Monitor Audio Owners Thread - Page 292

Get an Onkyo 818,3009 or Denon 4311..

If you are going to calibrate two subs separately as most people want to do with XT32, then don't get the Onkyo 818. The second sub out is just clone of the first, XT32 can't calibrate them apart.

It’s great that that 818 has XT32, but it just can’t do two subs independently. There are some people who like the idea of not calibrating two subs individually, and prefer the idea of using XT32 with two subs as one.

Happy to say that I I plunked down and ordered my RX6 today. I'm really excited, but I have to wait about a month for my pair to come in because rosenut finish was special order. I'm going to replace my existing B&W 685 with them, along with scaling down my setup from 5.1 to 2.1. I'll be getting rid of my B&W center and Energy rears and trying a stereo config. Right now I'll be powering them with a Marantz SR5006 AVR. Anybody here think the RX6 would benefit much from external amplification? My Marantz has front L/R pre-outs.

That's two ringing endorsements for SVS. Thanks so much. I will have to give them a try. For what I put out for the MA sub, I think I have to.

On one hand, there is the desire to match your equipment, the way the manufacturer intended. But on the other hand, there is the overriding desire to have the most compelling and immersive experience possible. Nothing could be more relevant than that when it comes to speakers. Sure, we want them to look good, but sounding good is why we spend money for speakers like this in the first place.

I'm curious -- how did you guys select between the various models (i.e., ported cabinet versus compact cabinet)? Has anyone tried the ported cylinder sub and how has it performed? Is the main goal to get as much sub performance as money can buy?

Also, what are the advantages of the dual sub configuration over a single sub?

Great system! Those 501s are beasts! That is an amazing setup for the PLs. One of the things I did learn during my tests was how the MA speakers responded to ample and appropriate power. The same speaker, powered by different amps, had different characteristic depending on the availability of power to drive them. The scary thing is that if you don't know, you can miss out on so much. I did that with the MA speakers during my tests and was astounded by all the additional detail, layering, depth, "bandwidth" --for lack of a better word or concept-- when they were paired with appropriate power. The speakers literally "opened up" and where i thought my source had perhaps four or five major streams, the speakers revealed ten or more elements and sub-elements and details previously hidden. Amazing.

Do you have a photo you can post? Part of the dilemma (joy?) with getting McIntosh gear (I am currently learning) is how to display it. The pieces are normally beefier than most AV cabinets and stands. I'd be curious to see how you set yours up. Are the 501s for the LCR channels and the 252s for the surrounds? Are you using a sub? Do you switch to 2.0 or 2.1 when listening to music and if so, what pieces are you using? What are your sources?

Thanks, Hamp. I will really have to look into this.

One of the things that I'm interested to hear/feel is the bass response of the towers. We'll see how they work in concert.

My local dealer is telling me that the GX series are so good, it doesn't make a lot of sense to upgrade to the PL series, how much truth is that? He is pretty honest with me, and isn't doing this to clear stock. I have been using the older GS series and it was good for HT, just a bit bright for music, so I am looking at either the PL 200 + Centre, or GX series + Centre, and I may even consider the B&W 804D + HTM 4D in a HT / music setup.
I like the a more smooth sound, but with details, too, in a HT / music 60/40 balance.

Thanks

I have found the more power the more clarity and punch in the bottom end. I started with silvers then golds them the Platniums. The MC252s started in the front.

We just moved into a new home and my home theater is not all set up. In our old home the MC252 drove GRFX sides and GR10 rear surrounds. I had one JL F113 sub, but I have purchased a second for the new room.

The MX119 has a bass mode that worked great putting full range to the fronts and to the sub. Occasionally I would just have 2 channel in the Pure direct mode. I have an Oppo 95, Pioneer 09, MVP871, and a Carry 306/200 as sources. I use a Zektor switch for multiple 7.1 inputs.

I also have two MC501s driving a set of PL100 in the family room directly from a MCD500 which is being used as a pre amp with a Sonos and satellite on coax and spdiff digital input.
Edited by wagnerc - 8/26/12 at 7:33pm

Having ported or sealed is a preference, and I kinda go back and forth with it myself. An example, and this has nothing to do with subs, but with my RX2’s. The RX2’s have a port in the rear, so you can have it sealed or ported. When I am watching movies, I set my crossover to 60hz and have the port sealed. When I am listening to music, I have them at full range with the port open, and subs turned off.

Getting the cylinder sub is the way to go if you have limited space, because the boxed subs are enormous, but they perform the same. There is not an audio difference between the two.

Like you said, there is a desire to match your equipment. This is where timbre matching is important for the front stage, that is the upmost important match you would want. Some will argue that timbre matching for the surrounds is not important, but myself, I love to timbre match all the way around. Subs are different, there is no timbre matching involved, so you don’t have to buy from the same manufacture.

Getting the right sub all depends on how much LFE you want when you are watching your movies. You are getting a great set of speakers, and I don’t think you need a sub for music, but for movies you will want them.

The advantages of dual over single is whole nother story… lol

From personal experience, I can say that your local dealer's advice is not unfounded. When I began my evaluation, I was open to buying any of the MA speakers. My local dealer started me in a room with the GX series and other comparable speakers (i.e., B&Ws, Klipsch, Martin Logan, Definitive). From blind tests with those speakers, I repeated selected the GXs. Next, he told me he was going to have me compare another speaker to the GX200s that I had repeated selected. I listened, but immediately discern a difference in the imaging and depth of the GXs. With the same source material, the GXs were clearer, fuller, more encompassing. I later learned that the other speakers were RXs.

Given that I had selected the GXs, we then did a direct comparison with the PLs, both 200 series. And here is where the decisions got decidedly more difficult. Both sounded great, playing the same source material, but (from my ears) it was extremely difficult to determine which was playing if I did not look or know which speaker was playing. The best way to explain it, from my perspective, is that the gap between the Silvers and the Golds seemed greater than between the Golds and the Platinums.

So, I did what any normal person does in that situation: I went home, did some research, read about both the Platinums and the Golds and returned to the store convinced (and prepared) to buy the Platinums. But my second (and third) test didn't justify buying the Platinums, for me.

I imagine that the Platinums will shine more with more power or being played louder or in larger spaces, but I realized that that did not represent why I wanted/needed speakers. And with that, I knew that I had properly selected the Golds. Don't get me wrong, I think the Platinums are amazing. I just could not justify the difference.

Good on you for letting your ears be the judge over everything else (marketing, magazine reviews, if it costs more it must be better mindset) and finding your own 'bang for the buck' level.

I am very much enjoying my GX50's and centre GX150 up front. Makes my PSB Imagine B's sound muddy in comparison.

Interesting to read how close they were to the Platinums.

The Platinums are very power hunger. If you do not have separates, I would not consider them, unless you plan to get separates in the future.

The PL200s are less power hungry than the PL300s. (I love my PL300s!)

I feel it's important to provide some additional detail to my analysis about the "Golds being close to the Platinums". I've been thinking about it and the best analogy I can use is taking a car for a test drive.

The Silver/Gold/Platinum speakers, in my proffered analogy, would correspond to a 70s muscle car, a present day Porsche Carrera and an Indy Race Car respectively. WIth that in mind, I am fully aware of the limitations of my "test drive", not the actual cars (or speakers).

For my test between the SIlver and Gold, I was able to put both through the paces. Back to the analogy, the 70s muscle and the Porsche are both fast cars and very comparable on straight tracks. Given that, it was easy to discern better handling in "curves" with one over the other. One seemed to have greater precision in navigating those areas, seemed to hold the road better, less deviation from the center of the road (or what I thought the road should be). For what I intend to use them for, I chose the Golds. I am supremely interested in the musical handling the Golds can provide.

For my test between the Gold and the Platinums, I don't think I had a sufficient "test track/course" to fully put the Platinums through all the paces. I readily confess that, for my daily listening purposes, I probably would not be able to compel or extract the full potential out of the Platinums. And realizing that, I made the choice that the Golds were ideally suited for me.

As you read this, I am sure that there are some readers who are listening to their Platinums right now and are reveling in the differences. The same applies for people listening to their Silvers, putting them through their paces (for some reason, I keep thinking of Vin Diesel from "The Fast and the Furious" - "I live my life a quarter mile at a time"). I only hope to get the best out of my Golds.

Hi All - Has anyone heard any of the Parasound or Wyred4Sound power amps with Monitor Audio speakers? What did you think of the combination?

Thanks,
JD

Looking to get the rx8 package ,but I'm worried about the 4 ohm as I have the Denon 3312 which is a 6 ohm stable.Going to be used 100% HT .Will it overheat my avr ,or would option 2 get the rx6 package as i plan on running 2 subs in my 22x13 room.Any suggestions ?

As the 3312 has pre-outs, you could easily pick yourself up a big chunky old power-amp second hand for not much money. Even just one amp to power the fronts will take a lot of work off the AVR. So I wouldn't worry too much and get the speakers if you want to and see what happens... and then you could always get the amp if you still feel you need it.

AVR's with pre-outs are a godsend. Don't worry.

Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but with two subs and 100% HT I bet you'll hardly notice any difference between the RX6's and RX8's.

VMat

I was thinking the same thing. 2 subs should be plenty to overcome any perceived drop in bass if you pick the RX 6's vs the RX8's

If it's going to be 100% Home Theater, and you are buying two subs, I wouldn't waste money on the RX6's or RX8's. Look into getting the RX2's, which are fantastic for the mid range and highs, while your subs take care of the low-end. The RX2's has great depth for mids, the 8in woofer is no joke. The only thing, the cabinet is so large, I don't get how they can call them bookshelf speakers.


That is what I have, and I can tell you from experience, the audio is amazing! ! !
(RX2’s, (2)SVS PB12 subs, 2 sets RXFX surrounds, and center)

I had a similar experience..... I bought the Rx8 first, but I'm my house didn't sound that great (later I worked out it was because of the extended burn in period required for the RX8)..... I went in to buy the PL300.... Ended up buying the GX300..... Small differences in sound.... And not having a dedicated music room... The small difference would have gone unappreciated in my environment....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I there
Can anyone tell me witch is the best for my home cinema:
Monitor Audio radius r45hd
Or
Cambridge Audio min 21

Thanks

Some GX300 goodness.

Only 20 hours or so into the seasoning
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OH MY! ! !

Talk about sexy! ! ! !

They look superb. Congrats! !

Wow, a Mac/Elite/Gold setup...seriously jealous! Congrats!

Thanks guys. Still a work in progress. I'm very pleased so far and look forward to even better results as time passes.

that finish is just awesome...

Yeah, the finish is insane. The photos don't do justice to the quality (and the air of quality).

I think the first impression is like "wow, those are different" but then the closer inspection is "wow, those are really well-made"

Of course, when they are playing, the quality is immediately apparent. I know that I am early in the break-in stage, but the sound is incredible. Completely fills the room.

Hello
Has anyone used a NAD C326BEE to power a gs20? I am downsizing and wanted to get an opinion on the quality of these integrated ,especially matched with monitor audio.
My source is fed through a wyred4sound dac2..

TIA
Kalyan

That's some serious sound that you are going to enjoy..not to mention the looks..
Enjoy..

the ebony finish is brilliant... pitty they don't bring it to Singapore... so I settled in black gloss....

quick question, does anyone here has the GX15 sub yet?

I ordered mine, but they ended up sending the wrong one, so I've been waiting for over 3 months for it... and it will now take another 6-8 weeks....

I've been using an RX12 sub, which is fine, nothing wrong with it really, I have the volume dial down to about 10 o'clock after XT32 calibration in my room ...

the reason I really want the GXW15 is that you can have separate inputs RCA and LFE .... I"ll use the LFE fro my processor (HT) and the RCA from my streamer (Music)..... that's kinda the way I'm thinking about it .....

it would be interesting to see if the LEO improves on the XT32 room calibration ...