Polk Audio branded tweeter with Peerless look

tat

Has anybody here seen the Polk Audio branded tweeters that look like early Peerless ones? They have those diagonal lead marks on them like Peerless, but the plate is silvery and the dome looks like a SL2000 instead of the dark silk Peerless. They are also engraved with "polk audio". Almost like a mix between the Peerless and the SL2000.

How do these rate for most ears compared to the other Polk tweets? I havent been able to find much on them. Thanks.

F1nut

Those are the SL1000's, one of the worst tweeters I've ever heard.

tat

wow! I was considering getting speakers with them, now I dunno. Can one use drop-in replacements like with the SL2000? My reading here seems to suggest I may be able to switch SL1000's and Peerless. Are they both 4 ohms? They are really that bad huh? Im eyeing some Polks with 4 of them lol! If I can drop in 4ohm Peerless and disconnect the SDA one that would be a nice option if I found I agree with your assesment.

I am guessing the 1000's are more similar to the SL2000's which were in my original Polks I loved so much. How long were SL1000's around, just a couple years I guess?

westmassguy

The SL1000 and SL2000 share the same ear fatiguing resonance peak around 12-13KHz. The replacement for both is the RDO-194-1 Silk Dome Tweeter.
The SL1000 and Peerless are not interchangeable. The Crossovers are different.
The RDO-194-1 is a drop-in replacement for the SL2000, but some modifications are required when replacing the SL1000.
The Peerless, SL1000 and SL2000 are all 8 ohm nominal.

tat

I swear my Peerless is 4ohm, 1981 vintage. Too bad I cant switch with Peerless. How does disconnecting the SDA tweeter affect loads with crossover? It looks like the later circuit is basically the same as pulling the fuse to me; true?

I didnt have issues with the SL200 when I had a new set of them in CRS+ Scored them brand new for under $600. with stands back in 1989 or so...I was under the impression they were being discontinued or the store was ending them anyhow.

I read some interview of a Polk employee who claimed the SL1000 wasnt the 1st Polk made tweeter, but that they had been copying the Peerless on their own before that on the downlow. Then he mentioned the reviewers who didnt like them were really listening to Polk tweeters for months already (bit of a stretch probably very few produced of these). He recalled having to dirty up the domes to better mimic the Peer's silk.

tat

Ill tell you these SL1000 treble spikes really grab you at first. It gets wearing but the bite really grabs your attn. and lets you know SDA is no ordinary experience with stereo. Art Pepper's Getting together just jumping out of the boxes I can almost see the sickly sweat on his brow as he dips and darts around the phenomenal rythym section from stage left.