stands. Mount the two rear centers on the wall. My main comparison would be with the R70's, versus the EMP's.

Are you referring to the Polk Monitor 70's? I don't believe there is a R70 model.

 

[QwikKotaTx]

Ah, yes, excuse the Type error. The Monitor 70's are what I am referrring to. Is there a way to edit my post? Thanks.

 

[fightinkraut]

I am trying to sell some polk monitor 40's and a cs1, once I do I will be purchasing the emp towers. Once I have them I plan on running a/b testing against my fathers polk t90e's, the equivalant of the monitor 60's. I've seen Newegg's sale on the 70's, it's a very good price. I've been impressed with my father's monitor 60's, but always felt as though there was something better in that price range...hopefully the emp towers are it!

 

[QwikKotaTx]

Please post your review when you get the EMP's and good luck with your sale.

I also located a pair of Infinity Primus P362's for this price range. Based on a review here that would be foolish for me to pass on.

 

[fightinkraut]

Please post your review when you get the EMP's and good luck with your sale.

I also located a pair of Infinity Primus P362's for this price range. Based on a review here that would be foolish for me to pass on.

Thank you, I will let everyone know my thoughts if I ever sell the polks.

FWIW the P362's are available online for $199 each shipped (new) from a few places, not sure if that's the price you are finding or not. I've never heard those, but there's quite a following on here with some simple mods to make them sound better, if you do purchase them I recommend searching the audioholics forums for the mods.

Good luck!

 

[QwikKotaTx]

I'm hoping to get the Infinity's cheaper than that at Fry's. Use the discontinued mindset for bargaining with the manager. I'd like to think they will be fine for me as is but if the mods are minor I won't mind. I build my own subwoofer enclosures for car audio so it shouldn't be too daunting of a task.