• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Is it my ears or my room or my amp?

axiomofchoice

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2024
Messages
25
Likes
14
I've had a pair of polk monitor 70s for 20+ years, and recently upgraded my other equipment, so in addition to the old polkies, I have a yamaha as801 and an svs sb2000 pro. Wiim streamer from tidal into the as800's built-in dac.

I know it is a pretty budget system but I now have some extra $$$ to upgrade a bit.
I've tried twice now to upgrade the polkies -- once with svs prime pinnacles and once with polk r700s, and both attempts were total failures.
The pinnacles sounded like cheap tin cans and the r700s were just the opposite...wayyy too much bass.
But in both cases, I got extreme ear fatigue and had to return them as it was just too painful -- with the r700s, it felt like I was doing actual hearing damage.

Everything was identical in terms of room setup: 16' x 16' room, speakers on one wall, listening position about 7' away (middle of room).
Back of speakers about 1' off the wall, one speaker 3' from a corner and the other 6' from a corner (not many options to move things around).
Typical loudness: 75db or so...

Have I been listening to these polkies for too long and now I everything else sounds wrong?
Is my room setup somehow flawed?
Is the listening position too close to the speakers?
Is my amp not good/powerful enough for these other speakers?

I feel like for now I'm just gonna run the old polkies until they stop working and just enjoy listening to music (which I actually do with the polkies).

Any thoughts?
I know this is all a bit vague...I'll be glad to fill in any details.
I'm open for suggestions for other speakers in the $2000/pair range that are non-fatiguing, but I'm wondering if its worth it without some other changes (room, amp, etc)
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum! Great username!
Have I been listening to these polkies for too long and now I everything else sounds wrong?
Entirely possible. This is an under-appreciated effect, IMO, even here at ASR (where people are generally more sensible about such things).

If your music tastes include anything acoustic and unamplified, try going to a live concert and then playing similar music over your system, listening for differences.
Is my room setup somehow flawed?
A smallish square room is a tough venue. Many bass modes coincide.
Is the listening position too close to the speakers?
Maybe. Measurements would help figure this out.
Is my amp not good/powerful enough for these other speakers?
No, your amp is fine. Amps are almost never the problem with an audible issue.
I feel like for now I'm just gonna run the old polkies until they stop working and just enjoy listening to music (which I actually do with the polkies).
Good plan.

While it's very hard to judge speakers properly in a different room, I think it would still be worthwhile for you to go hear some other speakers at brick & mortar dealers and find out if anything sounds better noticeably to you. Revel and KEF are widely available brands that make speakers with solid engineering behind them.
 
I've had a pair of polk monitor 70s for 20+ years, and recently upgraded my other equipment, so in addition to the old polkies, I have a yamaha as801 and an svs sb2000 pro. Wiim streamer from tidal into the as800's built-in dac.

I know it is a pretty budget system but I now have some extra $$$ to upgrade a bit.
I've tried twice now to upgrade the polkies -- once with svs prime pinnacles and once with polk r700s, and both attempts were total failures.
The pinnacles sounded like cheap tin cans and the r700s were just the opposite...wayyy too much bass.
But in both cases, I got extreme ear fatigue and had to return them as it was just too painful -- with the r700s, it felt like I was doing actual hearing damage.

Everything was identical in terms of room setup: 16' x 16' room, speakers on one wall, listening position about 7' away (middle of room).
Back of speakers about 1' off the wall, one speaker 3' from a corner and the other 6' from a corner (not many options to move things around).
Typical loudness: 75db or so...

Have I been listening to these polkies for too long and now I everything else sounds wrong?
Is my room setup somehow flawed?
Is the listening position too close to the speakers?
Is my amp not good/powerful enough for these other speakers?

I feel like for now I'm just gonna run the old polkies until they stop working and just enjoy listening to music (which I actually do with the polkies).

Any thoughts?
I know this is all a bit vague...I'll be glad to fill in any details.
I'm open for suggestions for other speakers in the $2000/pair range that are non-fatiguing, but I'm wondering if its worth it without some other changes (room, amp, etc)
In this price range I would suggest maybe some Sierra LXs and some DSP to correct the bass. "Too much bass" is a pretty easy problem to fix with PEQ and the benefits for the overall sound are enormous. I would suggest that even if you keep the old polks in place.
 
@MarkS -- thanks for the super detailed and helpful response!
@kemmler3D -- Sierra LXs...interesting...are you saying maybe I would be better off with a pair of quality bookshelves paired with the svs sub, rather than floorstanders? I have not thought seriously about it but maybe I should?
 
@MarkS -- thanks for the super detailed and helpful response!
@kemmler3D -- Sierra LXs...interesting...are you saying maybe I would be better off with a pair of quality bookshelves paired with the svs sub, rather than floorstanders? I have not thought seriously about it but maybe I should?
It's possible - the Sierra LXs are really top notch in terms of smooth FR and directivity, which is just the foundation of good sound overall. From ~100hz on up they are hard to beat for the money, floorstander or otherwise. Where it's not certain is when it comes to bass... if the floorstanders are reaching well into the 30hz range (for example) then you might get smoother bass with the polks and one sub.

Two subs plus the Sierras should beat the polks at least on paper, but I am not here to tell you what speakers you ought to like, just what I'd spend $2K on if we traded places. :)

Also, welcome to ASR!
 
I've had a pair of polk monitor 70s for 20+ years, and recently upgraded my other equipment, so in addition to the old polkies, I have a yamaha as801 and an svs sb2000 pro. Wiim streamer from tidal into the as800's built-in dac.

I know it is a pretty budget system but I now have some extra $$$ to upgrade a bit.
I've tried twice now to upgrade the polkies -- once with svs prime pinnacles and once with polk r700s, and both attempts were total failures.
The pinnacles sounded like cheap tin cans and the r700s were just the opposite...wayyy too much bass.
But in both cases, I got extreme ear fatigue and had to return them as it was just too painful -- with the r700s, it felt like I was doing actual hearing damage.

Everything was identical in terms of room setup: 16' x 16' room, speakers on one wall, listening position about 7' away (middle of room).
Back of speakers about 1' off the wall, one speaker 3' from a corner and the other 6' from a corner (not many options to move things around).
Typical loudness: 75db or so...

Have I been listening to these polkies for too long and now I everything else sounds wrong?
Is my room setup somehow flawed?
Is the listening position too close to the speakers?
Is my amp not good/powerful enough for these other speakers?

I feel like for now I'm just gonna run the old polkies until they stop working and just enjoy listening to music (which I actually do with the polkies).

Any thoughts?
I know this is all a bit vague...I'll be glad to fill in any details.
I'm open for suggestions for other speakers in the $2000/pair range that are non-fatiguing, but I'm wondering if its worth it without some other changes (room, amp, etc)

Just get a pair of Sony's SSC-S5 speakers.
 
@Brian Hall -- so, just a pair of budget bookshelves? interesting...
@Sancus -- yes, I have measurement stuff: I have a mic and am using it with the HouseCurve app; as far as DSP, all I have is a wiim pro, which does have a PEQ.
 
If you like your setup then don’t bother. Any given setup can get better but generally at additional, potentially significant, cost. Unless you are looking to throw some more cash in the audio pit better to enjoy what you have.
 
@Brian Hall -- so, just a pair of budget bookshelves? interesting...
@Sancus -- yes, I have measurement stuff: I have a mic and am using it with the HouseCurve app; as far as DSP, all I have is a wiim pro, which does have a PEQ.
If you can get a UMIK or another measurement mic and identify the peaks in your bass, you can correct those with PEQ in the WiiM app and it should make a nice difference.

Otherwise if you like the Polks I agree, don't mess with success. By all means go out and hear other speakers if you're interested, though.
 
Thanks all. I think the conclusion is (a) just keep the old polks until either they or I drop dead (whichever comes first), and (b) experiment a bit with measurements and PEQ to improve room issues (which I have the tools to do). And (c) enjoy some music…
 
It's possible - the Sierra LXs are really top notch in terms of smooth FR and directivity, which is just the foundation of good sound overall. From ~100hz on up they are hard to beat for the money, floorstander or otherwise. Where it's not certain is when it comes to bass... if the floorstanders are reaching well into the 30hz range (for example) then you might get smoother bass with the polks and one sub.

Two subs plus the Sierras should beat the polks at least on paper, but I am not here to tell you what speakers you ought to like, just what I'd spend $2K on if we traded places. :)

Also, welcome to ASR!
the LX's will reach into the 30 hz range or lower (I think they are spec'ed at 28, which is even a bit lower than the Ascend Towers). If you've not heard the LX, the bass is phenomenal. For music, you wouldn't even need a sub, IMO.
 
Sitting in the middle of a square is not the easiest setups for sure. But it's interesting that you find so great differences between three speakers that are well enough built without any obvious cheap speaker problems. (I don't like the SVS much but it does not sound broken either.) And your amp is fine. So I'm quite sure it's the room.

I'm a fan of bigger speakers but in this case I agree with the Sierra LX idea. It may be just the ticket for much smoother experience along with PEQ or however that new room correction update is going to turn out.
 
After 50 years investing in and enjoying my stereo, I still go back to a good set of headphones every once in awhile for reference sound quality, currently my setup is pretty dang close. Headphones listening is different of course but at least it removes the room influence.
 
I've had a pair of polk monitor 70s for 20+ years, and recently upgraded my other equipment, so in addition to the old polkies, I have a yamaha as801 and an svs sb2000 pro. Wiim streamer from tidal into the as800's built-in dac.

I know it is a pretty budget system but I now have some extra $$$ to upgrade a bit.
I've tried twice now to upgrade the polkies -- once with svs prime pinnacles and once with polk r700s, and both attempts were total failures.
The pinnacles sounded like cheap tin cans and the r700s were just the opposite...wayyy too much bass.
But in both cases, I got extreme ear fatigue and had to return them as it was just too painful -- with the r700s, it felt like I was doing actual hearing damage.

Everything was identical in terms of room setup: 16' x 16' room, speakers on one wall, listening position about 7' away (middle of room).
Back of speakers about 1' off the wall, one speaker 3' from a corner and the other 6' from a corner (not many options to move things around).
Typical loudness: 75db or so...

Have I been listening to these polkies for too long and now I everything else sounds wrong?
Is my room setup somehow flawed?
Is the listening position too close to the speakers?
Is my amp not good/powerful enough for these other speakers?

I feel like for now I'm just gonna run the old polkies until they stop working and just enjoy listening to music (which I actually do with the polkies).

Any thoughts?
I know this is all a bit vague...I'll be glad to fill in any details.
I'm open for suggestions for other speakers in the $2000/pair range that are non-fatiguing, but I'm wondering if its worth it without some other changes (room, amp, etc)
for 2k i would get ls50 metas and minidsp flex. Ls50m is highly regarded and measures great and the minidsp will correct your room, integrate your sub with a bit of work, the umik 1 calibration mic might drive u over 2k.
 
I have LS 50 Metas plus two SVS SB 2000 subs in a small room. I can tell you without some sort of EQ or DSP, the standing waves will absolutely kill your sound. The bass nodes can be as high as 20db above flat at some frequencies. The greatest innovation in the last 20 years IMHO is DSP bass correction. You could look into a miniDSP Umik which sells for a little more than $100, and then learn how to use REW (which is freeware) to measure your speakers in the room, and design a few simple peak filters to attenuate the peaks (the dips may be unfixable). If you do that you'll be surprised how much better your system sound. After that, you'll be better able to evaluate whether or not you desire an upgrade on the Polks.

Welcome to ASR.
 
Back
Top Bottom