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M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
#344755 04/10/11 06:10 PM
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I thought i had to throw this up here, as the M80's would be replacing an old set of Polk SDA's. Now neither speaker will sound like the SDA's persay..plus there 25 years old.
But the 9's are close to the M80's.

Has anybody listened to, or compared these 2 speakers, and what were your thoughts about them????
The only thing i got out of the 9's reviews, is they need alot of GOOD power to make them sound good. But thats about it as there are never to many bad comments about any speaker...LOL

Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
bobt #344756 04/10/11 06:35 PM
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I can’t comment on the Polks but IMO the closest sounding speaker you might find to the M80s locally to listen to are the Paradigm Studio 100s.

Unless the return shipping is going to be prohibitive $90 USD for a pair of M80s I suggest you order them and have a listen. No better way to test speaker than in your own room with your own equipment for 30 days. Make sure when you test them you use well mastered CDs. Good speakers make bad recordings sound bad and great recordings sound great which is why many people don’t like “detailed” speakers . . . because they have a bunch of crappy CDs.

IMO you don’t need SACDs either. I like them for multi-channel but well mastered standard CDs can sound just as good. Best place I found to get well mastered CDs is a local high end audio shop where one of the owners and I have similar tastes in speakers. It’s been worth buying from him both because I can demo them before buying and because he has great taste in music.


3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
grunt #344758 04/10/11 07:45 PM
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Believe me, I agree with you about hearing speakers..I have never before bought anything that i did not listen to. But i moved to GA and there is really no 'HIFI" place around here..so your dealing with best buy...nothing there i would even consider..LOL

But then again i've heard $3000 Martin Logan stuff...without a sub on them..were just not that great. At least to me, but i guess it depends on what your looking for.

As you say, there are good CD's and bad..I have about 500 or so..some are not so great. I pretty much know what ones are NOT the cream of the crop..LOL

Basically i need the M80's to give me concert volume...without getting muddy, give me a wide sound stage, produce real life sounding live cd's...LOL Well recorded stuff of course...LOL

I Have not bought speakers in 25 years, so all i have to compare them too is the SDA Polks, which is kind of a 1 off speaker...nothing really sounds like them presay.

Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
bobt #344759 04/10/11 08:55 PM
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"Basically i need the M80's to give me concert volume...without getting muddy, give me a wide sound stage, produce real life sounding live cd's...LOL Well recorded stuff of course...LOL"

Ummm, based on this it sounds like you have already listened to them? I'm guessing they will blow the polks away, at least the ones I remember from the old retail store days.


M80s VP180 4xM22ow 4xM3ic EP600 2xEP350
AnthemAVM60 Outlaw7700 EmoA500 Epson5040UB FluanceRT85


Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
SirQuack #344761 04/10/11 09:23 PM
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I'm getting deja vu again.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
bobt #344762 04/10/11 09:30 PM
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Quote:

Basically i need the M80's to give me concert volume...without getting muddy, give me a wide sound stage, produce real life sounding live cd's...LOL Well recorded stuff of course...LOL


IMO the best speakers I have ever listened to that reproduce concert volume while still sounding crisp are the Axiom M80s and the Klipsch RF-7. When it comes to pure loudness the Klipsch beat the Axioms hands down. However, in overall performance I prefer the Axioms.

I wish I could have you over for a listen to 5.1 or 7.1 multi-channel surround sound concerts if you want to recreate concert sound in your home. Right now I’m watching Within Temptation “Black Symphony” Blu-ray and awesome concert. The most realistic concert I’ve watched/heard is Toto’s “ “Falling in Between the Live” . . . best indoor concert I’ve heard on a home system, simply as good as being there. Another of my favorite live concerts is Roger Waters “The Wall” live in Berlin. Best outdoor concert I’ve heard on my system. Both of the above sound totally real both the indoor and outdoor due to the effectiveness of the QS8 speakers. Another great multi-channel DVD I have is Jethro Tull “Live at Montrruex 2003,” again it sounds like it’s live. And no multi-channel listening would be complete without Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon” SACS, simply amazing.

No slouches are some of the 2ch SACDs I have like Boston’s “Boston” SACD, completely re-mastered. Rush “Chronicles” on DVD-A, and like them or not the Bangles “Greatest Hits” SACD. But if you like the sound of live concerts you are doing yourself a disfavour by not investing in a surround sound system.

Quote:

I Have not bought speakers in 25 years, so all i have to compare them too is the SDA Polks, which is kind of a 1 off speaker...nothing really sounds like them presay.


Whatever speaker you end up trying please be patient as your ear have become accustomed to the sound of the speakers you have had. Anything new will sound different . . . maybe better maybe worse at first until you get use to hearing things that you never heard before, both good and bad.


3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
SirQuack #344763 04/10/11 09:34 PM
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No i have not listened to any thing...i'm wishing the M80's will do that for me.

The SDA polks i have are from 1987..to be honest probably the best speakers Polk ever made. I don't think they really make a better 2 channel stereo speaker. Just looking for the M80's to come close ..and put out more volume in a stereophile way sort of speak.

Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
Ken.C #344764 04/10/11 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted By: Ken.C
I'm getting deja vu again.


BoB/335?


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Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
BlueJays1 #344766 04/10/11 10:03 PM
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Grunt..again you are on the mark..what i really wanted back in the 80's was a set of Klipsch La Scala's I could not afford them back then, can't afford them now.
I do understand about your like for the 5.1 stuff..but this is a striat stereo set up. I don't know anything about the RF-7 stuff.

If the M80's can do the volume, and still give the "right" sound
that should work for me.

Bottom line is they have to produce big sound in a stereo set up.

Re: M80's VS Polk RTi A9's
BlueJays1 #344767 04/10/11 10:11 PM
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Don't even need to go back that far. Just look at current history.

Bob, I know you're anxious about buying M80s, but I don't think you're helping yourself (and this is coming from a MASTER overthinker) by essentially posting the same questions over and over again. Get an audition, buy some M2s to find out if you like the Axiom sound, listen to some Paradigm Studio 100s, or just buy the M80s. It's the only way you're going to be sure.


I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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