Do you still own your first pair of Polk speakers?

rru2s

Yes. 10s, purchased in 1979. Built my own wood stands, tilted. Replaced tweeters at least three times, 6.5 inch midrange a couple times. Finally retired them this Xmas and my son has them in the basement with a couple other 15 inch floorstanding speakers. Kind of shakes the house down there.

When I'm in the mood someday I'll replace the blown speakers again, but I just got tired all around of replacing things on vintage equipment. In 2000 I repaired my ADC soundshaper, my 180wpc Spectroacoustics 202 power amp, and the Polk 10s, and over a mere 7 years every piece of equipment went bad again -- power amp, 2 speakers, EQ was never fixed right, plus my Advent 300 went out, too. No more patience for repairing 30 year old vintage equipment.

So at Xmas I bought an Outlaw RR2150, 100wpc quality receiver, a pair of Monitor 70s, a 130w sub, and loved all of it. Plus I haven't even turned the volume up past 9:00. I tell myself that I can't afford to lose any more hearing since I'm 50. However, I think I have caught the bug for more bass power, thinking of a 15 inch now.

sg7677

Still have my SDA-CRS's that I bought around 1987 or 1988. They still work great. I have never abused them nor overloaded them. I have taken the front grill off only a handful of times. They have some dust on them but no nicks or scratches. I had thought of selling them a few times but now am glad I didn't. They are perhaps the best speaker that Polk made for small to medium sized apartments and even smaller rooms in homes. Since then, I have acquired a pair of SDA 1C's and a near mint pair of SDA 2's. All of the SDA's that I have are the later models; the SDA CRS's with the single tweeter and the SDA 1C's having the two vertically mounted tweeters and the SDA2's having a single tweeter in each enclosure.

I would absolutely love to find another pair of later model SDA 1's for my bedroom, but I would settle for another pair of CRS's.

lakesailor

I was at an after hours invitation only demo. night at the local dealership to hear the Polk Rep. demo the then new SDA series. I was very taken with them; however the rep. told me that the 11T utilized the same drivers and in his opinion were the better deal in the Polk lineup. I special ordered a pair in Black Ash finish and have loved them ever since.

I originally ran them on a Denon PMA 900 Integrated Amp for years until I upgraded to an SAE component system. The 11T’s really responded nicely to the extra power and I cringe on what I will need to spend to find a pair of speakers that will outperform them.

jazzisnumberone

RTA 12 C's (400.00). I've owned them since 1988. That's 20 years of Polk excellence. I also own the CS400 (170.00).I bought that one in 2003. They are in the front end of my HT. I dont even have to say how GREAT they sound.

Treker-1701

Back in the early '80's I auditioned the Polk line at Hudson's Audio in Albuquerque, NM, and fell in love with the Polk Monitor 10's. However, at the time they were out of my price range, so I ended up with a pair of used B&W DM 220's instead.

Fast forward to the late '90's. Two of the drivers on my B&W DM 220's had died and replacements were no longer available. So now I am in the market for new speakers. I went out and auditioned some of the new speakers available at the time and just could not find something that really said "Buy Me!" Then I got to thinking about speakers I had auditioned in the past and had really liked, which led me back to thinking about the Polk Monitor 10's.

I jumped on e-bay just to see what might be available. Man, not only were Monitor 10's available, there were several pairs listed. So now I could actually find some vintage Monitor 10's without having to just run across a pair in the local classifieds or something.

I picked up a nice pair of Monitor 10A's off e-bay in about 1999 or so, and have had them ever since. In the past 9 years I have had to replace 2 of the 6.5" mid-bass drivers with new units from Polk, but they have been going strong ever since. I love these vintage Polks!

Later,

Treker

prosdds

I bought my first and only pair of Polk Speakers in 1987 while stationed at Camp Zama Japan. SDA-SRS for $2153.00. Still going strong 21 years later.

ryboltroad

and which amp would you like?

deserteagle

I wish! I started out with some 10b's? then moved up to the 2.3's then the 1.2's I really miss those days really wished I would've told the x wife NO! Anyone on these boards from Kalispell Montana that still have my 1.2's plz sell them back to me along with my Sumo and carver amps. I remeber listening to yello and just melting in my chair for hours on end. With the speakers spiked to the floor and bolted to the walls the bass was incredible and accurate. The staging was amazing to say the least.

lakesailor

deserteagle wrote: »

I wish! I started out with some 10b's? then moved up to the 2.3's then the 1.2's I really miss those days really wished I would've told the x wife NO! Anyone on these boards from Kalispell Montana that still have my 1.2's plz sell them back to me along with my Sumo and carver amps. I remeber listening to yello and just melting in my chair for hours on end. With the speakers spiked to the floor and bolted to the walls the bass was incredible and accurate. The staging was amazing to say the least.

I spent a summer working in Kalispell; mind you that was over 20 years ago. didn't find any Polk's around in those days.

hotrodfeguy

Bought them new in 91 Monitor series 2

Refefer

So, er, my first Polk speakers were a pair of R30's I got off of Fry's for a total of $120 shipped.

My sister and her fiance currently have them as I've moved up the ladder a little bit

jimiles

Yes, I still own the RTA 15TL speakers that purchased from Great Sounds in Muncie IN during my freshman year at Ball State in 1992. The guys in my dorm worshiped them like the monoliths in 2001 a Space Odyssey!

timswim78

I got introduced to Polks with a pair of R30's that I got for $55, shipping included, from Fry's in 2004.

My first real pair was LSI9's that I got on Craigslist.

Yes, I still have them all.

howie461

SDA 1A's bought in 1985, or 86 carried them from North Dakota to Korea, to Forida, Guam, and various states in between. All stock, why mess with perfection. Survived 2 floods, look like hell, but Miles Davis couldn't sound sweeter

StevieB

SDA 2B's bought in late 80's, still going strong!

SpeedyFE

I just bought my first POLKS a couple days ago, so I still have them My dad has owned a pair of RTL 11TLs since he bought them new and I grew up with those. Great speakers!

deserteagle

lakesailor wrote: »

I spent a summer working in Kalispell; mind you that was over 20 years ago. didn't find any Polk's around in those days.

Actually there was a stereo shop right on main street next to the JC Penny's that was a Polk dealer. I bought mine back in 91 so maybe they were not there in 88.

geoff727

1st pair (Monitor 5B's): Yes, but about to be upgraded for a friend.
2nd pair (Monitor 10B's): Yes, they're screaming for attention.
3rd pair (SDA-SRS 2's): Nope, destroyed in shipping.
4th pair (SDA-1C's): Yes, I couldn't bear to part with them at this point.
5th pair (SDA-SRS 2.3tl's): Yes, I don't think I can part with these either.

xpecoach

I've had my 11T's since 1990 and will never give them up!

mgilson

Bought my Polk RTA12's in 1981 & still using them with a NAD 1130 preamp & 2155 amp

doctor r

Monitor 7B with Peerless
Bought new in 1978 with a NAD 3020 and an Optonica RP 3636 table. The 7Bs are still in my 2 channel system with new drivers and upgraded crossovers and the Optonica is still spinning vinyl with sweet results. EL 34 bliss has replaced the NAD but what a system they originally sold me!:D (Insurance money from my dad's homeowner's insurance - first system Dynaco pre and power (that I built), Rotel table and Synergistic speakers stolen while at college)
Rick

cfrizz

Welcome Rick!

zingo

The first Polk speaker I owned was a center channel from the early 90's, don't remember which one. It was good as my first piece, but sold it as soon as I got my hands on my CS350, and have never looked back...

cubdog

First pair were RT10s, late 90s. Still use them today for computor speakers.

cubdog

hangon

Monitor 10b's and still adding to my collection.
The 2.3tl's are the latest addition to my collection.

Jstas

Heh, this thread has been here a while, huh?

First set was EX401's without grills. Bought them sometime in 1995 from Crotchfeel...I mean Crutchfield. Yes I still have them and they are still in the location I put them when I first got them. They've been abused and over-used in the 13 years I've owned them and they will work just peachy! A little faded but 100% operational.

But as for home speakers, first set of Polks was from Zero, I purchased his old SDA 2B's from him. Drove down to his house in VA to get them. I don't remember how long ago that was but it had to be 2002-2003 time frame. Those are being stored now but I will likely not get rid of them since they are a very rare "Signature Series" with PR's signed by the man himself! They need new grill fabric but that is a simple thing to do and I might take the caps off and refinish them at some point too. Otherwise, they are in perfect working order with a crossover and all and still have the SL2000's too! They've been displaced by Amazings which I drove a distance equal to the distance traveled for the 2B's only to upstate New York to get them from BobMcG...in February...when it was 7 degrees out...and snowing.

I only have two pairs of Polk home speakers but 9 pairs of car audio speakers and 6 subwoofers from Polk Audio.

ajcutler53

I originally bought a pair of Polk 10s after I graduated from College in 1975.

On February 10th, 1983, I bought a pair of Polk SDA-1 speakers and hooked them up to a Hafler DH-101 preamp and a Hafler DH-200 poweramp (still have both amps). I listened to the SDAs for hours the next day as there was a major Northeastern Snow Storm and I couldn't get to work (what great weather timing). I then sold my Polk 10s to a friend.

When the SDA-1 to SDA-1A upgrade came out, I drove to Polk Headquartesr in Baltimore, talked to one of the Engineers and picked up the kit and did the upgrade. I was impressed how much better the SDAs sounded after the upgrade.

Today the SDA-1As live in my living room and particpate in a 7.1 surround system providing sound for my CD and DVD music and for DVD movies.

rs2962

Yes, I have my Polk 10s purchased in 1980. Just took my Harmon/Kardon 680i in yesterday for repairs. My friends love my old system. It rocks!

upsman917

I still have my SDA2's after 18 yrs. just like new. I believe that I may be due for a tune up though. My tweeters cut out sometime just started a year ago, moved over to my Dyna Audio speakers until I figure it out. Anyone know? My Amplifier equipment is a Yamaha MX1000U amp, AVX100U pre-amp, which are working fine.

Face

upsman917 wrote: »

I still have my SDA2's after 18 yrs. just like new. I believe that I may be due for a tune up though. My tweeters cut out sometime just started a year ago, moved over to my Dyna Audio speakers until I figure it out. Anyone know? My Amplifier equipment is a Yamaha MX1000U amp, AVX100U pre-amp, which are working fine.

It's the poly switches in the crossover, they need to be replaced.