Whats the Difference between the RTA-8T & RTA-8TL models?

PTSLUGGO

Its been awhile since I posted,Been awhile since I
Had a go at some more polk speakers.
Im trying to find the difference between these two models.On the polksda vintage list,the button for the
8TL model is dead.There are 8TL's about 30 miles from me and Im trying to do alittle research on them.
Any one with Impedence and Spec ratings to pass along,I would be grateful!
Thanks-Sluggo

danger boy

if i remember right, it's the tweeters that are the difference.. the TL being Tri Laminate tweeters.. the T being other tweeters. i don't know which that would be.. but knowing that Polk used the SL2000 tweeter for many different models of speakers.. I would venture to guess that alot of the RTA8's came with the SL2000 tweeter. which is a silver coil dome tweeter

PTSLUGGO

Thanks for the info,Its rare that I find Polks Locally
and hope to have them this weekend!

heiney9

Just to clarify.

RTA-8T & RTA-8TL are both taller slender floor standers. Each has 2 midwoofers with a tweeter sandwiched in between. This is called a D'Appolito array. The cabinet is ported.

The difference is the "T" version uses the sl2000 tweeter which is basically a metal composite tweeter and had a +5dB spike at about 13kHz.

The "TL" version is identical except it used the sl2500 "trilaminate" tweeter which is of different material and no longer exhibits the +5dB spike at 13kHZ.

A pretty nice speaker. There are 2 other larger RTA models 11 and 15 which are even better yet.

Good luck getting them you should like them.

H9

heiney9

Look here. The 8T is identical to the 8TL except the tweeter so these specs can be used for both models

http://www.polksda.com/rta8t.shtml

cfrizz

I've had my RTA-8T's for 17 yrs & love them. They sound as good now as they did back when I first bought them.

Actually they sound better with 200wpc or more being fed to them.

Some don't like the SL2000 tweeter & change it out, I have never had a problem with how mine sounds.

Good luck & let us know if you get them.

Welcome back!

PTSLUGGO

Thanks guys,
I spoke with the seller again and he has two pairs.
He wants to keep one pair,so I would get to have my pick.I didnt ask about serial numbers,He seemed sad
about parting with them and it was being forced by
a Move out of state.
I use my SDA-1A's for 2 channel listening and was thinking of using these as part of my 5.1 set up.
Im excited,supposed to meet tomorrow!

Ron Temple

I'm checking out a pair of 8Ts right now...Steve dropped off the schematics as well. The tweeter differences are as noted, also, the TL uses the 6516 driver vs. the 6510 in the 8Ts. I have no idea what sonic differences this creates, but I can say the 8Ts surprised me at how good they are. Go get them.

PTSLUGGO

I met the seller of the RTA-8tl's today for the pick up!
He was nice enough to meet me halfway and on time
even.He was the original owner and said he bought them new 14 years ago.He bought a house 10 years
ago that had In/Wall speakers,so the 8TL's
were put in storage.The cabinets are like new(Black)
Both grill covers like new also.The midwoofers
and tweeters are intact and look close to new!
I hooked them up to a NAD 3140 with a AMC CD
player to Jean Luc Ponty's Cosmic Messenger~
Right on,Really nice sounding speaker,Great score!
I dont know where to put them yet and will have to do some juggling.I put them on top of my SDA-1A's
for now.They look pretty cool with their grill covers off together,But wont stay there.
Thanks for the posts everyone,I am a Happy man!
Mark.

cfrizz

Congrats & don't forget to post PICTURES!!!!

PTSLUGGO

I broke my camera recently crossing a creek,
But Im in the look for a new one and will post
some pic's soon.Ive hooked them up to my 5.1
HT system and rented a movie to see how they do!
Thanks for the congrats!

PTSLUGGO

Here are Pic's from the Old CL post that will work-
http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/ele/377913500.html

george daniel

PTSLUGGO wrote: »

I broke my camera recently crossing a creek,
But Im in the look for a new one and will post
some pic's soon.Ive hooked them up to my 5.1
HT system and rented a movie to see how they do!
Thanks for the congrats!

Now that sounds like something that I would do,,care to share the story?:)

PTSLUGGO

I almost gave the guy another $20 out of guilt,
But he was happy they were in good hands
and I promised to use them and not just flip them!
And sure George,Click on this link to a map of the
Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/olym/maps/mainmap.jpg
On the top left of the page is Cape Flattery.
It is the farthest Northwest in the Continental U.S.
One can venture on land.Just south of cape flattery
and the Makah Indian reservation on the coast
is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world
(Shi Shi Beach and the point of seven arches)
There is a creek that emptys into the sea there
and after a rain you have to try and rock hop across.
The camera came flying out of my pocket and smashed on a rock.Lesson-Carry camera in backpack
or strap around neck,O.K.!
Shi Shi's only a 2 1/2 hour drive from where I live
and everytime I go there,I do want to leave!