What to look for in Monitor 10s?

wanders

Found a pair of beat-up m5b a couple of weeks ago. Relplaced one frozen mw6502 and sealed the cabinets; they sound really good and I'm interested in getting some keepers. Going to see a set of c/l m10s tomorrow ($95). Picture looks good, seller says excellent comdition. Here are a few questions:

- What are the drivers (mw6500?) do they have paper surround? What tweeters were used (my 5's are sl-2000). Are any of the 5 components pluggable to the 10s? Are there significant differences between 10a and 10b? If I rate the m5 's 7 of 10, how would the 10s rate?

What should I be worried about?

Appreciate any advice.

Flash21

Monitor 10s are very musical speakers, well worth the money.

Surrounds are rubber, so they don't disintegrate like foam ones, although I would look at them for tears.

Could be one of several tweeters depending on vintage...more info in the "Vintage Speakers" section.

DON73

wanders wrote: »

Found a pair of beat-up m5b a couple of weeks ago. Relplaced one frozen mw6502 and sealed the cabinets; they sound really good and I'm interested in getting some keepers. Going to see a set of c/l m10s tomorrow ($95). Picture looks good, seller says excellent comdition. Here are a few questions:

- What are the drivers (mw6500?) do they have paper surround? What tweeters were used (my 5's are sl-2000). Are any of the 5 components pluggable to the 10s? Are there significant differences between 10a and 10b? If I rate the m5 's 7 of 10, how would the 10s rate?

What should I be worried about?

Appreciate any advice.

I've seen 10s with the SL2000 (black background with silver dome and horizontal wires) 2500 (all black and no visible wires) and peerless tweeters (all black with a tiny hole in the center of the dome). Most Polk owners seem to agree that the SL 2000 is not a good tweeter. The Peerless is a nice tweeter. Some owners do not like the 2500 and think it should be replaced with the RDO 198 available from Polk. I have the 2500 tweeter in two speakers and they sound good to me. The surrounds are not paper. They're the same rubber compound that are on your 5s. Listen and try to hear if there is sound coming from all drivers. Push the passive driver gently and the midrange drivers should move........if they don't they may be frozen and need to be replaced.

Your only worry should be getting them home safely. At $95 if they work as they should you've got a bargain.

Timothy Smith

If you can try to find some with "Peerless" tweets.

I have had 3 different pairs of 10's and I think the Peerless ones were the best sounding.

spaceman

My Monitor 10As look almost new in terms of the drivers and tweeters. The mid and bass drivers shine still. Tweeter is gummy looking with a small hole in the middle. The cabinets can be a bit roughed up but the drivers and surrounds should still look newish.

wutadumsn23

I was fortunate to come across a set of Peerless Monitor 10A's about a year ago on Craigslist. The guy wanted $100 for the pair, which I was more than willing to shell out, but they had a few scratches and what not on them and one was missing the polkaudio tag on the front so I talked him down to $75. I wanted to make sure they were working well, especially the bass radiators so I went to my truck to find a CD that had a little more oompff to it. I came back in and something sounded off, he told me he was having trouble with one of the channels on his amp so I asked him to try switching to see if the problem follwed to the other side. He did and the problem didn't duplicate on the other side. After a little more listening/searching I realized that the tweeter was not working on one side. He told me he would knock off another $25 for the cost of a new tweeter. I had those speakers loaded in my truck and was gone before he could change his mind, then I called Russ (lightman1) and told him of my catch, he pee'd a little, then told me to check the fuse and see if that fixed it. Went to Wally World and bought some 1 1/2 amp fuses, popped one in and it was back up and running. I don't use them as oftern as I would like due to WAF, but I love them and are the best sounding speakers I have buy far. Just figured I would share my story, you will love those 10's, I promise.

-Jeff

wanders

Finally got to see, but not hear, the m-10s. Guess they're the B model, drivers show 1987 & the tweeters are sl-2000. Cosmetically, they were ok, but one cabinet seems to have two frozen mids, the other two mids flex as they're supposed to. Figured replacing the two drivers would be about $60 +/-, so I paid $40. Begining to get buyer's remourse; maybe should have walked; oh well.

I read that the mw-6502, which I've got a couple of in my m5b's, are not substitutable to the 6503. Tried to post WTB here for the 6503s, but need more posting on Polk Club before that's accessible. I can post WTB on AudioKarma, however.

When I get home, I'll probably put one workable driver in each of the two cabinets and see how they sound.

Joe08867

Call polk and get a replacement drivers.

doctor r

Tell them you are a forum member when you call.

chandler9a

I paid $100 for mine and don't regret it one bit. I listen mostly to SDA's but the 10's are a great speaker. I put some RDO tweeters in them and built some stands (sorry TennMan, I was supposed to send pics of those to you ), they have become one of those speakers I don't think I will ever sell.

I think you will like them once you get them up and running.

wanders

Joe08867 wrote: »

Call polk and get a replacement drivers.

Thanks all; Polk had the mw 6503s for $60 ea plus $18 shipping plus tax. Member price: $48 each; free 2 day shipping, plus some state tax = $102 out the door to California. Done deal.

gdb

Now, call back and order 2 RDO-194 tweeters.

wanders

I mentioned that I had to replace the two mids, which I purchased new from Polk. Turns out, I also had a bad sl-2000. Fortunately, I had a garage set of M-5B's which also use the same tweeter. Decided to part out the remainder of the m-5 components. Got the drivers and other stuff advertised on Bartertown in the Audio Karma forum. (Got to be a suscriber to access Bartertown.)

I received, and installed the two new mids today. Put one old and one new driver in each cabinet figuring that that method would equalize any differences between the new and old units. Only had a few minutes to listen so far; but the difference between my m-5s and m-10s is, imo, is profound. The m-10s handle the lows easily and comfortably, the mids are distinct and smooth. The high end still seems a little edgy, but maybe I'll get used to it or, as suggested, get the rdo replacements. Anybody know the member cost of those? Gonna build some stands this weekend.

chandler9a

Glad to hear you like them. I highly suggest the RDO's, tell them you are a member and it should come out to $100 shipped or so for the pair.

takvimcim

thanx share good work.

Tony M

Timothy Smith wrote: »

If you can try to find some with "Peerless" tweets.

I have had 3 different pairs of 10's and I think the Peerless ones were the best sounding.

^^^x2^^^.....

I've heard both also and agree, peerless are great.I still have a pair of both kinds still.:biggrin:

fbm211

Dynamat those drivers and passive too.
Awsome bang for the buck tweak.I did my 2Bs for under 20.

wanders

Finished the stands using the sketch posted on this forum which is based on the original Polk design.

One of the problems I had with the 10s was I felt they were big and a little out of proportion: too wide for their height. I have to say that the original design stands bring the speakers into excellent proportion; they don' just look "not bad," they look damn good.

I've put my old Bose 901s on the shelf; and am seriously thinking about upgrading the tweeters. Also thinking about a new veneer job; but that's a few months down the line.

Has anybody done a recap? If so, what audible improvement did you realize.

fbm211

That will depend on what caps you use.
Sonicraft still has thier 20% off everything going on.Better hurry.

wanders

Bought and installed the rdo's. Member price from Polk $102 delivered. Reaction, for me there is no longer a high-end issue; no x-over flubs, no shrill, just seamless sound across the whole spectrum. Does anybody think the peerless are superior to the rdo's?

Tony M

wanders wrote: »

Bought and installed the rdo's. Member price from Polk $102 delivered. Reaction, for me there is no longer a high-end issue; no x-over flubs, no shrill, just seamless sound across the whole spectrum. Does anybody think the peerless are superior to the rdo's?

Both tweeters are soft sounding and airy. It would be a close fight. Some might think the Peerless a little brighter. A little, that's what I hear. But both are very, very nice sounding!!! Be happy unless you have alot of spare change to try and reach the very best which might not be to your liking or worth the extra $.

wanders

I'm listening to Ella Fitzgerald doing Spring Can Really Hang You Up the most (Clap Hands Here Comes Charley) and am fully satisfied with the RDOs.