What the heck is this

NeilGabriel
NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
edited September 2010 in Vintage Speakers
Seller calls it mini monitor but with cloth and foam on surrounds.....

was this cobbled together from various parts or an actual Polk?

http://cgi.ebay.com/POLK-AUDIO-MINI-MONITOR-II-SPEAKERS-RARE-/180563423937?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item2a0a6b32c1
Post edited by NeilGabriel on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited September 2010
    Even if everything is authentic and in great shape, the starting bid plus shipping seems a bit on the high side to me.

    These little gems just arrived here today and I think I might have even paid a few bucks too much for them: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260661638790
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • phocion
    phocion Posts: 157
    edited September 2010
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92412

    Looks like they are legit, here is a post from a member with the same series about half way down the page.

    5.25" MW... weird.
    The secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and greatest enjoyment is to live dangerously. - Nietzche
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited September 2010
    phocion wrote: »
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92412

    Looks like they are legit, here is a post from a member with the same series about half way down the page.

    5.25" MW... weird.

    I've just not heard of Polks from that era having anything other than rubber surrounds....

    the listing (from singapore) says the sale ended but seller might have relisted speaker.....I haven't found any relisting yet....what's up?

    it also appears that the site is ebay.singapore??? OK....I am confused...it is listed on US site but I got taken to ebay.singapore

    http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180560304255

    I need another cup of coffee (before I go)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited September 2010
    One of the true heavyweight Guru's needs to weigh in on this, but I believe you are right that Polk uses rubber versus foam so that part seems suspect.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited September 2010
    Early run Polks did use foam surrounds. You even see it all the way through the original Monitor 5's, 7's, and 10's.

    The speakers in the first post are authentic, and appear to be in great shape. There was also a mounting kit available that would allow you to bolt these to the rear deck of your car (this was the 70's, remember) so you could have a kickin' Polk system in your vehicle. Many people eschewed the kits in favor of just laying them on the back deck, though. Hopefully you have some strong speaker wires if you rear-end someone, though!
    Ludicrous gibs!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • phocion
    phocion Posts: 157
    edited September 2010
    Here is another thread with a mini monitor pic:
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87356

    It certainly looks like foam surrounds, and the thread is about refoaming. Given the limited examples, and the odd driver sizes, my guess would be that this was a small market test run, which could explain the odd foam driver.

    It is also worth pointing out that the linked mini monitor thread is about failure, and they look to be in much better shape than the ebay ones you listed.
    The secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and greatest enjoyment is to live dangerously. - Nietzche
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited September 2010
    inspiredsports wrote: »
    Even if everything is authentic and in great shape, the starting bid plus shipping seems a bit on the high side to me.

    These little gems just arrived here today and I think I might have even paid a few bucks too much for them: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260661638790

    I was tracking some 5jrs in great shape and also a pair of accompanying stands...recall is the 5jrs went well over $100....but they appeared very nice...wanted them for my daughter for an apt...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,254
    edited September 2010
    They are legit polk speakers. there is another Polk speaker with foam surrounds dont remember the model but everyone says they sound like $hit...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited September 2010
    NeilGabriel wrote: »
    I was tracking some 5jrs in great shape and also a pair of accompanying stands...recall is the 5jrs went well over $100....but they appeared very nice...wanted them for my daughter for an apt...

    That was my point. The near perfect set I picked up (post #2) were the newest 5jr+'s (Monitor Series 2 with SL2500's) and maybe even more expensive than average. The older 5jr's with nasty SL2000's that just sold for around $100 (his black stands were sold separately in another auction) and the mini-model speakers in your post #1 should probably go for less unless there is a specific reason you want the compact cabinet size, smaller drivers or that specific Peerless tweeter.

    In the mini auction the seller writes. ". . . the surrounds on the (mid) woofers are new foam and in excellent condition!" I wonder if he means they were refoamed?
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited September 2010
    my post is an FYI....I want some more nice 5's or 5jrs.....second series....hint
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited September 2010
    NeilGabriel wrote: »
    my post is an FYI....I want some more nice 5's or 5jrs.....second series....hint

    I purchased the 5jr+'s for my son after posting http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106462 just 2 weeks ago and getting a great education. That thread is still fresh enough it may help you out.

    I'm just 4 hours into auditioning them, but the 5jr+'s may never make it to his room :D
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited September 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    They are legit polk speakers. there is another Polk speaker with foam surrounds dont remember the model but everyone says they sound like $hit...

    I think you're talking about the Model 9's. They were supposed to be a bit of a Bose knockoff... before Polk started making what is now the legendary vintage sound.
    Ludicrous gibs!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,254
    edited September 2010
    nadams wrote: »
    I think you're talking about the Model 9's. They were supposed to be a bit of a Bose knockoff... before Polk started making what is now the legendary vintage sound.


    Yep thats it...:p
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited September 2010
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Yep thats it...:p



    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92412


    emailed with owner who is sure the speakers were called a Mini Monitor and all parts are Polks (did not ask about refoaming)....I thought they looked like an old 4, but owner says mids are different.....since I am not an historian....this is for the benefit of those here who are!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter