[jhughy2010]


I currently have the Polk Audio TL1 Blackstones in a 5.1 config.  I am getting the PSA XV15 in a few weeks to replace the mediocre sub that came with the TL1s.  I cannot replace the rear speakers due right now (ceiling mounted) and would like to only replace my two fronts.

 

With that said... I was thinking on getting the Polk Monitor 35B as I have seen them on sale for $99.  Any suggestions?

 

I would use these brackets to mount them:   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UV03MW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

I really am not interested in spending $500 per speaker... price is very much the largest consideration here.  The SVS Ultra Bookshelfs are out for that reason!  Sorry I just don't have $1000 to spend on a pair of bookshelf speakers right now.

 

Please help me decide.

 

[commsysman]

It all depends on what you want spend, doesn't it? (lol)


The Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 speakers would be a big improvement in sound quality over the Polks...for $350/pair.


Also the KEF C3 speakers for the same price (the KEF C3 is also front-ported, which is mandatory for wall-mounting ).


The NHT B12D subwoofer outs out perfectly clean sound with none of the huffing and puffing of the XV-15; a much better -sounding sub IMO...and for the same price.


It also comes in a 14" cube with wonderful piano black finish; not the ugly unfinished box of the XV-15. The looks and performance of the XV-15 are crude. It goes a little bit lower, but not nearly as well.

 

[sdg4vfx]

I can't tell from your initial post if you're using a center. If you are then the most important thing is that your front three LCR speakers timbre match. It would not be a good idea to just upgrade the LR front main speakers. (It would sound better for stereo music but worse for HT/surround.)

 

[Kini62]

[quote name="commsysman" url="/t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24353858").


The NHT B12D subwoofer outs out perfectly clean sound with none of the huffing and puffing of the XV-15; a much better -sounding sub IMO...and for the same price.


It also comes in a 14" cube with wonderful piano black finish; not the ugly unfinished box of the XV-15. The looks and performance of the XV-15 are crude. It goes a little bit lower, but not nearly as well.[/quote]


Jeeze! Will it never end? While the NHT sub is a nice sub it lacks any significant output below 30hz, making it far from ideal for HT and some types of music.


The XV15 is not known for port chuffing. I've yet to see a report of that happening.


While not beautiful the finish on the XV-15 is nice and functional.


In terms of overall output the XV-15 will walk all over the NHT at ANY frequency and still sound good doing it.


For the OP you really should consider replacing your front three. If going with Polk monitor series get the matching center too. Same as with any other brand speaker. Get all 3.

 

[commsysman]

"Audioholics" says- "CON: port noise with deep bass"


"Sound and Vision" says- "not for people who abhor big ugly boxes"


Guess someone didn't read those reviews....

 

[zieglj01]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jhughy2010  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24353737


  I am getting the PSA XV15 in a few weeks to replace the mediocre sub that came with the TL1s.  

That is a Smart/Good choice on the sub - some people look at little nit-picking things

and try to make a Big issue out of it. There are a Lot of happy owners with that sub.

So called perfection, will cost more.


I am not a Polk Monitor fan - so that is your call.


Enjoy the adventure.

 

[Gmash]

What is the max budget for the front two or three?

 

[Kini62]



Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24354134


"Audioholics" says- "CON: port noise with deep bass"


"Sound and Vision" says- "not for people who abhor big ugly boxes"


Guess someone didn't read those reviews....

Port noise happening only during one movie with an extremely difficult track for any sub to play let alone an $800 one. To wit, your NHT sub can't get within one octave of the pulse 16hz server scene, making that scene silent with your system. I guess XV-15 owners could hit the mute button to simulate how it would sound using a NHT sub.


As for looks, that is entirely in the eye of the beholder.


Perhaps if you did a little less regurgitating of said reviews and a little more time actually reading user reviews or listening to said speakers yourself, your posts wouldn't be universally considered driveling nonsense.

 

[upNdown]

"For the OP you really should consider replacing your front three. If going with Polk monitor series get the matching center too. Same as with any other brand speaker. Get all 3."


Well where's he getting three speakers for a hundred bucks?

Let him get the two monitors for the front, and when he's ready and he has some more cash, he'll get the center.

 

[cel4145]



Quote:
Originally Posted by commsysman  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24354134


"Audioholics" says- "CON: port noise with deep bass


Guess someone didn't read those reviews....

And someone doesn't read the whole review. Audioholics says "Some compression of the output near vent tuning and a bit of port noise at full output is not unexpected with a single 4” port tasked with coping with a long throw 15” driver. However the flaring helps out a lot and other than with the certain scene in the movie Pulse I never heard any port noise during listening."


Pulse is known for providing an insane

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]



Quote:
Originally Posted by cel4145  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24355159


Audioholics says "Some compression of the output near vent tuning and a bit of port noise at full output is not unexpected with a single 4” port tasked with coping with a long throw 15” driver.

FWIW a single 4 inch port is not adequate with a 15 inch driver to get all that the driver is capable of delivering. A pair of four inch ports or one six inch would be the usual choice. The reason one would use a single four inch port is to keep the cabinet size down. If that's a greater concern than achieving maximum low frequency output it may be an acceptable trade off. Only the user can say for sure.

 

[jhughy2010]


It's funny how this thread has resulted in a debate on the best single powered subwoofer.  I started a thread awhile back asking advice on a powered subwoofer and after much debate and consideration I decided to go with the XV due to the amount of output it can handle (I have a room over 4k square feet).  

 

Anyhow, I just got this idea of replacing the front LR due to the placement of them (they are basically where the wall meets the ceiling) and considering that it would be relatively easy to use those mounts I posted and facilitate bookshelf speakers there.  The rear LR need to be ceiling mounted... so I'm pretty limited on my speaker selection there unless I find some very heavy duty ceiling mounts.  I do like, however, the look of the Polk Blackstone's, especially the way they look mounted from the ceiling to the rear.  

 

The center channel speaker is right below the TV and the space there is seriously limited.  At this point I would prefer not to replace the center speaker.  If it doesn't make sense than I might as well just keep the whole set Blackstone's.... I just saw that these Polk Monitor's were on sale and thought it would be a good opportunity to try them out or any other bookshelf speakers.  $100 for the speakers and $50 for the mounts seems to me like a screaming deal for an upgrade.  The Blackstone's are very small and I think there low end is 90hz.  

 

[zieglj01]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jhughy2010  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24355326


The center channel speaker is right below the TV and the space there is seriously limited.  At this point I would prefer not to replace the center speaker.  If it doesn't make sense than I might as well just keep the whole set Blackstone's.... I just saw that these Polk Monitor's were on sale and thought it would be a good opportunity to try them out or any other bookshelf speakers.  $100 for the speakers and $50 for the mounts seems to me like a screaming deal for an upgrade.  The Blackstone's are very small and I think there low end is 90hz.  

The choice is up to you - however, it would be a stretch for the T1 Blackstone to reach -3db at 120 hz


If you are restricting your placements - then you may be better off with the sats you have


Timbre (voice/tone) matching the fronts, would work better.


Your call

 

[jhughy2010]



Quote:
Originally Posted by zieglj01  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24355396



The choice is up to you - however, it would be a stretch for the T1 Blackstone to reach -3db at 120 hz


If you are restricting your placements - then you may be better off with the sats you have


Timbre (voice/tone) matching the fronts, would work better.


Your call

A few things that I am very ignorant and can't seem to find an answer to.  What is -3db at 120hz mean?  

 

Also, what do you mean by "Timbre (voice/tone) matching the fronts...?  

 

I am so clueless when it comes to home audio... getting better the more I visit this site... but still pretty ignorant. 

 

Thanks!

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jhughy2010  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24363628


A few things that I am very ignorant and can't seem to find an answer to.  What is -3db at 120hz mean?

That's where response sensitivity is down 3dB from average, below which sensitivity rapidly falls. In most cases you don't want to cross over lower than that.  

Quote:
Also, what do you mean by "Timbre (voice/tone) matching the fronts...?  

Using speakers that have very close to, if not identical, characteristics. That's best accomplished by using identical speakers.

 

[charmerci]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jhughy2010  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24363628


A few things that I am very ignorant and can't seem to find an answer to.  What is -3db at 120hz mean?  


Also, what do you mean by "Timbre (voice/tone) matching the fronts...?  


I am so clueless when it comes to home audio... getting better the more I visit this site... but still pretty ignorant. 


Thanks!

This is always fun to hear - whether you know what hertz tones are or not!

http://www.ronelmm.com/tones/

 

[zieglj01]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jhughy2010  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24363628


A few things that I am very ignorant and can't seem to find an answer to.  What is -3db at 120hz mean?  


Also, what do you mean by "Timbre (voice/tone) matching the fronts...?  

From Bluray forum - Timbre
http://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=4278584&postcount=3


A Sound glossary
http://www.head-fi.org/a/describing-sound-a-glossary


Most of us prefer bass to be at least -3db at 80 hz > for crossover with a sub


-6 db tends to be the max level preferred/usable


With-out a sub - we want it to be lower than 80 hz -3/-6 db


A frequency chart
http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm

 

[jhughy2010]


Ok very good info.  I like the frequency reproduction.

 

Does anyone have any other great recommendations with explanations other than the Wharfedale's (of which I like... took a good look at their website they seem to have a lot of very high quality stuff).

 

[crazyrob425]



Quote:
Originally Posted by jhughy2010  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24368290


Ok very good info.  I like the frequency reproduction.


Does anyone have any other great recommendations with explanations other than the Wharfedale's (of which I like... took a good look at their website they seem to have a lot of very high quality stuff).

Look at Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE or HTM-200 . I user here tried the Wharfedale's head to head with the CBM-170's and choose the CBM-170 SE in terms of sound.


Ascend Acoustics allows you to do an in home trial of their speakers so if you don't like the sound you can return them.


Another company with similar policy of letting you try the speakers in your home (which is the best place to demo speakers) is Home Theater Direct or HTD

You might want to look at their Level TWO Bookshelves or Level THREE if they fit in your room as they are both in your budget and highly regarded by most members here.


Try either the Ascends or HTD's with your new subwoofer and your will be in a different universe compared to the Blackstones from Polk.


As for Polk's You can get a decent deal on Polk RTi4's which are from a higher speaker line than the Monitors on Polk's offical Ebay store. Add a CSi3 or CSi A4 center and you are golden. (I am a Polk fan who has the RTi4's which replaced my Monitor 30's and I noticed a substantial improvement in over all sound reproduction and quality

 

[jhughy2010]



Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyrob425  /t/1517667/help-me-decide-on-a-pair-of-bookshelf-speakers#post_24369824



Look at Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE or HTM-200 . I user here tried the Wharfedale's head to head with the CBM-170's and choose the CBM-170 SE in terms of sound.


Ascend Acoustics allows you to do an in home trial of their speakers so if you don't like the sound you can return them.


Another company with similar policy of letting you try the speakers in your home (which is the best place to demo speakers) is Home Theater Direct or HTD

You might want to look at their Level TWO Bookshelves or Level THREE if they fit in your room as they are both in your budget and highly regarded by most members here.


Try either the Ascends or HTD's with your new subwoofer and your will be in a different universe compared to the Blackstones from Polk.


As for Polk's You can get a decent deal on Polk RTi4's which are from a higher speaker line than the Monitors on Polk's offical Ebay store. Add a CSi3 or CSi A4 center and you are golden. (I am a Polk fan who has the RTi4's which replaced my Monitor 30's and I noticed a substantial improvement in over all sound reproduction and quality

Thanks I will take a hard look at all those options.  The CSi3 center channel might be small enough to fit in the little space I have available for a center channel.  I like the small size of Polks Bookshelf speakers... it looks like it would be easiest to mount.