Polk Monitor70 / Polk Monitor40 / Energy Take Classic - Very small HT room

**Claren** · 11-14-2011, 02:59 AM

Hello, all.

I just jumped on the Newegg.com Polk Monitor series II special and got quite the haul. I came away with two Monitor70 floorstanders, the CS2 Center, and a pair of Monitor40 bookshelf speakers for my surrounds.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290208
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290212
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290202

I am very excited, but can't help but wonder if it's more than I need. Here's the thing: these speakers will be used exclusively for home theater, in a very small room (10' x 10'). As a result, I have some questions.

1) Would I be better served using monitor40 speakers for the fronts as well as the backs ? I am not going cheaper on the center, for obvious reasons.

My girlfriend and I would never listen to music in there (since it's such a little box of a room that we only use for watching movies or gaming), and there are several posts in the Polk owners thread that state the 70's strengths are more musical. Not to say that they can't be used for HT, but rather one could use cheaper speakers in that role for the same sound quality (the Polk R50 were mentioned).

2) Since it is such a small room, would a high-end compact system suffice for impressive sound? The Energy Take Classics were the ones I was considering.

Note: I'd be adding a sub no matter what choice I made. I'm thinking the Epik Legend would be great in that tiny room. Again, this is what had me rethinking the Monitor70 speakers, since I'm going to be using a sub no matter what.

So, I suppose some tentative choices are:

-Monitor70 fronts, Monitor40 surrounds, CS2 Center
-R50 fronts, Monitor 40 surrounds, CS2 Center
-Monitor40 fronts and surrounds, CS2 Center
-Energy Take Classic 5.0
(All of the above used with Epik Legend sub)

If it matters, I'd be using these with a Denon 591 AVR and a 64" Samsung D7000 plasma.

I've got 30 days from the invoice date to return/audition these speakers. I'm not necessarily wedded to the Polk line, either. Your thoughts are very much appreciated.

**CALIBER** · 11-14-2011, 12:17 PM

I would go with these over the energy take's LINK I know it comes wit a sub that you probably don't plan on using, since you want to go with epik (nice choice btw) but you can always craigslist it. I don't think you went over board with the Polk setup, but I think you will find the sound to be a little lack luster, polks tene to sound a bit muddy, and dialog can be tough to hear clearly at times. I am a former polk owner my self FYI. What is your budget on the 5 speaker portion of your build??? maybe we can at least show you all of your options for your price range. From what I see you spent $420 on the front left and right alone, for that price we can get you into some Kef,PSB, Klipsch,or Paradigm book shelf's that will just out class the polk's.

**Claren** · 11-14-2011, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by caliberconst.

I would go with these over the energy take's LINK

What makes you recommend those over the Energy speakers?

Originally Posted by caliberconst.

What is your budget on the 5 speaker portion of your build??? maybe we can at least show you all of your options for your price range. From what I see you spent $420 on the front left and right alone, for that price we can get you into some Kef,PSB, Klipsch,or Paradigm book shelf's that will just out class the polk's.

Actually, Newegg had a hell of a sale last night; I wound up getting everything for 499! The 70's were $70 off each, the center was $50 off, and the bookshelves were $50 off as well. I'd like to stay under $500 for everything.

Then again, looking at how much i'll wind up spending on both sub and speakers, should I just spring for the HSU Enthusiast 2 package? Would that be absolute overkill for a 10x10 room?

**CALIBER** · 11-15-2011, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Claren

What makes you recommend those over the Energy speakers?

Actually, Newegg had a hell of a sale last night; I wound up getting everything for 499! The 70's were $70 off each, the center was $50 off, and the bookshelves were $50 off as well. I'd like to stay under $500 for everything.

Then again, looking at how much i'll wind up spending on both sub and speakers, should I just spring for the HSU Enthusiast 2 package? Would that be absolute overkill for a 10x10 room?

Well I might have been hasty saying the kef's were better. I have auditioned both sets and MY ears tell me the kef's are better, but your ears might tell you different. I feel like the kef's have a fuller richer sound to them, but again that is me. Both are a quality set for the money. On to the polks I think you got a good buy on them and there really isn't a such thing as over kill. Bigger speakers in a smaller room SHOULD be better a filling the room with reference level sound, there are some other things that factor into this (power/efficiency), but those polks should work well.

**CALIBER** · 11-15-2011, 11:59 AM

I think you are right about the enthusiast 2 package, by the time you buy the epik and the polks you are a grand into it. I say you should strongly look into hsu package. I have not had the opportunity to hear the hsu loud speakers, but me and elway were just talking about them, and they appear to be real performers on paper. Either way you can't go wrong I can tell you the polks will be warmer sounding and the hsu's will be brighter due to their horn loaded tweeter.