Monitor 10s vs Monitor 12s

JNL
JNL Posts: 8
edited May 2010 in Vintage Speakers
I purchased a pair of Monitor 10's series II a month ago and I really like how they sound. There are a pair of Monitor 12's series II that just came up for sale locally for $400, one owner and look to be in great condition. Would I really notice a difference between the two for sound or would it be better to update the 10's? Thanks for the advice.
Post edited by JNL on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    I would redo the 10's. Welcome to club Polk.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • JNL
    JNL Posts: 8
    edited May 2010
    So not worth it to buy them? Is the asking price an ok price for them? I would really like to redo the 10's but haven't owned any polks before. What is all involved with redoing them?
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    $400 you could buy some SDA's. Redoing them consists of new tweeters, and redoing the crossovers with new/better components over stock. Can you solder?
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited May 2010
    12s are nice but at $400 over priced. I bought a mint pair for less than half that.

    I would redo the 10s if it were me.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • JNL
    JNL Posts: 8
    edited May 2010
    I can not solder, well I guess I have never tried before, so maybe I can! I was thinking they were over priced. The guy selling them said he bought them for $1000 dollars new, and I believe that's where he is getting his price from. Maybe I will offer him less and maybe sell the 10's? People on here seem to be pretty content with their 10's but not alot of 12 owners?
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    The 12's are pretty rare. The bass is better than the 10's of coarse, but there are too many mids that would tend to smear the midrange. You would be better off with the 10's RDO's tweeters. You have the sl2000 tweeters in the 10's I assume.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • JNL
    JNL Posts: 8
    edited May 2010
    Ben, I couldn't tell you which tweeters are in these. I did pull out the passive and woofers and they are dated 86 on the back. I will have to search the boards for some upgrades then to my 10's. I really like they way they sound right now! Thanks for the quick responses guys!
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    Can you take a pic of your 10's focusing mainly on the tweeter.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • JNL
    JNL Posts: 8
    edited May 2010
    could do that, but would have to wait until tomorrow, sorry!
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    You could pull one of the tweeters and see that way too.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • JNL
    JNL Posts: 8
    edited May 2010
    I will have to do that. Are the sl2000 tweeters good? would there be a better upgrade for these? I have done tweeter diaphragm replacement in my Klipsch KG4 speakers before made a huge difference in sound.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2010
    The SL2000's can sound decent, but more often than not they age more like milk than wine.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • jjwm27
    jjwm27 Posts: 123
    edited May 2010
    thsmith wrote: »
    12s are nice but at $400 over priced. I bought a mint pair for less than half that.

    I would redo the 10s if it were me.

    i aggree, 400 is way to much, i got mine, not mint by any means but good condition, for $90 on ebay. if you want some BIG speakers listen to Ben and get some SDAs.
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  • dane_peterson
    dane_peterson Posts: 1,903
    edited May 2010
    I've seen numerous 12s up on Craigslist in the last 6 months for $250 and under. For half that price you can modify your 10s to walk all over stock 12s. Ben might even be willing to do the labor for you if you're afraid to put the Xovers under the knife yourself... (am I speaking out of turn here?)
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  • jjwm27
    jjwm27 Posts: 123
    edited May 2010
    dane_peterson wrote: »
    I've seen numerous 12s up on Craigslist in the last 6 months for $250 and under. For half that price you can modify your 10s to walk all over stock 12s. Ben might even be willing to do the labor for you if you're afraid to put the Xovers under the knife yourself... (am I speaking out of turn here?)
    damit now i want some 10s, is it wrong to have more than 6 pairs of polks in my tiny house?
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  • dane_peterson
    dane_peterson Posts: 1,903
    edited May 2010
    Gotta ask the wife that one... I have one pair again and I feel like I'm gonna be castrated...

    ...

    Maybe that's cuz their guts are sitting on the dinner table.
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  • JNL
    JNL Posts: 8
    edited May 2010
    If I must ask how much is doing a crossover upgrade from Ben?
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  • dane_peterson
    dane_peterson Posts: 1,903
    edited May 2010
    Shoot him a PM. I know he's volunteered to do this work for Polkies in the past inexpensively... and if not, I'm sure you could find someone else willing. Depending on what caps you choose, parts should cost between $50-125.
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  • dane_peterson
    dane_peterson Posts: 1,903
    edited May 2010
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73915&highlight=crossover

    Just one thread I used when I was doing mine... I think I have a thread out there somewhere too, specifically for the 10s.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2010
    jjwm27 wrote: »
    damit now i want some 10s, is it wrong to have more than 6 pairs of polks in my tiny house?

    That depends.......How big are your six pairs that you already have?;):D

    My family of seven pairs, that are a "snug fit" in my place.
    (Mini Monitors,5s,7s,10As,2Bs,1As,SRS2s+1-VM-20)
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  • Mike53
    Mike53 Posts: 21
    edited May 2010
    I never realized that I had such a popular item, with the 10s. Bought a pair in the mid 1980s from the original Polk dealer here in Baltimore, MD, and was just given a pair of the original series run. It will be interesting to be able to compare an original design to a pair rebuilt with an upgraded crossover.
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  • jjwm27
    jjwm27 Posts: 123
    edited May 2010
    gdb wrote: »
    That depends.......How big are your six pairs that you already have?;):D

    My family of seven pairs, that are a "snug fit" in my place.
    (Mini Monitors,5s,7s,10As,2Bs,1As,SRS2s+1-VM-20)

    Lsi9s and 7s, Sda Crs, micropro 1000, Lsic, monitor 40s, monitor 12s, and a pair of in walls that i got for $20, cant remember the model. and maybe monitor 10s in the near future. somebody stop me. i forgot a cs400i.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited May 2010
    jjwm27 wrote: »
    Lsi9s and 7s, Sda Crs, micropro 1000, Lsic, monitor 40s, monitor 12s, and a pair of in walls that i got for $20, cant remember the model. and maybe monitor 10s in the near future. somebody stop me. i forgot a cs400i.

    Don't worry.........You're Fine !!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
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  • jjwm27
    jjwm27 Posts: 123
    edited May 2010
    gdb wrote: »
    Don't worry.........You're Fine !!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

    YES thats what i wanted to hear, and in bold red letters no less.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,192
    edited May 2010
    jjwm27 wrote: »
    Lsi9s and 7s, Sda Crs, micropro 1000, Lsic, monitor 40s, monitor 12s, and a pair of in walls that i got for $20, cant remember the model. and maybe monitor 10s in the near future. somebody stop me. i forgot a cs400i.

    :rolleyes:Looks good to me !

    I myself have a little collection of Polks and have sold off a few Polks to regain space.

    I wonder how many guys have small /or large Polk audio museums in their homes? I think there are a few of us.:p

    I'm trying to make others aware of the quality that Polk audio puts into it's speakers every chance I get.;)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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