A project for 2018: Compendium of Polk Audio ads, etc.
mhardy6647
Posts: 33,799
Lucky for you all that I am:
1) retired
2) generally pretty lazy when it comes to anything not involving a keyboard and many, many ones and zeros
3) kind of obsessive at times
A current Cable thread mentioned the Polk Audio Cobra Cables -- which got me looking for ads featuring those rather infamous amplifier-immolators
Fortunately for folks like me, there is an amazing resource of magazine, catalog and other scans dating back to the beginning of radio/audio available at www.americanradiohistory.com
One of the single best collections there is a nearly complete set of scans of issues of Audio
magazine (successor to Radio and initially called Audio Engineering).
I started leafing through scans, checking the advertisers' index pages for Polk Audio.
There, are, of course, many ads over the years -- some unfamiliar to me (or forgotten by me... it was the 'seventies, after all!).
I figured it would be fun and maybe even interesting to start a thread on the Polk Audio legacy in advertisement (and/or reviews) as I make my way through these old magazine scans.
Feel free to contribute, too, if you like!
I hope this is interesting to someone besides me.
Here's the earliest Polk ad I have found (so far, at any rate) in Audio magazine.
March 1975
Source: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Audio/70s/Audio-1975-03.pdf
1) retired
2) generally pretty lazy when it comes to anything not involving a keyboard and many, many ones and zeros
3) kind of obsessive at times
A current Cable thread mentioned the Polk Audio Cobra Cables -- which got me looking for ads featuring those rather infamous amplifier-immolators
Fortunately for folks like me, there is an amazing resource of magazine, catalog and other scans dating back to the beginning of radio/audio available at www.americanradiohistory.com
One of the single best collections there is a nearly complete set of scans of issues of Audio
magazine (successor to Radio and initially called Audio Engineering).
I started leafing through scans, checking the advertisers' index pages for Polk Audio.
There, are, of course, many ads over the years -- some unfamiliar to me (or forgotten by me... it was the 'seventies, after all!).
I figured it would be fun and maybe even interesting to start a thread on the Polk Audio legacy in advertisement (and/or reviews) as I make my way through these old magazine scans.
Feel free to contribute, too, if you like!
I hope this is interesting to someone besides me.
Here's the earliest Polk ad I have found (so far, at any rate) in Audio magazine.
March 1975
Source: http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Audio/70s/Audio-1975-03.pdf
Comments
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Thanks for the link. Found this on page 83!
RACK MOUNT MARANTZ EQUIPMENT:
10-B Tuner S725;
21 9 Amplifier $395 ea..
7-C Preamp $325.
Standard Chassis Models.
10-B $695;
7-C $275.
McIntosh MC240 Amps $115 ea.
SDA SRS 2.3TL's
Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
SDA 2B TL's -
August 1975:
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More, MORE, we must have more!
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I'm workin' on it...
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That is cool! I was 10
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I bought my Model 7As in 1978
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Hey Mark, cool stuff! Did a little googling on the address in the first ad - 431 Notre Dame Lane. The home was known as the Gallagher Mansion. Evidently, it was at one time owned by a car dealership - Sherwood Ford.While Sherwood owned the property, two entrepreneurs rented part of the mansion and started Polk Audio there.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-06-18/business/1995169028_1_gedco-mansion-notre-dame -
so - this is what got me started on this quixotic quest
I was looking for the genesis of the Polk Audio Cobra Cables. In terms of Audio magazine ads, that occured, obliquely, in July 1977.
A college friend of mine bought a pair of them in roughly that time frame, using them with a GAS Son of Ampzilla amplifier & a pair of original Polk Audio Monitor Series Model 10 loudspeakers. The Son didn't mind them at all.
What I didn't remember, but which I now infer from the "paper" record is that the name of those somewhat infamous cables was apparently pretty metastable early on. To wit:
August, 1977:
"Soundwire"
October 1977:
"Sound Cable" [ sic ]
December 1977:
"Soundcable"
Interesting.
Anyone remember that "fluid drive" Oasis tt? I sort of do...
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I noticed that too, but I didn't search it until I saw your post. There's quite a bit of interesting background, particularly if you love Second Empire Victorians as much as I do!mdaudioguy wrote: »Hey Mark, cool stuff! Did a little googling on the address in the first ad - 431 Notre Dame Lane. The home was known as the Gallagher Mansion. Evidently, it was at one time owned by a car dealership - Sherwood Ford.
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Second Empire = New Order
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Interesting thread.Pio Elete Pro 520
Panamax 5400-EX
Sunfire TGP 5
Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
PS Audio GCPH phono pre
Sunfire CG 200 X 5
Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
OPPO BDP-83 SE
SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
Ctr CS1000p
Sur - FX1000 x 4
SUB - SVS PB2-Plus
Workkout room:
Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
Onkyo TX-DS898
GFA 555
Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
Ft - SDA 1C
Not being used:
RTi 38's -4
RT55i's - 2
RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
LSI 15's
CSi40
PSW 404 -
mdaudioguy wrote: »Hey Mark, cool stuff! Did a little googling on the address in the first ad - 431 Notre Dame Lane. The home was known as the Gallagher Mansion. Evidently, it was at one time owned by a car dealership - Sherwood Ford.While Sherwood owned the property, two entrepreneurs rented part of the mansion and started Polk Audio there.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-06-18/business/1995169028_1_gedco-mansion-notre-dame...I noticed that too, but I didn't search it until I saw your post. There's quite a bit of interesting background, particularly if you love Second Empire Victorians as much as I do!
Hmmmpf (that's meant to be a thoughtful hmmmpf, not a petulant harrumpf).
I remember Sherwood Ford -- but I didn't know the connection with Polk's genesis. -
September 1977
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Great thread!Just a dude doing dude-ly things
"Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
" I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
"Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
"Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
"Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member -
This thread is an awesome idea... if Polk won’t honor or even bother to remember their history, then perhaps this thread can serve as a humble reminder.
GREAT IDEA!!The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Thanks for the feedback -- for the record, I think that Polk's owners have done a good job of keeping some perspective on the brand's history. The "Signature Series/American HiFi" certainly reflects Polk's heritage of providing good sound at reasonable prices, and it's worth noting that the website's splash page still has Mr. Polk & friends (via a video link) on it.
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About all Polk is going to have left is their storied history.
Wait, they do have a new Alexa compatible soundbar.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
August 1978.
Lookee, the Monitor 5 has arrived!
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February 1979 -
April 1979
I remember listening to these @ Soundscape when they were brand-new-fresh
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By June of '79, the RTA-12's joined the family
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^^golden ear.
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
super cool post @mhardy6647 !!! I appreciate the time you are taking putting this together. And BTW i wish i was retired !!!Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
mhardy6647 wrote: »
April 1979
I remember listening to these @ Soundscape when they were brand-new-fresh
Man I love the RTA 12s!Just a dude doing dude-ly things
"Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
" I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
"Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
"Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
"Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member -
Polk Audio played with electrostats??? The news shocks me. Has anyone ever heard of that before?The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
I don't recall any electrostatics from Polk.
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John, where did you get that info?The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
Neither did I, but the Beveridge in the ad is just that. They appear to have been a partnership of some kind, but all I find is info on the speakers themselves and no mention of Polk when I try and look them up.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
