Originally Posted by
MonAudioGuy 
I have just purchased a pair of GS20 speakers after having owned the RS6's for about 14 months. I only listen to music, no HT. I'm driving them with a NAD C355BEE integrated amp and a NAD C542 CD player. I listen to mostly jazz, classical, acoustic guitar and soft rock.
I've been spending the last few days comparing both using the A-B speaker switch on my amp and I wanted to share my thoughts on the differences between the two.
For about a month, I've read this entire thread trying to rationalize to myself as to why I should move up to the GS20's and I think that is what a lot of the readers of this forum are doing based on the numerous questions seeking opinions between the two.
Since I'm not a real "audiophile" I'm going to describe this using non audiophile terms.
Last week I came across a great deal for the GS20's and purchased them without ever listening to any other Monitor Audio speakers other than my RS6's. Based on the feedback they've received in this forum, I made the plunge. Maybe my observations will help someone else who is considering moving up to the GS line.
When I first hooked them up I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I had envisioned a night and day difference with them. Not that they've been described like that in this forum, but I built them up in my mind to be a huge difference. They sounded very nice but like I said, they didn't blow me out of the water.
This happened after I hooked up the RS6's again and started doing A-B comparisons. This is when I was finally blown out of the water and here is why.
When listening to my RS6's in the past I always felt I was missing something. There never seemed to be "enough" room filling music. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I knew I was missing something. This is the first thing I noticed with the GS20's. They fill the room with music and it's like you're sitting in front of the orchestra or band.
I think the correct term for this is "soundstaging". When I close my eyes listening to the GS20's, I can imagine the whole orchestra is right in front of me, a little bit to the sides and the sound extends from about 3 feet in front of the speakers to about 3 feet behind them. (I'm sitting about 12 feet away from the speakers).
Whereas with the RS6's while switching back and forth the sound seems to be coming from a "round whole" about 4-5 feet wide, very concentrated and it always seems to me that this sound was always coming a little bit more from the right.
With the GS20's, the sound always see to equally balanced with the vocals being directly in the center of my head and I can envision all the instruments where they are at "on the stage".
The other big difference I've noticed is that the RS6's sound slightly "muffled" as compared to the GS20's. It's not that the GS20's are bright, just a lot cleaner and detailed and just has more sound. You hear more music!
So what did I learn? Yes, the GS20's are definitely a better sounding speaker than the RS6's. If you don't compare them side by side with the RS6's, then you'll probably will be very contented staying with the RS6.
But let me warn you, if you do a side by side comparison, you probably will never be able to go back to listening to the RS6's. I can't.
Once you hear what you've been missing, it would be hard giving it up.
Do the RS20's sound 3 times better than the RS6's at 3 times the cost? No. IMO, I'm not sure if I would be happy paying 3 times the cost for the GS20's. I picked mine up for about twice what I paid for my RS6's (used demos). At this price point, I'm happy with the price/performance ratio.
However, it might be cheaper for you to just bite the bullet and buy the GS20's than buying other less expensive speakers because if you're in love with your RS6's but you're looking for "more sound" you're probably going to end up buying GS20's in the long run at a total greater cost.
Hope this helps.
Ken
