Opinion on Polk Monitor 4 with peerless tweeters.

Mystery
Mystery Posts: 2,546
edited April 2013 in Vintage Speakers
How are the old Polk Monitor 4 with peerless tweeters?
These have Polkaudio logo on the baffle instead of grills.
I have later versions of monitor 4's that have logo on grills and tweeters are neither silver dome nor sl2500, with 3 screw type ones for my rear surrounds.

Here is a picture for example: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=281000&d=1308100961

I don't need speakers but these look kinda rare so may grab them.
Thanks for info.

Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
Post edited by Mystery on
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    DSkip wrote: »
    I might be wrong, but I don't think the M4 ever came with Peerless. The M4 was a series II addition much like the M12 was. I do think there was a ported M5 JR model that was essentially an M4 though.

    Well it says 4 in the back sticker so I'm pretty sure it's 4.

    Here is an old thread at AK with same 4 on the sticker and peerless tweeter.
    http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=375588

    Edit: This page mentions 4 with SL-1500 tweeters. I guess peerless are SL-1500?
    http://www.polksda.com/monitor4.shtml

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • StantonZ
    StantonZ Posts: 443
    edited April 2013
    The link doesn't seem to be working, but I actually have an (old) pair of 4's w/peerless tweets and they are INCREDIBLE; I can't believe they are over 30 years old (original owner). They are still the best sounding small "box" speaker I have ever heard. I use them as my center channel speakers.
    Yamaha RX-A2050 AVR (5.0.2); LG OLED77C2 4K TV
    (4) Polk Monitor 10B's w/SoniCaps, Mills, and RDO-194 tweets (R/L F/R)
    (2) Polk RC80i (Top Middle)
    Polk CS300 center channel
    Analog: B&O TX2 Turntable, Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1
    Digital: Pioneer CLD-99 Elite LD, Panasonic DMP-UB900 UHD Blu-Ray
    Bedroom: Arylic Up2Stream AMPv3 driving Polk Monitor 4's w/peerless tweets
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited April 2013
    The monitor 4's were my favorite out the series. Wish I never sold mine.


    image.jpg
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited April 2013
    image.jpg
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    So get them is what I infer...
    Will update soon.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    DSkip wrote: »
    Not sure what he is asking, but the drivers alone should be worth more than his asking price. You've easily got $100+ in parts w/ those tweeters.

    I'm not worried about how much they worth pricewise when I sell them.
    Just wanted opinion on their sound.
    Only reason why I was interested was due to peerless tweeters.
    I have later versions of 4's that sound good but nothing I would go hunt for.

    Anywho, I got them for one peerless' price. :biggrin:
    They have matching serial numbers.
    Here are pics.

    Polk Monitor 4 with Peerless (6)-small.jpg


    Polk Monitor 4 with Peerless (4)-small.jpg

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited April 2013
    If you sell them let me know.
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    leroyjr1 wrote: »
    If you sell them let me know.
    Will do.

    So far listening to them tells that they have excellent highs and mids but lows are completely lacking.
    Very bright sounding speakers.
    In general, I have found peerless tweeter is brighter than SL2000 and other later versions.
    It may not have that 12kHz hump like SL2000 but is brighter.
    I have 3 pairs with peerless and find them brighter than other Polks.

    Paradigm 3se are little bigger but sounds like a subwoofer compared to these but sounds much relaxed as the highs are not as bright as Polks.
    So definitely needs a sub for proper listening but may work very well in my townhouse as the less bass, the better here.

    Polk Monitor 4 and Paradigm 3se (3)-small.jpg

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2013
    DSkip wrote: »
    The fact that you continually say that Peerless are harsher than SL2000's dumbfounds me. I'm not saying your ears or your opinion are wrong, its just so against what everyone else has experienced, including myself.

    Not harsher, overall brighter.
    After a while, ears get used to it but back and forth they sound brighter.
    Monitor 7's and 10's both have peerless and same experience.
    Also, I hear some sibilance on peerless that's not as pronounced in later tweeters.
    SL2000 may be harsher due to that peak in 12kHz but otherwise very good.
    But my listening environment is not ideal so don't take it as a standard.

    BTW, I have a question.
    Grills of 4's have a small round opening on the bottom and a wide opening on top.
    One had it upside down and now I'm confused which end is up.
    It fits both ways.
    If I put the round opening on the bottom, tweeter on top is right below wide opening constricted by the grill kinda looks weird.
    Thanks

    Polk Monitor 4 with Peerless (10)-small.jpg

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,212
    edited April 2013
    Those are nice!! I always wanted to get my ears on the small ones..
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,611
    edited April 2013
    Attachment not found.I have these qnd they dont sound too bad for there size
    ..
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,371
    edited April 2013
    From my findings, Polk made the Monitor 4 from 1982-1985, though With Peerless I would narrow it to 1982-83.
    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • HTguru1982
    HTguru1982 Posts: 1,066
    edited April 2013
    Wow, I thought I was crazy. I owned this version of the Mon 4 with the Peerless tweeters and I too felt that they were very bright. Not necessarily harsh or piercing but incredibly bright. The SL2000's that were in my other Monitors(RTA12, 7) sounded pretty laid back in comparison. Still a great speaker in it own right. Wish I still owned them....
    Display: Sony 42" LCD
    Sources: Harman Kardon DVD-27,
    Panasonic DMP-BDT110 blu ray player
    AVR: Sony STR-DA2400ES
    Amps: Sonance Sonamp 260(fronts),
    Kenwood KM-894(surrounds)
    Fronts: NHT 2.5
    Center: NHT VS-1.2A
    Surrounds: NHT Super One
    Subwoofer: SVS PB10-ISD
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  • hagus667
    hagus667 Posts: 2
    I am fairly certain that I have these very speakers. I inherited them from my big brother years and years ago. They have served me quite well, but one of them has been staticky and cutting out for a while now. Any idea what that might be?
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited March 2015
    Try switching the left speaker to the right channel and the right speaker to the left channel. Does the static and cutting in and out follow the speaker or stay with the channel? Also try swapping the wire you're using from one speaker to the other, does the static and cutting out follow the wire or stay with the speaker?
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    hagus667 wrote: »
    I am fairly certain that I have these very speakers. I inherited them from my big brother years and years ago. They have served me quite well, but one of them has been staticky and cutting out for a while now. Any idea what that might be?

    Maybe the receiver needs some DeOxit.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • hagus667
    hagus667 Posts: 2
    It's definitely in the speaker, though. When I switch the speaker wire it happens in the same speaker...
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    edited March 2015
    What about if you switch the speakers to opposite channels on the receiver/amp?

    Do both the tweeter *and* midwoofer have static or just one or the other?

    Move the good drivers to the bad cabinet. Is there still static? If yes, rebuild the crossover. If no, replace the drivers. If switching the speaker to the opposite channel fixes that speaker, as in the problem follows the left or right channel on the receiver/amp and not the speaker then your electronics need repairs.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • guidosan39
    guidosan39 Posts: 3
    I have a pair with peerless for sale
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  • CGTIII
    CGTIII Posts: 1,067
    I placed M4s with Peerless with some senior friends. Used a sub with Yahama receiver crossover at 60 Hz. Sounded very clear - not harsh or bright to me.
    Expect that there will be bumps in the road. Choose to not let them rattle you.

    Polk - Monitor 10As, SDA 2Bs, LSi9s, White RTi4s, S4s, M3s, various centers.
    Boston - CR7, CR6s, CR4s.
    Subs - M&K V4, M&K VX-7B, JBL SUB150P, Jamo Sub 250, and others.
    ​Thompson Adventures, Inc.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,389
    guidosan39 wrote: »
    I have a pair with peerless for sale

    Try ebay you can't sell them here with less than 100 post

    Welcome to club Polk stick around you'll get to 100 in no time
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  • MrMeeseeks
    MrMeeseeks Posts: 1
    I have a pair of these really like them
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  • StantonZ
    StantonZ Posts: 443
    skrol wrote: »
    From my findings, Polk made the Monitor 4 from 1982-1985, though With Peerless I would narrow it to 1982-83.
    Stan

    Close...but no cigar. I purchased my Monitor 4's (with Peerless) in the summer of 1981, so I'd say you're off by at least a year on the front-end. B)
    Yamaha RX-A2050 AVR (5.0.2); LG OLED77C2 4K TV
    (4) Polk Monitor 10B's w/SoniCaps, Mills, and RDO-194 tweets (R/L F/R)
    (2) Polk RC80i (Top Middle)
    Polk CS300 center channel
    Analog: B&O TX2 Turntable, Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1
    Digital: Pioneer CLD-99 Elite LD, Panasonic DMP-UB900 UHD Blu-Ray
    Bedroom: Arylic Up2Stream AMPv3 driving Polk Monitor 4's w/peerless tweets
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,371
    StantonZ wrote: »
    skrol wrote: »
    From my findings, Polk made the Monitor 4 from 1982-1985, though With Peerless I would narrow it to 1982-83.
    Stan

    Close...but no cigar. I purchased my Monitor 4's (with Peerless) in the summer of 1981, so I'd say you're off by at least a year on the front-end. B)

    I'll update my documentation. I while back I started documenting the Polk vintage speakers and posted a draft here "Vintage Polk Audio.pdf" or something like that. The date was probably an estimate.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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