Polk RTA 15TL with RDO-194 tweeters

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ViperZ
ViperZ Posts: 2,046
in Vintage Speakers
Hi all,
Haven't posted here in ages, mostly because I didn't have any Polk speakers in the mix!

I have an opportunity to get a pair of RTA-15TL with upgraded RDO-194 tweeters locally.

These would go into my 2nd system, where I generally rotate 1970s receivers (Marantz, Pioneer, Sansui, etc.) in 30-100 wpc range. Right now I have Marantz 4270 in that system.

Would this be a good pairing? I'd like a full-range sound and the speakers that the receiver can drive properly.

Thank you.
Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
B&W CDM1-SE fronts
B&W CDM-CNT center
B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
Belkin PF60 Power Center
Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,806
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    Those are the wrong tweeters for that model.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • pkquat
    pkquat Posts: 744
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    F1nut wrote: »
    Those are the wrong tweeters for that model.

    Yes check if they are actually 194's or if they are 198's. They are supposed to be 198's. People have said the tweeter is a bit hot, to keep up with 4 mids, and the bass is boomy in a lot of room conditions. A few searches should bring up info on that. People have done some mods to the crossovers and PRs for what they claim is a much better sound. That said, they do fall into the category of a full range speaker than can produce ample bass you can feel.

    I am not sure about the power requirements.
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
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    Here is a photo of the speakers. I'm going to go see them today. Is there a way to tell by looking from the outside, or would I have to take them out? Thank you.

    7h562eoo8jhh.jpg
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
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    The owner confirmed they are RDO-198
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,640
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    Where is the plastic "wing" that goes above the tweeter? It helps prevent waveform interaction between the top woofer and the tweeter...
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,806
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    I can see the adhesive residue of where they were.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
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    Obviously, the plastic wing is long gone...

    I listened to them for a bit with Bryston amplifier at 120wpc.. Obviously 20-30 minutes is not long enough to make up an opinion. We listened to a few songs (CDs), including Whole Lotta Love.
    The imaging was great. The highs were clear and transparent, very detailed. The mids were good too.
    Now comes the part that I didn't like. Maybe these speakers just can't reproduce what I want, but the bass sounded boomy at mid-bass frequencies. It was just obvious. And I couldn't hear the bass guitar going down to the low frequencies, it would just muddy out.

    Maybe my expectations were too high... I'm looking for something that I can drive with 30-70 watts per channel (receivers, so lower damping factor too), and expect a full range sound. Is it unrealistic? Should I go back and get these 15TLs? They are cheap, and he is 15-minute drive from me.. But I just didn't feel really involved with that type of sound.
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,806
    edited August 2017
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    You don't have enough power to drive them properly. They also need to be 3 feet from the rear wall otherwise they boom. Spikes help regardless.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
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    Thank you for your input, F1nut. They definitely wouldn't go into my main system, so that's the power these will see. I actually do have ~5-6 feet behind speakers in my listening room, but the seller had them ~2-3 feet from the walls.
    Oh well, I may have to keep looking. These were way under my maximum budget, damn.
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • delkal
    delkal Posts: 764
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    So how much under your maximum budget are these?
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
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    I'm looking for speakers up to $500 USD budget. These were 300 CDN, so half... I'm not really considering speakers based on how big of a deal I can get. I really want speakers that I would keep for at least several years, so if I have to go to the top or slightly over expected budget, so be it.
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 9,984
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    Where are you located?
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
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    Toronto, Canada
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pkquat
    pkquat Posts: 744
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    I'd say the price is fair from what I have seen. DSkip might be a good reference if you are looking for more info. This is the, or one of the mod threads.

    http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/48075/modifications-to-the-rta-15tl
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
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    Funny how not getting that weekly pay check changes or cuts out certain things like eating or prescribed meds that are supposedly mandatory to keep you alive. Give me a party size bag of M&M's and a gallon of milk and I'm good for a week. Pretty much every project or hobby-ish thing in my life got set aside after my wife made me stop working.
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