speaker advice for novice

[JK_Livin22]

Speaker Advice for Novice: Polk Monitor 60s or Boston VR1s

I am trying to find a pair of floor speakers for around $600 (for the pair, not each) that will serve me well for both music quality and home theatre. So far my research has led me to consider the Polk Audio Monitor 60s and the Boston Acoustics VR1s. I realize that one is a two way and the other is a three way, but I also noticed that the sesitiviy on the Bostons are 93dB compared to 90dB on the Polks. As noted in the subject line, I am a novice and therefore most of the specs don't mean a great deal to me. I realize that the best option would be to go to a store that carried both speakers and listen and compare them. However, I live in a rural area and don't have much access to stores that carry either of these speakers, much less both. My music tastes range from Jazz/Funk (Robert Randolph, Carl Denson, James Brown, etc.) to blues/rock (i.e. the Rolling Stones) to acoustic (J.J. Cale) to alternative (Radio Head). I also enjoy high quality DVD audio (i.e. Kill Bill, Miami Vice, etc.) With that information, could anyone advise me on which of the two aforementioned speakers would most likely satisfy my listening needs. Thanks in advance.

p.s. The Magnepan Magneplanar MMGs have been recommended, and although I'm sure they offer excellent sould quality, I am not neccessarily a fan of planar/ribbon speakers (they have a frail appearance (imho), even if they aren't).

 

[MDS]

Comparing specs of speakers is a good starting point but as most people will tell you (and you alluded to yourself) the best way to choose is to audition the speakers yourself. Even audtioning the speakers in the store can be misleading though - they may sound different in your own room. It's kind of a crap shoot. I'm sure others here will have experience with both brands and can at least give their subjective impressions of their sound quality.

Having said that, the sensitivity is a measure of how loud the speakers can play with a given input signal. The measurement is the Sound Pressure Level 1 Meter from the speaker when given a 1 Watt input signal (actually 2.83 volts). The Bostons being spec'ed at 93 dB/1W/1M are more efficient than the Polks and that means they will play louder with less power from the receiver. A doubling of power results in a +3 dB increase in SPL so the Boston's would achieve the same SPL level at your listening position as the Polks using half as much power. Sensitivity is important but tells you nothing about 'sound quality' - only how much power you need to achieve the desired SPL.

 

[JK_Livin22]

Thks MDS,

I had looked at the B&W's a few years back, but thought they were at least $400+/ea. Maybe I was looking at the 603's instead of the 602's. You mentioned that you are a fan of speakers with an "English" sound. I am infering that would be alluding to the manufacturer. Is there also an "American" or "Japanese" sound? If so, how do they differ; what characterizes each?
Thanks.

 

[MDS]

You must have me confused with someone else.

I've never heard of speakers described as having an 'English' or 'Japanese' or any other nationality type of sound.

 

[JK_Livin22]

Sorry MDS that was from a different forum..

 

[JK_Livin22]

I will be adding a subwoofer a few months later. I understand that price has as much to with marketing as anything, however I am still curious as to what I should take into account when comparing a two way speaker with a three way speaker at the same price point. I mentioned my music preferences in my inital post because I feel that different speakers may be preferred for different music genres. For example I feel that Hip Hop may sound best on speakers with a lot of base, while people who enjoy jazz and blues usually prefer a speaker that delivers more clarity in the mid range and highs. Wanting a speaker that will deliver excellent sound for both music and home theatre purposes, I am not sure if the addition of a subwoofer should affect my consierations regarding the two way vs. the three way speakers. Thanks again for your advice.

 

[MDS]

Two-way vs Three-way should not be a consideration. It is all in the implementation and one cannot say that a 2-way will be better than a 3-way or vice-versa.

The addition of a subwoofer can change your choice for the other speakers. If you have a sub to take care of the low end, you can get away with other speakers that don't reach as low into the bass region because the subwoofer will take care of that. For example, most small satellite or bookshelf speakers won't go much lower than about 60 Hz and that would be ok if you have a sub to play the frequencies lower than that. If you think you will ever listen in stereo, without a sub, then you would want to consider tower speakers that have much lower frequency response instead of small bookshelves.

 

[highfihoney]

Your right to be leary of the magnepan mmg's,they are cute lil buggers but they are not for everybody,to run them you'd need a real beefy reciever or amp plus they have a real small sweet spot,maggies are not the best choice for home theater,pin point imaging but not very dynamic sounding.

If you plan on adding a sub at a later date you should not skimp on the sub & get the best sub that you can possibly afford,being that you are going to be adding a sub the difference in sensitivity in the 2 different speakers will mean very little because most of the bass will be handed off to the sub.

The specs are allmost the same on both speakers & without a sub neither pair will give you earth shattering bass,being that both speakers are so close in performance the only things to base your decision on are looks,preference & sound if it is at all possible,both speakers will perform very close.

 

[deftech]

I was looking for a pair of music monitors for my den a while back. I got SEVERAL recomendations to check out internet direct companies. I thought there was no way i would buy speakers without hearing them. After reading so many good reviews about the x-ls from av123, I ordered a pair. I am not sorry I did. They were the best sounding speakers (to me) that I had ever heard in their price range. Here is a link to a tower speaker from ascend that is in your price range. It's worth looking into.
http://www.ascendacoustics.com/pages/products/speakers/cmt340m/cmt340m.html

 

[JK_Livin22]

Tks for all the feedback. It would obviously be best if all of your speakers in a HTS were of the same manufacturer and line, but is it absolutely essential for excellent sound quality. Given that it will most likely be a while before I have an SACD player, any music being played would best be listened to in stereo from just the two front speakers anyway. And it is music clarity that is most important to me. My concern is that the subwoofer and center channel speaker in the same line as the front speakers that I am leaning towards purchasing, is substantially more expensive than the sub and center speakers for the other line. Is it unheard of, or highly frowned upon to have speakers from more than one line or manufacturer in your home theatre system?

 

[zumbo]

$446.08 shipped to your door
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4082101

$144.94 shipped to your door
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4082109

$179.38 shipped to your door
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4082108

$770.40 shipped to your door. The 10's in the mains will cary the system while you save-up for a powered sub. While not the best speakers in the world, they are loud, plenty of bass, and tough. I have a pair I purchased new in '85. Great speakers.

 

[Crackerballer]

If you plan on adding a sub later, why not go Bookshelves? Axiom and tons of other companies make GREAT bookshelves in that price range.

 

[badbird94]

I have Polk RTi4's--Polk CSi3 center--Axiom QS8 surrounds--HSU VT-1 sub--and a 1976 pair of Radio Shack Optimus T-200 towers(2 tens,1 six, 1 two inch tweeter all in one cabinet--for Rat shack stuff-they sound real good) I use the T-200's as fronts and for stereo,the Polk RTi4's as presence(used to be fronts) The center is matched to the RTi4's, not to the T-200's,but I did some tweaking to the eq of the center channel(auto set-up option in my receiver) and it sounds balanced and blends well. Do what sounds good to you.