Got some 3.1TL's

Hamatym

I took a last second road trip and picked up some 3.1TL's. I was more curious to hear these than needing another set of speakers. They are really small in size compared to the larger models, so this was a ton easier to move around. I popped in some RDO198's, spikes and enjoyed for hours. They have way more bass than I thought, so I was really impressed. My question is:
- What's the deal with the Passive Radiator's on these? They look more like a driver with a large dust cap and all. Almost all the other SDA models use a flat faced PR. Please pass along any info you may know of, I am really curious if there is something unique they used in this version only or not.

Thanks!

Ricardo

Congrats; those are really great speakers and usually underrated. Yes, those are the original passive radiators; just different.

dpowell

Very nice!

bluecomet

Nice score. They are on my short list of speakers to own. How do they compare to the modded SDA 1C's you sold.

Hamatym

Great question BC, they are for sure a different sound but very close. The 3.1's get the nod on the bass side. I figure this is because they are a larger speaker with more cabinet space and 1 more driver working deep. The 3.1's also use (4) driver's for stereo, while the 1C's use (2). I want to say the 3.1TL's win out, but the 1C's I had were getting better and better as the mod's burned in so it's touch to say. I think Ben will be getting the 3.1TL XO's for upgrading and see to what level that takes them up too.

If you pick up a set, you won't be disappointed! Especially since the outside cabinet looks just like the larger 1.2TL's...

engtaz

Congrats

leroyjr1

Are they the ones from Chicago's craiglist?

audiobilly

Hamatym wrote: »

I took a last second road trip and picked up some 3.1TL's. I was more curious to hear these than needing another set of speakers.

Hamatym,

If you get tired of those puppies just let me know. I think you are within travel distance from me.

Anyway, enjoy!:D

stubby

Congrats!! You are SO going to love them when you get the x-overs re-capped. Like Ricardo said, they are underrated by many. BTW, Polk used the "driver" style PR on the 3.1 and the Monitor 12 II the same year.

stubby

Hamatym

Thanks for all the info guys! These have been treating well, the single tweeter took some getting used but I'm liking it more and more. Time to get these XO's over to Ben to do his magic. If the improvement is anything like the 1c's, I will be one happy camper!

Janne

The 3.1TLs are sweet. I remember 18 years ago when I was at the Polk dealer in Riyadh with a friend. They had the 1.2TL, 2.3TL and 3.1TL set up for comparison. The 1.2s and the 3.1s sounded the best. Unfortunately for my friend, he had to settle for the 3.1s as I was faster with the cash for the 1.2s. Like Ricardo says. Very underrated.

midlife/midfi

I picked up a pair of these myself last week from member "Engtaz", great speaker! I am still playing with the placement a little, and it seems they could benefit from more power.

ben62670

Welcome to Club Polk!

BAD ASP

Welcome to CP. I have the 3.1tls. I have had them since new sometime in 89'.
I had Ben do the crossovers for me and the SQ went up several notches. Much broader soundstage with more depth as well. The bass response was deep and musical. I do use a velodyne sub for HT in that room but for 2 ch. I don't feel the need. I love the 3.1tls and probably will hand them down when the time comes. I also have fully modded 1.2s that Ben did the crossovers as well. It is hard to give a comparison as they are on different floors of my house and the rooms are completely different. I will say that the 3.1's hold their own quite well and the most noticeable difference is what is obvious. The big boys have a broader, deeper and taller soundstage but they are being driven by 300 more wpc so there is also that. Good luck with yours, you will learn to appreciate them more and more as I did. If you do the crossovers be prepared to give them some burn in but you will be rewarded - I was.

Polkie2009

Wow, those look great, someone had a pair of those on CL Houston and I had no idea what model they were, but now I know they are the 3.1 TL's.

BuckeyeTim

Hey Dan, those look great! Are these what you were after when you sold me the 1c's?

Yep, I think you should get the x-overs done and all the other mods....that way, when I buy them from you next year..........:D muwahahahahah

By the way, the 1c's are sounding better all the time. Even my Magnepan bro-inlaw is quite impressed.

Hamatym

Tim, Awesome to hear the 1c's are still burning in and getting better every day!...I am glad you picked them up and can keep updates going. I really liked those speakers, and may have to listen to them again some time at your place. No, I did not intend on getting these 3.1TL's because I am super happy with my 2.3TL's. The 3.1's were a last second choice (certainly not for pricing reasons) because I just had to know how they compared. I was pleasently surprised with the ability to keep up with the larger SRS models. In the end I am still trying to figure out what to keep and what to pass on to my fellow Polkies:)

dpowell

You stole those! Nice score!