Overpriced Franken Polks

EndersShadow
EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
edited March 2014 in The Clubhouse
My oh My this looks bad...

http://evansville.craigslist.org/ele/4361701295.html
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
Post edited by EndersShadow on
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,676
    edited March 2014
    WOW. They butchered them :sad:
    ..
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited March 2014
    1) I've gotta say, I was drawn like a moth to a flame by a thread titled "overpriced Franken Polks" -- fairly quivering with anticipation and morbid curiosity, I was.

    2) well... yeah... not quite as the factory intended... but... those appear to be actual ribbon tweeters hacked in there. Might actually be interesting... if they were crossed over and padded down properly. I realize it's not bloody likely (and I cannot really evaluate the price objectively on "newer" - from my perspective - Polks), but I am not 100% sure I'd write 'em off. Now, if someone had hacked in a couple of the Goldwood (CTS knockoff ) "lemon juicer" piezo tweeters, it's be a different matter altogether ;-)
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  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited March 2014
    The automotive equivalent
    Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited March 2014
    Can't agree with Mark here. The appearance is cringe-worthy. It's like you've eaten something rotten and you can't wait to spit it out and wash your mouth out! YUCK!

    cnh
    Currently 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]
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  • Tornado Red
    Tornado Red Posts: 939
    edited March 2014
    Timothy Smith wrote: »
    The automotive equivalent

    Before this pic was posted, you should have framed it with 'spoiler alert'...
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited March 2014
    Tornado Red wrote: »
    Before this pic was posted, you should have framed it with 'spoiler alert'...

    Best line of the day on teh entire webs...
    cnh wrote: »
    Can't agree with Mark here. The appearance is cringe-worthy. It's like you've eaten something rotten and you can't wait to spit it out and wash your mouth out! YUCK!

    cnh
    Maybe my sense of revulsion is blunted by the fact that I really don't know what the originals look like. I look at these and see what could be (could be, mind you!) decent ribbon (or other type of "planar") tweeters, albeit installed by someone with wood-butchering skills on par with mine. They do look like PartsExpress Dayton or Beston ribbons, though - not top-end drivers... but still...

    13108866643_16a91c7b0c.jpg
    FrankenPolks 0314 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    for comparison, a current HiVi "Isodynamic" tweeter:

    rt1c-a-pm.jpg

    Mind you, the front baffle aesthetics of vintage loudspeakers weren't typically something that was typically weighted very heavily by designers ;-)

    11208619575_674f036d9b_z.jpg
    P1020559 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    13108700945_6cc2d73925_z.jpg
    AR3oneLF by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    Yes, it is true that the AR-3 above is a little beat up ;-) but the front baffle and drivers really don't look very much different on a pristine one!
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,336
    edited March 2014
    There's actually nothing wrong except the nondisclosure of the modifications which is deceptive.
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    edited March 2014
    Gotta agree with mhardy, those ribbons might make them interesting. When I saw the post title I expected something much worse. Looks like the tweeter hole was enlarged for the ribbons, which would make it difficult to return them to their original state.
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited March 2014
    A-ha!

    13108866643_16a91c7b0c.jpg
    FrankenPolks 0314 by mhardy6647, on Flickr


    http://www.swanspeaker.com/product/htm/view.asp?id=13

    RT1E-P Isodynamic Tweeter
    rt1e-p-pm.jpg

    yeah, I know... I need a hobby.
    Actually I have actual work I should be doing :-P
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited March 2014
    Well... I was thinkin' maybe I should have one that didn't involve staring at a computer for hours at a time.
    Maybe beekeeping.
    Building covered bridges.
    Crafting artisanal raisins.
    Lobbying for really obscure political causes.

    You know, something like that.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,694
    edited March 2014
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Crafting artisanal raisins..

    I'd go with this we really need those in the market place....
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,337
    edited March 2014
    At least they are only RTA-8T's, and not a set of 2.3 tl's..

    More power to them for trying, IMO!!
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,786
    edited March 2014
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    At least they are only RTA-8T's, and not a set of 2.3 tl's..

    More power to them for trying, IMO!!

    Hey, I love my 8t's. Best $30 I've ever spent :wink:
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