RTA - 12C's? Thoughts?

xjghost

Ok so I'm getting into a bad habit of searching Polk Audio on Craigslist.... Found these:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/ele/4367172549.html

Ok are these worth $200? I would think yes. Last thing I need is another large speaker that isn't a Monitor 12. However, for the money these don't look too bad. Seems like they are the grandfather to the Monitor 10's?

brgman

Wonderful speakers.
Offer less but if everything works and the cabinets are nice why not?
Upgrade the tweets and if you want mod everything.
Great sounding and will take a lot of juice.

bugsnt

I think they're worth it ...
I have a pair and they sound a bit cleaner and clearer than my Monitor 7s.
On a well recorded track - the imaging is very good.

The only thing is that the bass is not as boomy as my Monitor 7s.
Maybe more accurate to the original recording... not sure how I can describe it.

Good Luck if you go for them.

drumminman

Just had a quick look at those and they look pristine. Even have the L-R stickers on the back. I'd say $200 is a fair price for those, but I'd offer $150.

I'd buy 'em if I didn't already have a pair. They're the top of the monitor line and sound better than anything below them, including Monitor 10's and 7's.

They respond very well to mods. They'll sound good as they are now, but the caps are pushing 25-30 years old so they should really be replaced with modern film caps. Upgrading the resistors to Mills non-inductive wire wound is a cheap, easy upgrade and will make a nice improvement.

xjghost

You guys are a BAD influence! Trying to figure out when we can get together and give them a listen.

Mystery

Nice speakers.
I sold mine for $225.

xjghost

Going to Raleigh this weekend and decided to see what was around there and found this: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ele/4311960925.html

Mystery

xjghost wrote: »

Going to Raleigh this weekend and decided to see what was around there and found this: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ele/4311960925.html

Overpriced.
For $21 more, RTA-12C's are much better.

xjghost

Mystery wrote: »

Overpriced.
For $21 more, RTA-12C's are much better.

Agreed but the 12c's are not going to be good rear speakers for my surround amp with my 10's as mains. Not to mention I doubt I could find the room with out a major rearrange of the house.

xjghost

Ok so I traded some emails with the guy that has the 7's. Just got this and made me wonder if he is on here:

"just re-confirm a time before then. I have done some work with the crossover, they sound very good already. the polypropylene capacitors usually need about 15 to 20 hours to brake in. i cannot go down in price. please make sure you are happy with this before you show up.
looking forward to spinning some vinyl with you on saturday regards Lawrence"

Not sure I understand the brake in comment.

Mystery

He meant break in.
New components need around 200 hours (theoretically) to achieve their best performance.
Unless he used expensive capacitors, I think price is still high.

trav0810

xjghost wrote: »

Agreed but the 12c's are not going to be good rear speakers for my surround amp with my 10's as mains. Not to mention I doubt I could find the room with out a major rearrange of the house.

No, but the 12C's would be great mains with your 10's as surrounds!

xjghost

trav0810 wrote: »

No, but the 12C's would be great mains with your 10's as surrounds!

Yea I live in a small brick house so idk how I'd make that work. Current plan is to listen to the 7's Saturday in Raleigh after my watching my Niece play Lacrosse, then come through Rock Hill and audition the 12c's. I don't need them but IF I like them both I'll bring them BOTH home..... like I said you guys are a BAD influence!!!!!

xjghost

Ok on the 7's:

"Polypropylenes and also most caps for that matter will give you their ful, potential after a few hours of use, the rate of charge, discharge, storage....etc improves. I mean for a total use of 15 hours, not everytime you use them. Ive put some Tweetercaps audiocaps.
The brake in time is no big deal, i was just mentionning that you will get better response and warmth after a few hours."

Ok so thoughts?

Mystery

PP caps are cheap as well as expensive.
Without brand/model, can't say.
I upgraded 7A's for less than $20 with PP and electrolytic combo.

jon s

Another factor... What kind of amp are you going to use to drive them? The RTA12s need a lot of power to perform at their best...

xjghost

jon s wrote: »

Another factor... What kind of amp are you going to use to drive them? The RTA12s need a lot of power to perform at their best...

ATM I really haven't gotten that far. If I get them I'll likely put them in the bedroom for now as a low playing system. I listen to music when I sleep and well "entertain!" If not I can always put them in the vinyl system with the hafler 500 and start looking at reworking my SDA 3.1 TL's. Like I said I have an inexpensive Denon surround receiver that my 10's are the mains with a polk center and a AR sub. The dream of a surround system has been a work in progress. It's ok but I have nothing for rears. Which why I was looking for 7's. I guess I should pass, but... how often do these things come up especially in my part of the country.

Mystery

Question is how often RTA-12C's come up in any part of the country?
M7's come up quite frequently but RTA-12's are very rare.
There were only two pair in last 3 years and I've seen at least 20 monitor 7's in Denver area.
I myself had 5 pairs of M7's.

xjghost

Mystery wrote: »

Question is how often RTA-12C's come up in any part of the country?
M7's come up quite frequently but RTA-12's are very rare.
There were only two pair in last 3 years and I've seen at least 20 monitor 7's in Denver area.
I myself had 5 pairs of M7's.

I might be wrong but none of the vintage polk's are plentiful around me from my searches. There is another pair of 7's on the Raleigh board but that guy wants $250. WTF? I was reading up on the 12's some last night. What is the planer woofer? Is that an active woofer or passive like the 10's I have? Personally I hope I can get him off the price some for the 7's but he doesn't sound like a dealer. I was thinking no more then $150. And that is because it's what I want to pair my 10's with for my HT system. Hell IF I could do it I'd use the SDA for mains and my 10's for rears!

Mystery

Rta-12c have passive radiator.
If you are tight on space, these are better option than sda.

xjghost

So I sent him an email:

"I'd like to get a set of 7's but I think the price is a bit too high for what I'm looking for. Are you dead set on $180?"

His response:

"May be not. I have a somewhat unorthodox idea here. Do you consider yourself an audiophile? If it is not too much time and trouble, id like you to drop by for a 25 minutes listening session. I will play one piece of music only.
Here is the chain: I will be spinning a 175 dollars Japanese half speed master (live recording) on a 25 pounds rig, with a 200 bucks cartridge, through a tweaked amp, Kimber wires, in an accoustically treated listening room? I ll play this one piece of music. If you can convince me this is not the best sound you have heard this month, ill give you 25 bucks discount.
Let me know
Lawrence"

Personally idk if I'm an audiofile or not. I like music. I like movies. I like it loud! I guess that makes me a rocker?

TennMan

Here should be your response: "Bring them over to my house and we will connect them to the gear that I will be using to drive them and lets see how they sound. If I like them I will buy make you an offer and If I don't I will give you $5.00 for gas money."

What they sound like in your house is what really counts. Not how they sound with all his high dollar gear hooked to them at his house.

Mystery

Just email him this:
I'd like to get them for surrounds to my Monitor 10 fronts.
My offer is $150 (if that's what you want to pay) for them and if you get any better offer, don't hold it for me.
Let me know.
Thanks

*******************
Then wait. I'm sure after few days, that price will work out just fine.
If you show too desperate, seller don't budge and price is not that great so I don't think he is getting any other offer above that.

TennMan

Oops. I didn't notice he was in Raleigh. My response to him was off base. Sorry.

xjghost

Ok went and got them today.

xjghost

Ok, after giving it some thought I think these will either become the mains in my HT system or go in my BR for a small system there. I need a suggestion on an inexpensive used amp or receiver that would work for these at normal listening levels. My SDA's with the Hafler have become my go to rock out speaker. While they need some upgrades, what polk of this era doesn't?, I'm not ready to start that adventure. If I put these in the den for the HT I'll put the monitor 10's in my BR. So what is out there that is less then say $200 that I could get to listen to radio and an iPod on?

drumminman

The RTA 12B's/C's are pretty efficient, but absolutely love high current power. My C's are the front L-R mains in my HT and do quite well being powered by a Carver TFM-42. Just about anything will get sound out of them. Anything in that price range is probably going to be vintage and may need a re-cap.

drumminman

The RTA 12B's/C's are pretty efficient, but absolutely love high current power. My C's are the front L-R mains in my HT and do quite well being powered by a Carver TFM-42. Just about anything will get sound out of them. Anything in that price range is probably going to be vintage and may need a re-cap.


Here's a possibility if you can stretch your budget a little:

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/ele/4320748432.html

xjghost

drumminman wrote: »

The RTA 12B's/C's are pretty efficient, but absolutely love high current power. My C's are the front L-R mains in my HT and do quite well being powered by a Carver TFM-42. Just about anything will get sound out of them. Anything in that price range is probably going to be vintage and may need a re-cap.


Here's a possibility if you can stretch your budget a little:

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/ele/4320748432.html

And I'm a sucker for a hafler too....... ugh!

Faustin

I am running my 12c's on an Adcom GFA 555 and a GTP 50011. I currently have the 555 in the shop for some service (caps replaced etc) and have been running the 12c's on a Yamaha CR 2020 that has been serviced and is in pristine condition. It is around 110 watts at 8 ohms and around 140 - 150 watts at 4 ohms. I have things set up in a large living room with vaulted ceilings and if I turn the Yamaha up to 3, it is more than my ears can handle after a couple of minutes. The adcom does seem to add more punch and bass but using the Yamaha has been a pleasant surprise.

xjghost

Faustin wrote: »

I am running my 12c's on an Adcom GFA 555 and a GTP 50011. I currently have the 555 in the shop for some service (caps replaced etc) and have been running the 12c's on a Yamaha CR 2020 that has been serviced and is in pristine condition. It is around 110 watts at 8 ohms and around 140 - 150 watts at 4 ohms. I have things set up in a large living room with vaulted ceilings and if I turn the Yamaha up to 3, it is more than my ears can handle after a couple of minutes. The adcom does seem to add more punch and bass but using the Yamaha has been a pleasant surprise.

That Yamaha is about what I'm looking for. It's just a little rare it seems. I guess that is what I'm asking and wondering. I do CL and eBay searches all the time. Just was looking for some ideas on what to look for.