I've joined the club!!

factorz
factorz Posts: 353
edited March 2011 in Vintage Speakers
As of last night I am offical a part of the polk family after picking up a pair of RTA-12C from my local craigslist.

Background:
So a my wife bought me a record player a year ago and I quickly setup a listening area in my basement with a Sony reciever and a pair of Pyle speakers I had since college.

Soon I started to find myself down there more and more and it didn't take long to realize that while the Pyle were great for my college house parties they didn't have the sound I wanted. So my quest started to find something new, but on a very limited budget. I quickly realized a small budget was either going to get me something cheap and new or I could go vintage and get more bang for my buck. I turned to CL and kept waiting for something that looked intresteing while doing research on what was good.

I kept seeing Polk speakers pop up here and there so after a little research I realized they could meet my needs. Not long after CL had a RTA-12C come up in my budget and the guy was five minutes from my house so why not!! Quick sidenote that part of the great thing about CL is the intresting people you get to meet and this seller was no exception.

It was clear he was a Polk fan and took great care of his equipment. He also shared in my idea that more money doesn't mean better sound. After a quick listen to some U2 tracks I was set. He helped me load them in my car and said he was happy they were going to someone who would enjoy them.

I got them setup in my listening room and made the wife come down and listen. I put on Radiohead Kid A as I just picked up the vinly the other week and enjoyed. While I am not sure my wife was as impressed as I was she was happy I had found something.

I really didn't get to spend alot of time with them so a indepth review is going to have to wait, but I at least wanted to share my good news.

Now this is what I consider my first real pair of speakers and I have some questions for any other owners out there. Thanks advance for your help.

-Placement, how do you have your speakers set up? Do you toe them in?

-Tweeter replacement, while I don't think I would do this right away what are people experience with this? Is it easy to do? Does it make a differnece and in what way?

-Assocatied equipment, right now I am using a Sony AVR @ 100w to drive them, but would like to upgrade at some point. Any suggestions.

Once I have more time I will snap a couple picks and give some updates.
Post edited by factorz on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to the club, kiss whatever money you had goodbye. Just kidding, enjoy your new speakers and post some pictures.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited March 2011
    Cayuga's right, it's ball-and-chain from here on out.

    Regarding one (maybe two) of your questions, see my thread on the RTA12C upgrade.

    G~
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • factorz
    factorz Posts: 353
    edited March 2011
    Thanks guys!

    Geeoff you work on the upgrade is amazing!! I couldn't even think of doing something at that level.

    I am just going to live with them for awhile and if I get the bug I might attempt the tweeter upgrade.

    Hopefully this weekend I can post some pictures.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • geoff727
    geoff727 Posts: 546
    edited March 2011
    factorz wrote: »
    I couldn't even think of doing something at that level.

    It's not that tough, really. Lots of folks around here do exactly the same thing. And some go far beyond that.

    Enjoy your new purchase, vintage Polk's can be a good value for the money.
    Polk SDA SRS 2
    Polk RTA 15tl
    Polk Monitor 7C
    Polk Lsi9
    Infinity RS-II (modded)
    Infinity RS-IIIa (modded)
    Infinity RS 2.5 x 2
    Magnepan 1.6QR (modded)

    System: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1290711373
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,151
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to this club.

    Your introduction to Polk audio speakers is a great one.I've yet to hear or own a set of monitor 12's, I've read enough on hear to know they are outstanding for stereo listening.

    I've been hooked on Polk audio since my purchase of the Monitor 10's.

    Be careful of some of us who has strange senses of humor. I had a friend that took something the wrong way and left. I read the thread and he shouldn't have left. I even left for 4 years but glad I came back.

    You now have to put aside a budget. This is true..:wink::biggrin:
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to the club! As far as placement just try different ways to see what works best for you. My Monitor 10's are toed in about 15 deg and off the back wall at least a foot. Let your ears be the judge. The tweeter upgrade is easy and there are plenty of threads concerning crossover upgrades if you ever want to go down the road to music bliss and bank account emptiness. Have fun with them.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Earthy
    Earthy Posts: 488
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to the Club. If you spend much time here, you'll have the bug to upgrade.:wink:
    Polk Audio SDA SRS 2.3TL
    Parasound Halo A21
    Parasound Halo P3

    Home theater
    Polk LSiM 707, 706c, 703, 705
    Polk Blackstone TL3 for height
    SVS PB12-ISD Sub
    Denon AVR-X6400h
    Parasound Halo A51
    LG OLED65B7A
    Sony UBPX800
    Logitech Harmony Elite
    PC LSiM 703
    Spare LSIM 702 and 706c

    Home Theater #2
    Polk Audio LS70, CS350LS, LSF/X, S4
    Onkyo TX-NR808



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2011
    Congrats & welcome to Club Polk.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to the Club!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • woodhead 2
    woodhead 2 Posts: 367
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to the club
    Panny 8000 project
    Oppo 103D
    Fronts- Monitor 70's
    Upper fronts- Monitor 30's
    Surrounds- Monitor 50's
    Backs- Monitor 40's
    Center-CS 350
    Sub- SVS PB 2000
    Onkyo 607[back up]
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,225
    edited March 2011
    Welcome, good of you to join us. I hope you enjoy your Polks. Cheers. :cool:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to Polk. Enjoy.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited March 2011
    Welcome factorz! You've just entered the land of no return. My advice to you is leave now while you still have some sanity and money in your pocket!!:biggrin:

    Gordon
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • factorz
    factorz Posts: 353
    edited March 2011
    Ok a couple of quick pictures. Sorry the camera is not the best and I am still messing with placement. Any advice would be great!

    Don't worry I already blew my budget on these bad boys. We have a baby on the way so I needed to get the toys out of the way quickly!!



    Attachment not found.

    Attachment not found.

    Attachment not found.

    Attachment not found.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited March 2011
    Very Nice! Welcome aboard.
    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
  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2011
    Congrats on your vintage acquisition and welcome to Club Polk factorz! :smile:

    cfrizz wrote: »
    Congrats & welcome to Club Polk.
    Now, congrats to cfrizz for an nice 10K number. Nice number, that 10K post just hit like 10K US $ :wink: I bet you'd prefer 10K US $, right? :cool:
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited March 2011
    I think it was mentioned above but yes you do toe the speakers in. You will have many hours of pleasure with those for sure.

    Welcome to CP.
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,567
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to Club Polk. Sometimes I bite.
    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

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited March 2011
    Welcome
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited March 2011
    "Sometimes" F1nut, no its more of a bark.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited March 2011
    factorz wrote: »
    Ok a couple of quick pictures. Sorry the camera is not the best and I am still messing with placement. Any advice would be great!

    Don't worry I already blew my budget on these bad boys. We have a baby on the way so I needed to get the toys out of the way quickly!!



    Attachment not found.

    Attachment not found.

    Attachment not found.

    Attachment not found.

    I bought mine new in 1984. They sat unused for many years after I upgraded. After joining this board, and especially after seeing geof727's great posts (aka tutorial) on modding them, I took the plunge and ordered all sonicaps and mills. :tongue:

    I completed the upper crossovers last weekend. I plan to do the lowers, along with rewiring, etc. this weekend.

    Immediately I could hear a spaciousness that had not been there before before, as well as a much smoother, more liquid sound that projected into the room better. Can't wait to finish 'em and see what happens to the bass.

    BTW, I have the SL1000 tweeters. It's near unanimous that the RDO-194 replacements sound better, but I want to hear what these do once the caps are fully burned in.

    But, it's also easy to enjoy them as they are. They do like lots of power, up to 500 wpc according to the owners manual :cool:

    Fred
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited March 2011
    F1nut wrote: »
    Welcome to Club Polk. Sometimes I bite.

    Man, I wish you would've given ME that warning when I joined! hahaha :wink:




    Factorz, Welcome to the family! Disfunctional as it may be, it is a fantastic resource for all things polk, and a fun place to argue about everything else!
    design is where science and art break even.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited March 2011
    I think the next step forward would be a nice tube pre amp and solid state amp and youl be in heaven spinning your records
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Libertyc
    Libertyc Posts: 915
    edited March 2011
    Welcome to the club. Get out while still can or it will cost you lots money.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • factorz
    factorz Posts: 353
    edited March 2011
    Well I have had a little more time to play with the placement and I am getting there. As for the sound it's great.

    It's really great to listen to something you are very familar with and hear something new! Great stuff.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter