Studio Models

SDA1C
SDA1C Posts: 2,072
edited August 2011 in Vintage Speakers
What vintage (80's) models came in a studio version? Specifically the RTA series. I've always liked the black vinyl- "I like feet...I do not know why lol" (Mr.Deeds)

Any way! looking to add another set of studios. I want a set of 8t but what else is out there that is in the same line as the 8t 11t 15t?

Thanks 1C
Too much **** to list....
Post edited by SDA1C on
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,151
    edited August 2011
    I think all the RTA series had their STUDIO editions.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    OK. I guess I should give more info... I know of the RTA 12 but have never seen one. I mostly want a new set of vintage but only want it in black oak vinyl. I'll stay with matching cabs if it kills me lol.

    Are you saying the studio means different things throughout the different models and doesn't just signify the black vinyl and surround footer?

    1C
    Too much **** to list....
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  • stubby
    stubby Posts: 723
    edited August 2011
    SDA1C wrote: »
    OK. I guess I should give more info... I know of the RTA 12 but have never seen one. I mostly want a new set of vintage but only want it in black oak vinyl. I'll stay with matching cabs if it kills me lol.

    Are you saying the studio means different things throughout the different models and doesn't just signify the black vinyl and surround footer?

    1C

    I am fairly certain the only models Polk offered in a "studio" model were the SDA1 and SDA2.


    And the early model RTA's (12, 12B and 12C) were not available in black; only rosewood vinyl, walnut vinyl, and walnut or oak veneer.

    stubby
    SRS 3.1TL
    Harman Kardon Citation 5.1
    Anthem AVM2



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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    I have an SDA1C pair in studio black and an 11t pair in studio black. I am in love with the RTA8T in black as I have see them but can't seem to find a set in mint or 9.5 anyway.
    Too much **** to list....
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  • stubby
    stubby Posts: 723
    edited August 2011
    ^^^^
    I should have been more specific with the SDAs. Your are correct - the SDA1C and SDA2B were available in studio and cloth wrapped.

    Just keep your eyes peeled for a set of 8t's in black. They were a popular speaker. I think there is a pair on ebay right now, if you are interested in going that route.

    stubby
    SRS 3.1TL
    Harman Kardon Citation 5.1
    Anthem AVM2



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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    Yea. I saw a set on ebay but iffy at best and they were 600 miles away. Do the RTA12's look the same as the rest?
    Too much **** to list....
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,151
    edited August 2011
    I had the 8T in black but sold them along time ago..powerful little towers they are..:wink:

    Have you considered the "Monitor" line-up? There's alot of quality in that line along with black versions for each edition.
    I know they aren't towers and sorry if that's the style your looking for.
    Do you just want the larger model towers in the studio black?
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    The "Studio" versions referred to the cabinet type for the SDA1c and SDA2b, they just happened to be wrapped in black vinyl. "Standard" SDA1c and SDA2b, had better cabinets, weighed 15lbs more each and either had real wood end caps or real wood veneer end caps (depending on year) and cost more than the "Studio" version.

    Monitor Series II were all available in black vinyl as were the RTA 8 and RTA 11 both the "T" and "TL" models. I believe (not 100% sure) SDA 3.1TL's were available in black as well but were not labeled "Studio" because they were exactly the same as brown SDA 3.1's.

    So if you use the word "Studio" I automatically think you are talking about SDA's because they were the only line that used "Studio" in the marketing lit. The rest if the the Polk's available at the time in black were just another color choice as Black was popular in the late 80's and early 90's

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    i guess I have seen the rta 12 its the one with the funny hat? Im not so interested in that model. I'm mostly after the vintage look. But any model that accepts the rdo194 would be considered. Id like to start with a set of 8's then 15's.
    Too much **** to list....
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  • nwohlford
    nwohlford Posts: 700
    edited August 2011
    SDA1C wrote: »
    Yea. I saw a set on ebay but iffy at best and they were 600 miles away. Do the RTA12's look the same as the rest?

    No, the RTA12s look more like Monitor 10 with the tweeter mounted above the cabinet and are not really towers.

    See:
    http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/2529870322.html
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    The RTA 12 and RTA 8, 11 & 15 are completely different animals. The designs are completely different. The RTA 12 actually is set-up for Real Time Alignment. The RTA 8 and 11 are D'appolitto arrays and aren't truly time aligned, but the D'appolitto array is a well regarded design that does enhance imaging.

    So if your thought process is all the RTA's are alike, they aren't at all. Both sound great, but not the same animal.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    nwohlford wrote: »
    No, the RTA12s look more like Monitor 10 with the tweeter mounted above the cabinet and are not really towers.

    See:
    http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ele/2529870322.html

    Those are early RTA 12's because they use the peerless tweeter. Not sure you'd want to use the RD0 in that case. The peerless made Polks are pretty nice already.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    AHH. Ok. So what might some Ideas be of vintage years that have the same narrow tall deep look of the 11t. I like the 15t but I've only seen it in piano black top. or is it glass? I want all my cabinets to match the black vinyl that's on my 1c's.

    Also, I'm sure the new models are great but I don't much care for the style. I prefer the big black rectangles that you have to **** around.
    Too much **** to list....
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    RTA 8 T and TL; RTA 11 T and TL and RTA 15 TL are the tall slender speakers that were available in black.

    The RTA 15's need a lot of room to breath because of the passives in the front and rear.

    Monitor Series II were available in black but those are smaller and need stands or much wider in the case of the Moniter 10 Series II. I don't believe the RTA 12C was ever available in black.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    The RTA 12 and RTA 8, 11 & 15 are completely different animals. The designs are completely different. The RTA 12 actually is set-up for Real Time Alignment. The RTA 8 and 11 are D'appolitto arrays and aren't truly time aligned, but the D'appolitto array is a well regarded design that does enhance imaging.

    So if your thought process is all the RTA's are alike, they aren't at all. Both sound great, but not the same animal.

    H9

    The fact that they aren't the same sound is sort of a bonus. I like to switch out on occasion. The look with grills on is what I am after. Id like to be able to switch without changing the overall look of the room.
    Too much **** to list....
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    SDA1C wrote: »
    The fact that they aren't the same sound is sort of a bonus.

    I simply stated they are completely different designs even though the model numbers stand for Real Time Aligned. This was in case you (or anyone else that stumbles upon this thread) were trying to match models up with each other, etc.

    So I take it you're going for a look more than the difference's in sound? They are all excellent in their own way with the exception of the RTA15TL which, IMO, needs to be out farther in the room to sound good. Some people can accomidate having a speaker 3-5 feet out in the room, some can't. Stuffing an RTA15 in a corner or close to back wall will not sound very good so just keep that in mind while you're looking.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    3-5 feet eh? that is something to consider.
    Too much **** to list....
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    SDA1C wrote: »
    3-5 feet eh? that is something to consider.

    Just the 15's, because of the passive radiator in the rear of the cabinet.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    Yea I got ya. Only the 15's. Those are pretty badass aren't they? What advantage is the real time. What does it do?
    Too much **** to list....
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    SDA1C wrote: »
    What advantage is the real time. What does it do?

    This post sums it up pretty well. I have posted info before on Real Time Alignment. It invovles both physical driver placement and x-over compensation and phase compensation.

    http://www.audiovoice-acoustics.com/forum/showpost.php?p=123&postcount=1
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • brgman
    brgman Posts: 2,859
    edited August 2011
    Here is a non-black studio-
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121473
    Main Rig-Realistic AM/FM Record player 8 track boasting 4 WPC

    Backup Rig-2 CH-Rogue Audio Zeus w/Factory Special Dark Mods,Joule-Electra 300ME Platinum Preamp,OPPO-105 w/Modwright Tube Mod, Auralic Aries G2.1,Polk 2.3TL,3.1TL's,Dreadnought,RTA-15TL's,1C's All Fully Modded,2xRTA-12c's ,Benchmark DAC3 HGC,Synology NAS,VPI Scout w/Dynavector DV-20XH and Rogue Audio Ares Phono Preamp,Sony PCM-R500 DAT,HHB-850 Pro CDR,Tascam CC-222SLMKII Cassette/CDR,MIT S3.3 Shotgun Cables,Shunyata Hyra-8,Shunyata and Triode Labs Power Cords

    I’M OFFENDED!!!!
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    brgman wrote: »
    Here is a non-black studio-
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121473

    Yep, I'm sure there are a few out there, but 99% of the Studio versions were Black vinyl. Again the Studio referred to the cabinet style more than the color.

    I've even seen factory Black "Standard" style SDA's.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited August 2011
    Interesting read. I think we touched on this in a discussion a few days ago. you say differences in the cabinet construction. Like what? Is performance compromised in the studios?
    Too much **** to list....
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    Construction is different and yes there are some performance differences, mostly in cabinet resonances and colorations, but they are small and perhaps not even perceptible to some listener's. If you can get the search function to cooperate there have been numerous discussions about all these topics in the archives.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited August 2011
    Some might suggest that wth RTA's recessed and top mounted tweeter the strong high frequency reflections created by the cabinets top panel would be more detrimental to imaging and frequency response than would any benifits gained by the time alignment.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited August 2011
    FTGV wrote: »
    Some might suggest that wth RTA's recessed and top mounted tweeter the strong high frequency reflections created by the cabinets top panel would be more detrimental to imaging and frequency response than would any benifits gained by the time alignment.

    That could be very true, but I would assume that would have been taken into consideration somewhat at the time, but who knows for sure.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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