where to start
TNWANNABE
Posts: 8
I am trying to decide on a set of older Polk speakers to restore. This will be my first project of this type so I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion or advise for a newbie.
I have looked at some Monitor 10 and RTA 12's on craigslist.
These speakers will eventually be used as front mains in a HT / music room, i'd like to start with something that I could pair with other projects in an attempt to put together a decently matched set.
any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have looked at some Monitor 10 and RTA 12's on craigslist.
These speakers will eventually be used as front mains in a HT / music room, i'd like to start with something that I could pair with other projects in an attempt to put together a decently matched set.
any help would be greatly appreciated.
Best Answers
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Welcome TNWANNABE. Good to see a new member from Tennessee here!
- SDA 2BTL · Sonicaps · Mills resistors · RDO-198s · New gaskets · H-nuts · Erse inductors · BH5 · Dynamat
- Crossover upgrades by westmassguy
- Marantz 1504 AVR (front speaker pre-outs to Adcom 555)
- Adcom GFA-555 amp · Upgrades & speaker protection added by OldmanSRS
- Pioneer DV-610AV DVD/CD player
- SDA CRS+ · Hidden away in the closet
- SDA 2BTL · Sonicaps · Mills resistors · RDO-198s · New gaskets · H-nuts · Erse inductors · BH5 · Dynamat
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Talk to Westmassguy....he will have all the information you need as well as some you dont
Polk SDA 1C Upgraded, Eastern Electric Minimax Supreme DAC, Parasound HCA 1200ii, Belles 21a Preamp, Rotel RSX-1056, Matricom G Box Q, Blue Jean & Signal Cable interconnects, Sonographe SG-3 TT, Panamax M4300-PM -
I will second the SDA 2b suggestion, I have them in my HT rig and they sound great.Yamaha RXA1030, Yamaha CD-S2100, Yamaha AS-2200, Bluesound node 2i
Polk SDA2btl highly modded
Polk SDA 1C modded
Polk CS350 LS x2
Kimber 8TC
Sony 55" Bravia
Wish list SVS sub -
I used 2b's with Cs400i center with Monitor 4's for rears with great results. I have never used 10's for HT but one would think it would sound pretty good...
Budget may very a bit...
With SDA's you may want to add a amp to better the SDA's. Placement should be considered also-where SDA need proper placement & Monitors are more flexible...
I ran the 2b & 1c's without a subwoofer & enjoyed it. I was using a Yamaha RXV1 avr with Denon POA2200 @220wpc+ ...
I never tried this but Monitor 7 fronts & 4's rears w/Cs400i or bigger center channel would be a nice set up
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EDIT::,Welcome to Club Polk TNWbe..
Answers
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a new one for the list thanks
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no one likes the RTA 12's?
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I have a pair of RTA 12's that have been completely redone inside and out. Crossovers rebuilt with all the suggested mods plus the cabinets re veneered in cherry. They look and sound fantastic. Great bass and open airy highs. I currently have them paired with a Silk Audio MC100 tube amp. I actually listen to them more than my SDA 1c's. What kind of price can you get the 12,s for?
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I have some Monitor 10's and really like them, but agree with Skip if you step up to SDA speakers the interconnect cable and design fixes the cross talk and takes every to a new level on enjoyment
Though if Faustin was closer I'd pick his RTA12's up in heartbeat! what a awesome restore he gave them -Kudos to Faustin!2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD -
A guy in Spartansburg has a set for $175.00 but there is an obo at the end. I was going to offer him like $125.00 they need work and top hats. I may look around and see if I can find some of the SDA's that need an overhaul.
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I was looking on this site awhile back when I saw the pics of Faustin's rta12's. Never seen a speaker that looked that nice. I guess that's why I am leaning in that direction.
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Welcome to Club Polk.
You are already experiencing the best of what this Forum has to offer!
Good luck on your "odyssey."Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
As Dskip mentioned, finding the top hats will be tough. I recently saw a pair of 12b's near me (Chicago) for sale for $250 with the tophats. I took my tophats apart, hand washed the grill cloth and re-glued the supports. They are like new again. I have spare top mounted cross overs, but no spare tophats. Thanks Voltz for the compliment. I am going to redo my 7's in the same wood after the 1st of the year. I will post my progress when I begin.
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12C's for $125 or even $175 is a good deal. They sound very similar to the SDA 2B but without the massive soundstage. Easier to fit in with other speakers in a home theater set up if you ask me. I think they're pretty ugly myself (top hat or not), but YMMV, or it might not be important once you start listening.
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You must be willing to spend some bucks if you want to do 12's ( a crap load of caps to do) I spent 580+ just on the caps on my 12c's. Just saying for your first attempt. But I love the 12c's , having said I started with 5jr+'s ( they worked great in a 5.1 system I had.Main Rig:
Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
MIT exp 1 ic's
Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
AQ kingcobra ic's
OPPO 83 CDP
Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
ADS L1590/2 Biamped
MIT exps2 speaker cable -
As Dskip mentioned, finding the top hats will be tough. I recently saw a pair of 12b's near me (Chicago) for sale for $250 with the tophats. I took my tophats apart, hand washed the grill cloth and re-glued the supports. They are like new again. I have spare top mounted cross overs, but no spare tophats. Thanks Voltz for the compliment. I am going to redo my 7's in the same wood after the 1st of the year. I will post my progress when I begin.
Do you have any pics of your tophat rehab? The frames of mine are coning apart. -
ken brydson wrote: »The frames of mine are coning apart.
Mine too. I don't think they look too ugly but the top hats aren't attractive even when in pristine condition, IMO. I wish there were a way to make the top hats look a little... less like they do? I also wish I knew somebody in CO that could fix mine. I don't trust myself and considering they aren't for sale in excellent condition every day...
I would also like to ditch the risers being smaller than the cabinet look and have the full size of the cab extend all the way to the floor.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
.[/quote]Do you have any pics of your tophat rehab? The frames of mine are coning apart.[/quote]
I do not have any pictures of the work I did on the tophats. They were really pretty easy to work on. If yours are like mine. the fitted fabric is held on to the frame with a rubber spline pushed into a groove or channel around the bottom and back of the frame. Similar to the way a window screen is held into the frame. I just started at one end and carefully pulled the rubber spline out of the channel to remove the fabric. Once that is off you will be able to see how the frame is put together, The 2 front plastic frame supports are the ones I re-glued. The rest of it is screwed together. I don't remember what kind of glue I used. Nothing too exotic. Once everything was cleaned and dry, it was just a matter of putting the spline back in the channel to hold the fabric in place. It is a little tedious but not very hard. You can buy an inexpensive tool made specifically for screen repair. Between that and a small screw driver the job can be completed. If the fabric is torn and needs to be replaced, you will have to find someone that can reproduce it. Hope this helps.
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Wish mine had the rubber spline. Mine have like a million staples...
eye candy 
