Monsoon Speakers

[AMDPwred]

I'm wondering if the MH-502 are worth the extra money over the MM-702? Does anyone have these?

 

[jh0sken612]

go with the logitech Z560s

you wont be dissapointed lol

i am not a flat panel fan... too directional for my likings

 

[CelticDemolition]

too directional? no way.. just the opposite! i have some monsoons (i forget the designation, they are the smaller 2.1 system) and i LOVE the flat panel. you can point it wherever and you hear the same sound.. the stage is incredibly wide, not directional in the slightest. i'm all about the flat panels. i just wish monsoon made a more powerful 5.1 system, or i'd get it over the klipsch in a heartbeat. as it is.. have money, will shatter windowpanes.. hehe.

 

[RemyCanad]

I have the logitech Z560s and they are great.

 

[AMDPwred]

How about the Z540s? They are the highest ones over at Newegg.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

it is a well known 'fact' that flat panel speakers are very directional. unless like, every review writer is a moron.

 

[AMDPwred]

Ok, that's fine. So how are these Z540s?

 

[AMDPwred]

Bump

 

[Salvador]

Waaaaaaaaay too directional. If you're not sitting right in the sweet spot, you will not get any mids or highs. I bought and returned a set of MM700's because my seating position happened to be lower than the way that these speakers were firing with their stands. I either had to stand up or prop something under the speaker stands to have them fire at my ears. Monsoon has since corrected this by packaging at least a few of their models with adjustable stands. What's funny is that I fired off an email right after I returned them and told them that if they were going to make such directional speakers, that they need adjustable stands. I wonder if it was my suggestion that made them change? Nah.. Most likely not. Heh

Anyway.. Even with the adjustable stands, you still have to be in the sweet spot. If only listen to music or watch a movie sitting at your computer desk, these things sound really great. If you like to walk around your room and have the music going in the background, you will not hear the highs and mids when you are off axis or not in the sweet spot. Since I like ambient music at times, these were not the pc speakers for me. I needed something less directional.

As far as sound.. They sound great! The sub could be a tad more controlled, but it's just fine. I think they do sound great if you plan on sitting directly in front of your speakers all of the time.

Sal

 

[MisterDuck]

Personally, I love Monsoon speakers - I think they sound exceptional (I love crisp, clean highs - almost to the point where it's emphasised) and I also love the styling.

Although, I don't like the 502's or the 702's - I'd go with either the MH-505's or the MM2000.

Salvador is also right - if you don't want to take the time to adjust the speakers meticulously (they're very sensitive to placement) then you should probably go with something more general (klipsch, logitecs, BA, etc.)

Whoever said they aren't directional is talking out their bum. Monsoon makes the most directional speakers on the PC market today - it's one of their selling points, in my mind, assuming that you like things like that.

 

[AMDPwred]

So how are these Z540s?

 

[Beatles]

<< So how are these Z540s? >>


As awful as the 560s are for music.

 

[AMDPwred]

Care to explain why? Have you heard them for yourself?

 

[jh0sken612]

OMFG.

Klipsch 5.1 Boy. Not everyone can spend 400$+ on speakers. I've listened to a well postioned setup of the Klipsch 4.1 and 5.1. Don't get me wrong, they are well-built, nice speakers. But not worth the price, when you can get the Logitech Z-560s for like $130!



<< As awful as the 560s are for music. >>


I've listened to tons of music on my Z560s. From Jazz to Rap. Be-Bop to Bass Mechanicks. I think they are great....


The Klipsch systems have a lacking upper midrange. I can notice it bad, but then again I can pick that stuff out.
The Logitech's have a more forceful woofer, but are beaten out on the high range by the Klipsch, since the Klipsh has 2way satallites, the Logitech's only have 1-ways

IMO, I would rather pay 1/2 the price for speakers that sound just as damn good.


Never heard the 540s, but I can highly recommend the 560s

 

[AMDPwred]

I just wonder why I would pay twice the price for the 560s ($130) when the 540s ($58) are also 4.1s. I know the 560s are THX but does it really matter if my card is only a Hercules Gamesurround Muse XL?

 

[Spoon]

do a search for the 540's, there was a thread a few days ago talking about how the sub was overpowered and drowned out the satilites

 

[Karshikinpa]

I had the monsoons MM-700's. They sounded great when you were in the sweet spot, and good when you weren't, but there was a definate difference. It wasn't difficult to set it up properly for it. For the money though I would get the Logitech Z560's (which I have now ). They sound great, and the price even better. I'll admit they aren't the best speakers made, but neither are the Klipsch, and for the money, the Z560's can't be beat.

 

[xylem]

The 540s will sound pretty good, but you will definitely notice a difference between them and the 560s. If you have thin walls and easily-annoyed housemates, you might wanna stick with the 540s, but the 560s are definitely worth the money.

 

[flood]

Well, I've heard the klipsch, both logitechs, and monsoons.
If its music youre primarily using them for, monsoons are the way to go. They're theyre head and shoulders above the rest in this respect. Theyre the best when it comes to sound clarity/quality (I use the MM-1000's).
If its pure power you want, 560s are the way to go. The bass often times overpowers everything else and the lower midrange is... well, somewhat dissapointing.
540's are the 4 speaker version of the 340 which i also own (for my xbox).
Theyre well rounded, but the midrange is lacking, the sub is a little overpowering and doesnt extend as deep as the other subs. A great value, but its is apparent that corners were cut when making these.
As for the klipsch, they have a great sound, great power, but their price makes the alternatives all the more attractive. Sound quality-wise, theyre not as clean as the monsoons, and they lack the power of the 560's. Theyre a very good compromise between the two, but their cost isnt too appealing.

I chose the monsoons because they had the bass extension i wanted, the clarity i wanted, and had 'enough' power for me. I've never turned them up more than 1/2 way.
I'd say if you go with the monsoons or the logitechs (560's), you'll have a very nice setup that you'll be happy with. The 540's will save you some money, but you may not be too happy with them.
Hope this helps.

 

[Salvador]

I have the Z560's right now and I can't even turn them up because the sub just gets boomier and drags the midbass all over the midrange and highs. They will probably be decent for movies and games though because of the exagerated bass, if they don't drown out the movie dialog. I'll just have to pull out the cans for listening to music is all.

I totally agree on the Klipsche. They are probably better than most, but the cost!! Why are they so damn expensive? If the 2.1's were about $130 at least, I'd probably have a set.

I might've kept the Monsoon MM700's if they had adjustable stands at that point. With the way my seating position is on my desk, the speakers were firing over my head and I was missing all of the upper mids and highs by not being in the sweet spot. Once again, if you sit directly behind your desk with the speakers positioned directly at your ears, the Monsoon's would be great, but if you plan to play music and walk around your room quite a bit or sit off axis at all, I would suggest not bothering with the Monsoon's.

Sal

 

[flood]

<< I might've kept the Monsoon MM700's if they had adjustable stands at that point. With the way my seating position is on my desk, the speakers were firing over my head and I was missing all of the upper mids and highs by not being in the sweet spot. Once again, if you sit directly behind your desk with the speakers positioned directly at your ears, the Monsoon's would be great, but if you plan to play music and walk around your room quite a bit or sit off axis at all, I would suggest not bothering with the Monsoon's.

Sal >>



same prob here. The satt's shoot a tad too high and I miss most of the highs. I solved this by puttinlg little rubber feet on the backs of mine. Sounds great now :-]

 

[AMDPwred]

The 540s are looking pretty good. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on speakers you know? I'd rather buy a new XP 1800+ with that money. All I'll really use them for is gaming and some MP3s. I'll never been able to really turn them up because I still live at home and my sisters would go nuts.