Experts on Polk Monitor 10s please help

mpaige

Hi Everyone -

I'm new to this but have read a lot of threads over the years. I am no speaker or electronics expert by any means. I recently picked up a pair of Polk Monitor 10 series 2. I think they're Series 2 (all black with the beveled edge, made with the plywood. They look beautiful.)

Unfortunately they don't sound great. The mids sound good but the top end (treble) is a little fatiguing and a little sloppy. I listen to music (CDs) through 2 channels. These speakers are not part of a surround sound set up.

I pulled out the tweeters and they're the silver coil dome SL-2000 (common in Monitor 10s from late 80's?). I have read the replacement is the RDO-194 for these (which I assume could lead to improvement?) But I'm also reading a lot about upgrading the crossovers. I pulled out the crossover and I was wondering if these crossovers look familiar to anyone? I haven't really seen these in pictures online.

And if anyone can state "you have a Monitor 10b or you have the Monitor 10 series 2." The tweeter and the drivers have a 1988 stamp date on them.

If anyone has any suggestions on improving the treble on these speakers I would be grateful.

Thanks,
Matt

Pictures of the speakers and crossover below.

motorhead43026

I have a set of series 2 and the crossovers look nothing like those and the tweeters are SL2500's. The cabinets sure look series 2. Look on the back top right hand corner, should be a serial number tag. If series 2, it will indicate this on that tag. I don't claim to be an expert, just happen to have a pair of series 2's.

Faustin

A friend of mine picked up a pair of 10's a while back that had the SL2000 tweeters. We pulled the crossovers out and one c/o looked like yours and the other one was like other "conventional" Polk c/o's with the circuit board on plastic risers. The caps and resistors had the same values, just different design. We ended buying a set of c/o's on the bay and rebuilt them so they both matched. Also replaced the tweeters with RDO-194's from Polk. They are pretty well burned in now and he loves them. He is running them off a vintage Sansui receiver.

mpaige

Thanks for the responses. I just spoke to polk and they most likely are the 10bs but stamped 1988 probably had the more modern (flimsy) cabinets.

skrol

I think those would be a late model Monitor 10B in studio black, and rather rare. I think these showed up more often over seas and at military PX. Your crossovers have poly switches (PS1) which were not used in Series 2. Black was more common in the Monitor x Series 2 models.

westmassguy

Welcome to CP. As mentioned, the Rev 2s would have come with SL2500s, not SL2000s, and the Polyswitches were eliminated. The cabinets should be particle board, not plywood. Upgrading those crossovers will require some creative placement of the new Polypropylene Caps. I also noticed the shunt inductor is positioned wrong. It should be oriented 90 degrees from the way it is now.
If you do plan to upgrade the crossovers, then consider the SL3000/TL Modification. This will allow you to use the RDO-198-1 Tweeters instead of the RDO-194-1s. Both will fit the opening, but the 198s are a better tweeter.

mpaige

Thanks for the input. It is much appreciated. And the cabinets are indeed particle board not plywood.

voltz

here a pic of my Crossovers for my monitor 10's after Dave (westmassguy) redid them and the originals parts from the crossover sitting around them

mpaige

Update: I found some upgraded 10b crossovers (clarity caps etc.) on E*** at a reasonable price so I decided to take a shot. I also purchased the RDO-194s from Polk. The result is a fantastic sounding speaker!! These things are singing and are hungry for more. Right now I just have them on some foam monitor stands so I know if I get proper stands it should open them up even more. Thanks everyone for your help.

jwb0007

One of the great pleasures of this forum is to see the processes and results of people who clearly love the pursuit of audio excellence.

Good job on the 10s!

I recently bought a pair of 5B speakers to put in the garage for use when I am out there (have more than enough others to go around--must sell some). Anyway, as I like them as they are (meaning I have not heard or compared them with any mods), I also am attracted to the 7s and 10s, based on what I have read about them.

So, seeing precisely what you did helps me get a better understanding of things.

mpaige

In reply to Faustin above my crossovers were different as well when I got both out. Go figure. The one above was one and the other was the conventional Polk crossover. Thank you for sharing that information because I felt weird about that.

To elaborate on the sound it is night and day from before to what they sound like now with the upgraded c/o's and the RDO-194's.

Nightfall

You'll get better soundstage and imaging if you spread the speakers apart the same distance that your seating is away from them and point them anywhere from straight out to toed in, not out like you have. Experiment how with toe in until you get vocals from direct center without killing soundstage width. They should also be pulled out slightly in front of the chest of drawers.

mpaige

Thanks Nightfall. I know the set up isn't ideal currently. I know that triangle is optimum. There's some slack with the wires right now. I pull them out (widen them and toe them in a little) from the chest of drawers when I get serious (have had a couple beers on a Saturday night.) But I haven't really experimented with achieving that fantastic soundstage, yet. I will though I promise.