Monitor Audio Owners Thread - Page 273

Hey guys I was pointed this direction to ask some questions about the energy rc 70 system vs the monitor audio silver rx8. I plan on getting a denon 3312 and the rc70 set up minus the sub and getting a hsu mk4 sub. I tried the monitor auido rx 8 system in best buy the other day and sounded amazing, but I have no frame of reference to the rc 70 series because no one carries it. My budget is 3000 less or maybe a little more. The monitor auido was way more expensive than the rc even though the rc used to cost twice as much a few years ago than it does now . With the rc i stay in budget and get 5.1 system with monitor auido i only can get 3.0. Do y'all think the monitor auido are worth the price and sound over the rc 70. I am a audio noob so be gentle. I am a fan of bang for buck but if the sound is worth it Ill go up. I am also getting offered a lot off the rx8 piano black. Thank you.

Hey guys, I'm hoping you can help me out with some advice and direction. I'm a pretty new poster but I've used AVS as a resource for information for several years now (was invaluable in getting my Pioneer set up and calibrated).

I've been around high end audio for a long time (my Dad could be considered an audiophile) and I decided recently it was time to retire the Bose system I won when I still worked in sales in favor of a more appropriate setup for music as well as movies. I am currently using 2 pairs of Monitor Silver 9i, a Silver 12i center and they are being powered by a Rotel 1065 receiver.

They sound good, but I am wanting to do a bit more advanced calibration and I'm looking for a guide or a good place to get some basic information on positioning and adjustment to get the best sound for my area. I know it is a general question but if you can point me in a direction it would be much appreciated. I have a basic understanding of how to use a decibel meter although I don't own one, I would just rather ask before I spend hours unending on google trying to figure which information is good. Thanks,

Rory

http://forum.blu-ray.com/speakers/

I just received my first Monitor Audio speaker, the Silver RX1 in Rosenut Real Wood Veneer. This is going for a computer setup in the office with an Onkyo TX-NR709. My previous speaker setup for the PC was the Definitive Technology ProMonitor 200's Front, ProMonitor 100's rear on stands and a ProCenter C2. So now I will be looking to get another pair of Silver RX1's or maybe an Silver RX2 plus a Silver RX Center. The Silver RX1 was a bit of a blind buy as the only speakers I have heard in the Silver RX line are the RX6's (loved them) RX Center and briefly the RX8. Initial listening on the RX1 is great. I'm hearing great detail and imaging. I'll give it the recommended break-in and see how they open up. Nice step up in sound and build quality from the Definitive Technology ProMonitors.

On the main home theater system this is where things get interesting. I'm in the process of changing preamps to an Integra DHC-80.3. They will be paired with my Sunfire Cinema Grand 200x5. I am looking into getting the tower setup from either the Gold GX or Silver RX setup. I have listened to the Silver RX6's & RX Center and loved them. I just briefly got a moment to listen to the Silver RX8's at the dealer but they were new and I think either needed some break-in time or placement change in the listening room. I wasn't floored with them right away like I was with the Silver RX6. Detail/imaging was there but they seemed a little boomy. I will check in on this again. I got to listen to the new Gold GX50's. They were amazing. The detail, imaging was right on target. I was wondering how much of that translates to the GX200 & GX300 towers as well as the GXC 150/GXC 350 centers. Any thoughts?

After listening to many different speakers, I decided to go with Monitor Audio to replace my 2 L/R + centre speakers. I was probably going to get the RX6's, when I made the mistake to listen to some gx200's, and now I'm hooked...

I have a question about MA dealers. There seems to be only one MA gold dealer in my area, and they're asking retail price, period. I found a silver dealer willing to get me the gx's at some discount, but there is a catch. Apparently, I would not be allowed to return the speakers if I were unhappy for any reason. Explanation: we don't accept return for speakers we don't usually carry.

This seems somewhat fishy, and I am not going to go for it no matter the savings. Can a dealer simply deny to take returns on certain items? Aren't there laws regulating that sort of things? It also makes me wonder if/how the warranty would be honored.

I guess it boils down to: are rx dealers allowed to sell the gx line? I am in Canada, but relatively close to the US border. Would it make sense financially to go buy these speakers in the States? Are there any legitimate MA dealers online?

Audioadvisor.com is an authorized dealer. They're based in Michigan. I believe shipping to Canada is extra however.

Check on audiogon

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately Audioadvisor.com does not ship MA speakers outside of the US.

I am waiting for a reply from MA Canada about their silver / gold dealer policy.

Where in Canada are you located?

I am in Vancouver.

If you can spring for the Gold GX line, do so. I think the GX-200 is more "of a piece" than the 300. If you want to use a sub with monitors, the 100 and 50 are hard to beat...
I have both, and they are very good speakers.

^ curious what you mean by "more of a piece" im not following

Please PM me if you are looking to sell or have this available. I am looking for the rosenut color but will settle for alternative colors as well.

I own a pair of RX8's. Would it be an unwise to purchase a RS center channel to go with the RX8's? There seem to be a few used RS center channels available for sale.

Thanks,

Nauman

Hi all. I unplugged my Monitor Audio RS-w12 subwoofer yesterday. When I plugged it back in, it is making an electrical noise from the woofer, no matter what the gain knob is set to (the volume doesn't change). It was NOT there earlier, and it is not the cable tv signal (I unplugged that). I makes the noise when stand-alone (no cables besides power). It only happens when the power is "ON" (light is green), not in standby when the light is red. When I move the RCA jacks in the back, the noise lessens. I noticed this while plugging/unplugging cables, so I assume something happened to the Amp when I unplugged the cables. Suggestions? I am awesome with a soldering iron (ie, I have mod-chipped about 50 PS2's in the past with 30 awg wire).

I would not mix the RX8 or any other RX with an RS Center. Reviews have stated about a very different sound quality between RX and RS. I just got the RX1's in Rosenut myself. I like them so much I will be looking for an RX Center in Rosenut also.

I am also wondering about that, especially since I did not have a chance to listen to the 300's. A MA rep answered my question on 'gold' and 'silver' dealers. Here's the relevant bit:

I think the tweeter would be the biggest difference between the two. I would avoid it.

Silver RX Tweeter is newer C-CAM design as are the bass/midrange drivers which added the dimpled RST tech C-CAM cones versus the RS. I would not mix an RS Center into the mix. Very different tonal characteristics. The magazine reviews all talk about how much better and diferent in sound character the RX is over the RS.

RX8...
New C-CAM® tweeter design with damped rear chamber, providing improved clarity and wider operating range for HD audio formats

Dual 6 C-CAM® bass and bass/ mid-range drivers incorporate RST® technology, for better damping and improved mid-range clarity.

Listened to rx6 and loved how they sound. A dealer i went to had demo rs6 left that he says he will give me a good deal on. What would be fair market value for the rs6 pair? Would you consider rs instead of the rx? Thanks for the advice.

Where are you located?

In the US, a pair of RS6 in excellent shape should be around $550 to $650, I would guess.

As to which you should get, that's totally a judgment call you'd have to make yourself. I think the RX is better than the RS (subtly better, not dramatically better), but is it worth nearly twice as much? Only you can decide that. The best thing to do would be to set them up side by side and compare for yourself.

Thanks for the input, Beaveav. I am located in the US. I do agree with your observation that the RX sounds a bit better than the RX. Do you know if the center for the RS can be put in a cabinet as it is rear ported? I might go the RS route as I may be able to get the front 3 for the same price as a pair of RX6s.

I pulled the trigger on the gx200/150 front speakers, and they sound great.

The dealer had the gx200 powered by separate Marantz 7005/7055, and the combo sounded absolutely amazing. Unfortunately the Marantz price reflects that. It's still very early, but it seems as though my ageing Pioneer 1015tx is not sounding as good.

The Pioneer also lacks in terms of features, simply due to its age. I was wondering what receivers are considered a good match for MA speakers.

It's been a few years now, but reading your post reminds me of when I went to listen to the Monitor Audio. I am a person who is always looking for a good deal. I went into the store with full expectation that, if I liked the Monitor Audio's, I will be getting a good deal on the RS's because the new RX's are available.

When the store setup a side by side, and the differences I heard, there was no way I was going to buy the RS, I had to have the RX's.

It's been awhile since I bought them, and at no time have I ever regretted buying them. They have impressed me each and every time I play them. I love the audio quality I am getting from them.

I purchased the whole 7.0 RX's series with having the RXFX's in di-pole mode. I did have a chance to buy the BRFX's at one hella of a discount, but to have the entire room timbre match with these fabulous speakers was enough for me to buy the expensive RXFX's instead of the BRFX's .

We have all read that the rear is not as important as the front in timbre matching and I can agree to a certain point, and that point I can get passed, is my own set.

Not many movies will matter with the timbre matching all the way around, but for me, that one movie does matter.

Basically what I am getting at, if you can swing the money to get the RX's, then buy them.

Thanks for the input, Hamp568. I did not hear them side by side but I also preferred the sound of the RX. As of this moment, I am swaying towards the RX. If I can get a better deal on the RS, maybe I will use them as rears.

If at all possible, listen to them side-by-side for a good while and then make the call whether the RX is worth the extra money to you. That's the only way to decide it.

As for your question about the center with the rear ports, well, I don't have the center so I can't speak from experience. Others can probably answer that better than I can. I would imagine lots of centers, if not most, have a rear port, and lots of people put them in cabinets too. It should come with a foam port plug for you to install if you feel the bass is excessive or muddy in your setup.

The RS center IS rear ported . I owned the RS6, RSLCR ,and The RS1s (RS1s for surround duty ) .They are all rear por ted . Unless you are putting the LCR in a cabinet , it would most likely be fine . It was for me

You are welcome. I hope you do get a chance to hear them side by side. Then you won't have a doubt of spending the extra money.

I look forward to reading about which ones you selected and why.

I know they're all rear-ported.

That's exactly what he asked - whether the center would work in a cabinet!

I've had my RS LCR center in two different cabinets since I've owned it, currently with about 10" of clearance behind the speaker.

To my ears, I've never had any sound quality isses due to port blockage.

Thanks for your input, everyone. Unfortunately, I can not do a side by side as they are in 2 dealers with each only having one set and not the other. I might get both sets if I can get the RS6 demo set at around what RX1s are and will use the RS6s as rears. I am going back for another listen to both of them before deciding.