Klipcsh Heresy II or Polk Audio Monitor 7'S?

[bogiedr]

Which would you choose? Amp is a Sansui AU 717! Thanks.

[Alec124c41]

Both!

Cheers,
Alec

[JoeE SP9]

Neither.

Listen and decide for yourself.

[KentT]

Polk in this comparo. Like the Klipsch on tube amps. Or low powered amps.

[jrobby]

I had a Sansui AU717 about 30 years ago. I was using Polk Audio 10's at the time.
I would assume that the voicing was similar on the Polk 7's, albeit with less bass extension. It was a good match (if I remember correctly). So I would go with the Polk's. As has been said the Klipch's would work well with lower power amps,especially tubes.

[davidsrsb]

I have never heard a Polk, but the Klipsch was well reviewed and measured well with flat response and easu load impedance. It does have unusually high sensitivity so beware amplifier noise and volume control range

[KentT]

The Klipsch are either speakers you totally love or totally hate. No in between. The Heresy is easier to live with but they do have their own sound. It's kind of like cornerhorns.

[Emit]

I have some monitor 7's circa 1979. I dropped in a pair of Sl-2000 tweeters, replaced the crossover caps with 1% metal film and the resistors with wirewound. These things make SUPERB nearfield monitors now. Incredible detail, totally holographic/transparent. Very articulate, with shockingly powerful bass for a small speaker. I have abunch of the classic klipsch speakers. The only heartburn i have with the heresy's is the 53hz bass rolloff. They need a sub for me personally. But guess what I did to my klipsch as well.....

[DON73]

The Polk 7s are amazing speakers with an openness and tight bass not often found at this price range. I have two pairs and have had the crossovers rebuilt and I replaced the tweeters. The original tweeters were still good but I went with the crowd and replaced them with a different model instead of trusting my own ears. I'm now playing a pair of Monitor 10s (the next size up) with a 35 watt tube amp and they'll play as loud as I want.

[joehewes]

I have the Heresy II speakers and love them. BUT - they do roll off after about 50 Hz on the low end. As the previous poster said, they benefit from a sub in the system. This may be more or less crucial depending on the type of music you listen to. A tube amp, rich in harmonics especially on the lower end, really shines with these speakers as they are very efficient and do well with lower-power amps.

I listen to lots of pipe organ music, which is rich in low frequency content, so a sub is almost essential.

I picked up a Klipsch SW12 sub on Amazon recently for $300. They have been discontinued but give the best bang for the buck if you can find one. A Klipsch sub in the current line will set you back $600 to get a 12-inch driver.

Another advantage is that Klipsch has excellent customer service.

[Emit]

I have the Heresy II speakers and love them. BUT - they do roll off after about 50 Hz on the low end. As the previous poster said, they benefit from a sub in the system. This may be more or less crucial depending on the type of music you listen to. A tube amp, rich in harmonics especially on the lower end, really shines with these speakers as they are very efficient and do well with lower-power amps.

I listen to lots of pipe organ music, which is rich in low frequency content, so a sub is almost essential.

I picked up a Klipsch SW12 sub on Amazon recently for $300. They have been discontinued but give the best bang for the buck if you can find one. A Klipsch sub in the current line will set you back $600 to get a 12-inch driver.

Another advantage is that Klipsch has excellent customer service.

Bob Crites makes kits to upgrade the heresy as well. The titanium diaphragm for the tweeter is a BIG improvement, as is the crossover kit which replaces the stock electrolytic caps with 5% metal film sonicaps. MUCH cleaner, more opened and detailed sound with these upgrades. I have modded 6 pairs of classic klipsch this way. The sonicaps aren't necessary, as less expensive dayton caps from parts express will yield the same results.

[bxboy]

Many have said the Heresy is lacking in the bass dept were the Polk has had no knock on that. Me I do own Klipsch smalls and would love Fortes,Chorus ,KLF20s,Quartets or 5.5s.I do prefer them over Polks even though I have not heard their vaunted SDAS.

[davidsrsb]

Isn't the Heresy a sealed box design, so the bass roll off is gentler

[Emit]

Isn't the Heresy a sealed box design, so the bass roll off is gentler

It is, and to you and BX:

I am an objective kind of guy. I own several pairs of 2 and 3 way Klipsch, Polk and Infinity ribbons. Do not take my previous comments about klipsch vs polk as a slam on klipsch. Yes, I have heard polk monitor 4a up to the SDA/SRS.

The klipsch vs polk:

Klipsch:
- Dynamic
- Clean
- powerful
- efficient
- focused

Polk:
- Dimensional
- Articulate
- Coherent
- Fluid


Both speakers have +/-. I use Klipsch for movies and DVD's with some music. I use polk and infinity for music only. I cheated by upgrading all of them, but the character is the same. The key differences are that Polk is a softer, but more spacious and dimensional presentation, where klipsch is more focused and attack oriented. A case can be made for either, but I am lucky enough not to have to choose.

FWIW: yes, I have owned a couple pairs of klipsch reference speakers. And if you go klipsch: go horn. In my experience, the new reference cannot compete with the separate/individual mid and treble horns of the classics like the heresy.

Both klipsch and polk can be modified to greatly improve performance.