Bad driver in an RT12

jmolendorp

I was just given a pair of Polk RT 12s. They sound great but I jsut noticed that one of the speakers has a driver (the lower one) that crackles. I assume that I need to replace it. I looked at the club parts list and it looks like I need a MW7010 driver, is that correct?

Also is that something that a person can replace themselves or do I need to take it to a dealer.

I have been a polk owner for 15 years and still have my orignal Monitor 5 Jrs. and they still sound great. I am hoping to get a theater going with those as my rears. I just need to get these RT12s back sounding great.

I have also heard of people upgrading the tweeters in the RT12s to trilaminates I believe they said. Any suggestions on that front.

soiset

First, no, you don't need to take it in for repair. It is only a matter of removing the screws retaining the driver in the cabinet, disconnecting it, and connecting the new driver and putting it back in the cabinet.

Second, the driver is an MW7010, and Polk has plenty of them. Special price for Club Polk members: $60 inc. shipping, but not tax if applicable.

Third: I don't know which sound you would prefer in tweeters. I guess that the sl5501 that comes stock is a black silk dome, with a bucking magnet on the back for close placement to CRT televisions. If you really want to try tri-lams, I have some sl6500's to sell. They are the same trilams as in the RT16's, but without the bucking magnets.

Also, you may try removing the woofer in the RT12 and rotating it 180 degrees in the hope that the voice coil will realign enough not to rub and "crackle". It would be a free, if perhaps not permanent fix.

jmolendorp

I tried rotating the driver and it worked!!!!

Should I expect the problem to return?

Thanks for the great tip.

soiset

That tip is per Ken S. of customer service. I don't know if the problem will return. If it does, you have two options: first, rotate it again, second, get a new driver. Please let us know if the problem returns, and let me know if you want to try those tri-lams.

jmolendorp

I love the Tweeters in my Monitor 5 Jrs. Maybe I just have bad taste, or it is what I am used to.

It seemed to me that the 5 Jrs created a slightly better sound stage but I need to listen some more.

Also, What would you suggest for a center speak to pair up with the RT12s?

soiset

Using your RT12's as fronts, it would depend on what tweeters you use. If you stay with the silk domes, use a center with a silk dome. Currently, though, Polk is recommending a CSi5 to go with the RT12. So if you want an older (used and cheap) center, I'd look for something comparable to that. Just don't use anything with a tri-lam tweeter unless you swap yours out.

If you are plenty eager to go tri-lams across the front, I can sell you two trilams and a CS350LS together.

emcrites

I chose the CS245 to match with my RT12's. Sounds great!

Ethancf

Upgrade your RT12's black domes with Trilams...you won't regret it. I am still running RT16's on my front stage with a CS350LS and RT12's with upgraded Trilams for my surrounds pushed with Parasound gear. I've had it all running for a few years now and am not looking to upgrade anytime soon.

jmolendorp

Just thought I would let everybody know, that after more than 3 years, the driver is still sounding great. It has not acted up since.

Thanks again for the advice.

Vette C6.r

Look at e-bay. They have the TL tweets. That is what I put in mine. They are the tri-lam's too. $40 for the pair.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Major-Brand-SL60...item53e018929b

donpato

Hi, I have same problem, my 14 year old RT 12s have worked great all these years until now that I get this crackling from one driver under certain circumstances.

Where can I get a new Polk MW7010 driver? On ebay there is a guy offering new MW7009 and a new MW7013. Can those be used also?

Best Regards

jmolendorp wrote: »

I was just given a pair of Polk RT 12s. They sound great but I jsut noticed that one of the speakers has a driver (the lower one) that crackles. I assume that I need to replace it. I looked at the club parts list and it looks like I need a MW7010 driver, is that correct?

Also is that something that a person can replace themselves or do I need to take it to a dealer.

I have been a polk owner for 15 years and still have my orignal Monitor 5 Jrs. and they still sound great. I am hoping to get a theater going with those as my rears. I just need to get these RT12s back sounding great.

I have also heard of people upgrading the tweeters in the RT12s to trilaminates I believe they said. Any suggestions on that front.

donpato

I just took out the driver and found out the model is MW8103,

donpato wrote: »

Hi, I have same problem, my 14 year old RT 12s have worked great all these years until now that I get this crackling from one driver under certain circumstances.

Where can I get a new Polk MW7010 driver? On ebay there is a guy offering new MW7009 and a new MW7013. Can those be used also?

Best Regards

kcoc321

donpato wrote: »

I just took out the driver and found out the model is MW8103,

Hmm, Don you should pull the other drivers and check them, because the MW8103 s for the RT16 and RT20p. Per the parts list I found (see below) you should have the MW7010...I 'think' something is up...are you the original owner?

I would also call Polk CS and verify it, or other RT12 owners maybe can chime in.

Vegas Dave wrote: »

Replacement Parts

To place an order, please call 1-800-377-7655

Go back to the Specific Model Parts List for other parts.
MODEL TWEETER DRIVER SDA DRIVER BASS RADIATOR CROSSOVER
RT3 SL5501 MW5805 NA NA RE0188-1
RT5 SL5501 MW7009 NA NA RE0189-1
RT7 SL6501 MW8002 NA NA RE0190-1
RT8 SL5501 MW7009 NA NA RE0183-1
RT10 SL5501 MW8002 NA NA RE0184-1
RT12 SL5501 2x MW7010 NA NA RE0185-1
RT16 SL6501 2x MW8103 NA NA RE0187-1
RT20P SL6501 1xMW7009, 2x MW8003 NA AMP = RF0369-1 RE0369-1
RT f/x 2x SL5500 MW5806 NA NA RE0351-1

Copyright © 2003 Polk Audio, All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy at this site

donpato

I bought these speakers in 1996 in a NJ store before returning to Chile, I was wrong about them being RT12, they are RT16 I guess. I could not find the MW8103 either in ebay or in the internet. Do you have any clue where I can find that driver?
Thanks in advance

kcoc321 wrote: »

Hmm, Don you should pull the other drivers and check them, because the MW8103 s for the RT16 and RT20p. Per the parts list I found (see below) you should have the MW7010...I 'think' something is up...are you the original owner?

I would also call Polk CS and verify it, or other RT12 owners maybe can chime in.

kcoc321

Did yo call Polk CS?
Otherwise, putting up a WTB here and searching EBay is your best bet.
Goodluck