New to the Polk Audio Club - Got myself the Monitor 10a's!
canuckaudioguy
Posts: 5
Hey guys,
So a while back, I found an ad for some Polk Monitor 10's and a Yamaha AVR receiver. I e-mailed and asked if he would sell just the speakers. He said he would, for $175. Well, there's no way this sale is happening at that price!
After gathering some information from some friends, I determined that anything under $100 is pretty much a damn good score on a set of these. Especially the ones with the peerless tweets, which these ones do. Anyway, so after a little bit of negotiation, basically saying "These speakers go for, on average, around $80-$100 usually". The guy responded back saying he'd take $100 for 'em. I messaged back saying, well, it's a bit of a drive for me, and if you do it for $80 I'll come down today and grab them. No dice, he was firm at $100. Understandably since he already came down from $175.
Well, fast forward about two weeks after that last e-mail. The seller e-mails me and says, "If you're still interested, I still have the speakers and I'll do it for $80". Two weeks ago I had tons of speakers and really they were going to take up extra room, so that's the main reason I wanted them for the lower price. Now, I've cleared my audio room of the extra speakers and gear and now have the perfect place for them. And I'm getting them for what I originally wanted. Excellent, I said OK I'll do the deal as I'm still interested. This was on Wednesday last week. I asked if I could pick them up that night but, no go, he was unavailable until Friday.
I decided to go get them today. It felt like a good day to go get a set of speakers, considering I had sold almost all of my extra gear and the wife needed a new set of speakers. I figured these are better than the Technics SB-L100's she had, and they're at a good price so let's do it (I had sold the Technics for $75 so the Polks pretty much paid for themselves already anyways). I picked them up, and oh my goodness.. what a SCORE I got here!
Not only are these the 10a model with the peerless tweeters, these things are in 9/10 shape. They have been very well taken care of and it shows. Absolutely gorgeous looking cabinets, fronts are perfect, no tears in the grills, backs are even perfect!! There's a little dust in around the speaker terminals but who cares about that. These things are GORGEOUS.
As far as the sound goes, I hooked them up to my MP301 MK3 tube amplifier. They sound excellent. I can see why guys like these speakers now, they have a relaxed tonality to them while still sounding very upfront. Not too bright, not too relaxed, kind of an interesting balance these have going on. For my tastes they don't put out enough bass, but that's because I'm so used to the IMF's now. Besides that, these are really nice to listen to. They have a really nice warm character to them and are exciting and lively. I think the tube amp makes them sound a little bit too bright, not harshly bright but just expresses the high frequencies a little more than these would need. Either way though really lively and very musical to listen to. These will work perfect for the wife's stereo.
And of course, what is a score thread without pictures? Behold these amazing Polk Audio Monitor 10a's which are in probably the best condition I've ever seen any vintage speaker in to date. They're beautiful. I apologize about the somewhat dark photos, kinda tough to get good lighting in that room with no main light in there.
So a while back, I found an ad for some Polk Monitor 10's and a Yamaha AVR receiver. I e-mailed and asked if he would sell just the speakers. He said he would, for $175. Well, there's no way this sale is happening at that price!
After gathering some information from some friends, I determined that anything under $100 is pretty much a damn good score on a set of these. Especially the ones with the peerless tweets, which these ones do. Anyway, so after a little bit of negotiation, basically saying "These speakers go for, on average, around $80-$100 usually". The guy responded back saying he'd take $100 for 'em. I messaged back saying, well, it's a bit of a drive for me, and if you do it for $80 I'll come down today and grab them. No dice, he was firm at $100. Understandably since he already came down from $175.
Well, fast forward about two weeks after that last e-mail. The seller e-mails me and says, "If you're still interested, I still have the speakers and I'll do it for $80". Two weeks ago I had tons of speakers and really they were going to take up extra room, so that's the main reason I wanted them for the lower price. Now, I've cleared my audio room of the extra speakers and gear and now have the perfect place for them. And I'm getting them for what I originally wanted. Excellent, I said OK I'll do the deal as I'm still interested. This was on Wednesday last week. I asked if I could pick them up that night but, no go, he was unavailable until Friday.
I decided to go get them today. It felt like a good day to go get a set of speakers, considering I had sold almost all of my extra gear and the wife needed a new set of speakers. I figured these are better than the Technics SB-L100's she had, and they're at a good price so let's do it (I had sold the Technics for $75 so the Polks pretty much paid for themselves already anyways). I picked them up, and oh my goodness.. what a SCORE I got here!
Not only are these the 10a model with the peerless tweeters, these things are in 9/10 shape. They have been very well taken care of and it shows. Absolutely gorgeous looking cabinets, fronts are perfect, no tears in the grills, backs are even perfect!! There's a little dust in around the speaker terminals but who cares about that. These things are GORGEOUS.
As far as the sound goes, I hooked them up to my MP301 MK3 tube amplifier. They sound excellent. I can see why guys like these speakers now, they have a relaxed tonality to them while still sounding very upfront. Not too bright, not too relaxed, kind of an interesting balance these have going on. For my tastes they don't put out enough bass, but that's because I'm so used to the IMF's now. Besides that, these are really nice to listen to. They have a really nice warm character to them and are exciting and lively. I think the tube amp makes them sound a little bit too bright, not harshly bright but just expresses the high frequencies a little more than these would need. Either way though really lively and very musical to listen to. These will work perfect for the wife's stereo.
And of course, what is a score thread without pictures? Behold these amazing Polk Audio Monitor 10a's which are in probably the best condition I've ever seen any vintage speaker in to date. They're beautiful. I apologize about the somewhat dark photos, kinda tough to get good lighting in that room with no main light in there.
Post edited by canuckaudioguy on
Comments
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Welcome to Polkaudio forum from AK forum!
Congrats on the Monitor 10's!
Peerless tweeters are highly regarded.
Lot of folks here suggest to upgrade capacitors/resistors for them to sound at their best.
Search and you'll have all necessary information.
Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze. -
Thanks Mystery! Yep I decided to come over here, considering I'm going to be keeping these for a long time.
The upgrade sounds like a great idea. I'll definitely do that, shouldn't be too hard as I've seen the x-over on these is fairly simple. I hear there are some other upgrades that should be done and I think I'll do that as well. As they are, they do sound great though. -
Yep I decided to come over here
From "score" AK, no doubt. Well, welcome to Club Polk.I think the tube amp makes them sound a little bit too bright, not harshly bright but just expresses the high frequencies a little more than these would need.
It might be your tube selection, but I'd look elsewhere in your system for that issue.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 -
U got a very good deal welcome :razz:canuckaudioguy wrote: »Thanks Mystery! Yep I decided to come over here, considering I'm going to be keeping these for a long time.
The upgrade sounds like a great idea. I'll definitely do that, shouldn't be too hard as I've seen the x-over on these is fairly simple. I hear there are some other upgrades that should be done and I think I'll do that as well. As they are, they do sound great though.POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
POLK CSI-A6 POLK MONITOR 70'S ONKYO TX NR-808 SONY CDP-333ES
PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1 -
A nice story, welcome to Club Polk. It looks like those 10's are in pretty decent condition. Congrats on your score, happy listening.:cool:
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I've got a pair of 10's and love them. Yours look in great condition!
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Nice, and welcome to the Club.
Speakers
Carver Amazing Fronts
CS400i Center
RT800i's Rears
Sub Paradigm Servo 15
Electronics
Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
Parasound Halo A23
Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
Pioneer 79Avi DVD
Sony CX400 CD changer
Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR -
Those look very nice! $80 for them with the stands is a steal! Congrats!Sunfire Theater Grand IV
Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature
SRS 2.1TL
SDA 2BTL's
CSiA6
FXiA4
FXiA6
SDA 2A's
Monitor 10A's
http://www.douglasconnection.com -
Welcome aboard
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My speakers! You found my long lost monitor 10's. I used to have a pair of those back in the day but sold them to finance an Infinity buy. You really did well to find a pair in such great shape. Congrats, and welcome to the forum...
-Saftgeek -
Welcome to Club Polk. They usually go for 100-225 on the bay plus shipping, so in mint condition you got a great deal. Hope you enjoy them. I have 2 pair myself.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.
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Thanks guys!
Yep I came over from AK, haha. I guess we use the term score over there a lot?
I'm very happy with them. I had some time to listen to them and they're lovely. The wife likes crisp, airy and "positive" (as she terms it) sounding speakers and these are exactly that. So these are going to be perfect for the duty they'll fill. My IMF TLS 80 II's that I have she says are too 'laid back' and sound a bit dark. Although with the tube amp it made a big difference.
I imagine to tame the high frequencies on these a bit the crossovers will need to be fixed up. So, I think I'll make my full call on how these sound after I've done the work to them. Fun awaits! -
Those were the ones I was looking for, I'm jealous. 10's with the peerless at that price is a great deal. Congrats!
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Welcome canuckaudioguy,you got a great deal.I have a set like yours with the peerless they aren't going anywhere.Enjoy your new to you speakers.
Dan -
Welcome to Club Polk!
Great "first post" up top! Even stock Monitor 10As sound great. I don't hear "any" brightness up top with the Peerless on mine and they have plenty of bass in a mid-sized room (and they're on an old Marantz 2265, not even tubes) unless you're into dozens of woofers and 1000s of watts of power in a tiny compact car rattling the frame apart and annoying everyone on both sides of the block as you "roll". lol
Upgrades will certainly help. But to tell you the truth, a lot of people here are upgrade happy! I have heard a few speakers (classic Monitors, that is) "upgraded" and they are a "little" better than stock to my ears but not phenomenally so! Maybe I just can't hear as well as everyone else. A lot of upgrading is hobbyitis (a disease where you have to be constantly tweaking or else the men in the white coats will come for you--or at least "you" think so). But hey, if you have the skills and your antsy go for it.
I'm going to make a cup of coffee instead.
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
Thanks guys for the comments. They are one of my favourite scores by far, besides my IMF speakers.
@cnh,
Yes I completely agree with you. To be honest the only upgrade I'm considering is replacing the capacitors with new ones to make the crossovers behave like they did from factory. I don't want to perform other upgrades like dynamating the inside and other such things - too invasive and I'd rather just enjoy them as they are! Plus, these aren't primarily for me anyways so it's not like I'll be listening to them most of the time.
As far as sounding bright I think it's just the character of the speaker. My IMF's are laid back and more relaxed while still sounding really transparent. I guess I didn't explain it the best in the first post, it's not that they're overly bright or anything I think it's just the characteristic of these speakers. They sound very nice, they just present their sound differently than any other speaker I've heard. Which is to be expected! The peerless does sound excellent, very airy and transparent just like a good tweet should be. I have yet to throw these speakers through their true paces yet, as I only spent about an hour with them last night, so I'm sure more deduction is to come. However in short, I know I like these speakers a great deal and where they will serve duty they will do well. -
welcome aboard--congrats on your aquisition,,tens and tubes--sweet!JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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welcome fellow canuck, a ton of great info around here. Picked up some 10's acouple of months ago and they sound awesome.
After tightening all the screws they were better. I paided alittle more at 100cnd each with stands. worth every penny.Have fun and chears.Rec rm vm30 micro pro 3000 akai 2 channel. ht anthem MTX 5 channel anthem P2 statement anthem 325, 8 channel Martin Logan power amp for 4 ceiling ls900 2 and outdoor polks, 2 JL 110’s subs panasonic 65" plasma lsim 705’s , 706c, L200 and Control 4 garage rig monitor 10s crossovers by VR3, dynamat, RDO-194's, new drivers. psw 111 Pioneer 9040 BDP53fd 100 " screen Nakamichi HD projector, and Panasonic 65” plasma.
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