Heirloom Monitor 10s

MjEyes
MjEyes Posts: 6
edited April 2014 in Vintage Speakers
Hello,

I am new to this forum so a quick hello. I'd like to say that I'm by no means an audiophile or even remotely knowledgeable about audio equipment, speakers, components etc... and so on. I've been reading through the forums here and I can tell that everyone else here has more knowledge about the subject than me. I've always been told I'm tone deaf so I've never had much interest in quality (high-end) stereo equipment.

However, my father just gave me his vintage Polk Monitor 10 speakers that he bought in the seventies. The tweeters are blown and I need replacements. If I understand correctly the RDO-198-1 will work as a replacement (of the SL 2500). Is that correct? If so where's a good place to buy them?

Thanks in advance for any advice/info/help you can give.
Post edited by MjEyes on
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Comments

  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited April 2014
    1-866-764-1801 ask for Helen Yarbor, mention your a Club Polk Member $48 +tax shipping is free
    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
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  • Oldfatdogs
    Oldfatdogs Posts: 1,874
    edited April 2014
    Hello Mj,welcome to club Polk.We all start somewhere in our audio journey.Dad gave you a nice sounding set of speakers,as polkieman pointed out call they will fix you up.

    Dan
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  • MjEyes
    MjEyes Posts: 6
    edited April 2014
    Thanks much, guys. I remember my Dad loved those speakers when I was younger. When they get back to form, I can have him over for a beer and listen to some music.

    Thanks again.

    -- Matt
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited April 2014
    Welcome to CP. If he bought them in the 70s, they'd have Peerless Tweeters, not SL2000s. If they do have the SL2000 Silver Coil Tweeters (it will say silver coil on the front), then the drop-in replacement is the RDO-194-1, not the 198
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2014
    Welcome to Club Polk!

    And "always" keep some vintage Monitors around, you won't regret it.

    Oh, and you don't need a musical ear to appreciate the music that comes from them. My son couldn't carry a tune to save himself, my daughter sings like an angel and plays by ear, both love to listen to music!

    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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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited April 2014
    Pictures may help to identify what tweeters you have.
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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited April 2014
    westmassguy wrote: »
    If they do have the SL2000 Silver Coil Tweeters (it will say silver coil on the front), then the drop-in replacement is the RDO-194-1, not the 198

    How about if they have the SL-2500, as the OP stated? The 2500's were used in the Monitor 10 Series 2 version, the last of the Monitor 10s.

    To the OP - can you post a pic so we can help you be sure of what tweeters your speakers have and can direct you to the right replacements?

    Also, WELCOME to Club Polk! Enjoy the Monitor 10s. They were my first of MANY Polk Audio speakers, purchased about 25 years ago. I still have them and put them to use almost every day - awesome speakers, especially if you have the original stands with them.
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited April 2014
    teekay0007 wrote: »
    How about if they have the SL-2500, as the OP stated? The 2500's were used in the Monitor 10 Series 2 version, the last of the Monitor 10s.

    To the OP - can you post a pic so we can help you be sure of what tweeters your speakers have and can direct you to the right replacements?

    Also, WELCOME to Club Polk! Enjoy the Monitor 10s. They were my first of MANY Polk Audio speakers, purchased about 25 years ago. I still have them and put them to use almost every day - awesome speakers, especially if you have the original stands with them.
    Yeah missed that. Got hung up on the 70s thing. 198s are the correct replacement for the SL2500, but they weren't around in the 70s
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • Mr. Bubbles
    Mr. Bubbles Posts: 736
    edited April 2014
    welcome to the forum. Lots of knowledgable people here. Listen to them and learn a lot. Enjoy the vintage Polks.
    If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress?!


    Monitor 5Jr, Monitor 5, RTA12, RTA 15TL, SDA 2A, 1c, SRS 2, 1.2TL, CRS, Atrium.
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  • MjEyes
    MjEyes Posts: 6
    edited April 2014
    westmassguy wrote: »
    Yeah missed that. Got hung up on the 70s thing. 198s are the correct replacement for the SL2500, but they weren't around in the 70s

    I believe westmassguy is correct. These speakers were definitely bought in the 70s. I believe my Dad had replaced the tweeters once before as my younger brother had this habit of blowing them out. I was looking at specs for the 1990 versions of the monitor series, I believe. Admittedly my knowledge here is seriously limited.

    Again, thanks everyone. This forum is greatly helpful as are the people here.

    --Matt
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  • OldmanSRS
    OldmanSRS Posts: 419
    edited April 2014
    Oh man. Those are piezo super-tweeters from Radio Shack.
    '65 427 Shelby Cobra
    '72 Triumph TR-6
    __________________
    '88 Polk SDA SRS 1.2, with upgraded XO caps and Erse SDA inductors
    '86 Polk SDA CRS+
    '84 Polk Monitor 10A (Peerless tweeters)
    '05 HSU VTF-3 Sub (Original OEM)
    '20 HSU VTF-3 Sub (three more, 100% cloned)
    '93 Carver TFM-35
    '88 Carver M-1.0t
    '88 Adcom GFT-555
    '88 Adcom GFP-555
    '88 Adcom GFA-555 (upgraded/restored)
    '88 Adcom GFA-555 (a second one upgraded/restored)
    '05 Onkyo DV-555 media
    '89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix
    '89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix, internal surround amp bridged to drive only a center channel
    '91 Kenwood Basic M1D Amp
    '89 Pioneer Laser Disc media
    '89 Sony SuperBeta HiFi media
    One PGA2310 based custom built remote volume control
    Four Polk T-15's
    Four Polk TSi-200's
    Four Polk TSi-100's
    Two Polk CS-10's
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited April 2014
    The correct tweeter is the Peerless. They pop up on eBay, but Midwest Speaker sells a clone, 8 ohm version, which several members have used, and had good results. Faustin, chime in here.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • MjEyes
    MjEyes Posts: 6
    edited April 2014
    OldmanSRS wrote: »
    Oh man. Those are piezo super-tweeters from Radio Shack.

    I Know, right? They'll get done correctly this time. I'm gonna get them back to pristine condition or as close as possible.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,441
    edited April 2014
    MjEyes wrote: »
    I believe westmassguy is correct. These speakers were definitely bought in the 70s.
    --Matt

    Looking at the surround gaskets leads me to believe the same. Those (gaskets) weren't used long so yes in agreement Peerless tweeters and Midwest speaker would be a good place to start for new tweeters that for all intent and purposes will be a much better match for those XO's

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peerless-Copy-8-ohm-Tweeter-Replacement-for-Polk-ADS-/150364380186?pt=US_Speaker_Parts_Components&hash=item23026a5c1a
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited April 2014
    You'll also want to check and clean the binding posts, and fuse blocks. Some DeoxIT wouldn't hurt. The fuses should be 3/4 amp AGC Fast-Blow if memory serves.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited April 2014
    They certainly could be from the '70s, but if so they're quite late 1970s -- earlier Monitor Series speakers used "SuperVelcro" to hold on the grilles rather than slotted plastic pegs as these do.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,802
    edited April 2014
    Original Monitor Series Model 10 with "Super Velcro". Note the uncoated paper passive radiator.

    11208619575_f5d7a8bcf2_o.jpgP1020559 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    (much) later Monitor 5 family member -- with the "Silver Coil" tweeter & the plastic grille pegs.

    11208624684_1b0900317e_b.jpgMonitor5 by mhardy6647, on Flickr
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  • BKphoto
    BKphoto Posts: 409
    edited April 2014
    I have 2 peerless for sale...one is on ebay now the other has not been listed yet
    Marantz 1152 DC- Denon DP 1200, Soundsmith Carmen MKII- ADS L980 - Blue Jeans IC's
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  • bugsnt
    bugsnt Posts: 78
    edited April 2014
    I hope you do restore them to their original glory.
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  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
    edited April 2014
    westmassguy wrote: »
    The correct tweeter is the Peerless. They pop up on eBay, but Midwest Speaker sells a clone, 8 ohm version, which several members have used, and had good results. Faustin, chime in here.

    I have used the Midwest Peerless clones in a variety of vintage Polks...5a, 10a, 4a, RTA12c. I honestly cannot hear a difference between the original Peerless and the clones. I just got my Adcom 555 amp back from servicing and a new Marantz cd player and will be spending some time comparing RDO-194, Peerless and the clones in the RTA12's to try to come up with a good comparison. If you can find a nice pair of Peerless for the 10's....go for it. You will then have the driver compliment as Polk intended. Then for the mods....
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited April 2014
    Faustin wrote: »
    I have used the Midwest Peerless clones in a variety of vintage Polks...5a, 10a, 4a, RTA12c. I honestly cannot hear a difference between the original Peerless and the clones. I just got my Adcom 555 amp back from servicing and a new Marantz cd player and will be spending some time comparing RDO-194, Peerless and the clones in the RTA12's to try to come up with a good comparison. If you can find a nice pair of Peerless for the 10's....go for it. You will then have the driver compliment as Polk intended. Then for the mods....
    To the OP, he know of what he speaks...
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,101
    edited April 2014
    Nice. I love my 10's. Those look more like later model 10's. I don't recall which I have but I know mine were bought in the late 80's. '88 or 89 IIRC and those look a lot like them.
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • dkfreebird
    dkfreebird Posts: 1,186
    edited April 2014
    Yes The monitor 10's sound awesome,after reading this post I got mine out to listen to them,have the original model 10's with the super velcro fronts,good luck with the restore
    2 Channel
    Polk 1.2tl's Modded with dreadnought
    Musical Fidelity M6Si
    North Star Intenso Dac
    Auralic Aries Mini Streamer
    Oppo 103
    Pangea PC
    Wireworld Equinox 7 interconnects
    Wireworld Equinox 7 Speaker Cables and Jumpers

    Backups 2.3tl, Crs+ pin/blade with stands.Monitor 5 peerless,Monitor 4 peerless,Polk R200,McCormack Dna 0.5 Deluxe McCormack Dna 1,Dared Sl 2000A,Dayens Ampino Rogue Magnum 66 pre
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  • MjEyes
    MjEyes Posts: 6
    edited April 2014
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    They certainly could be from the '70s, but if so they're quite late 1970s -- earlier Monitor Series speakers used "SuperVelcro" to hold on the grilles rather than slotted plastic pegs as these do.

    Yeah, 1978 to be exact. I remember my Dad buying them and carrying them to his car.
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  • MjEyes
    MjEyes Posts: 6
    edited April 2014
    bugsnt wrote: »
    I hope you do restore them to their original glory.

    I've been working twelve hour shifts at night so my ability to post responses has been non-existant for the most part. However, I did get the new tweeters, installed them & they sound fantastic. Everyone here has been terrific, I couldn't have done it without your knowledge and enthusiasm. Thank you all.

    -- Matt
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  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    edited April 2014
    Great, did you find some originals, or did you go with something else?
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
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