Just ordered RDO194s...

nms
nms Posts: 671
edited December 2007 in Vintage Speakers
Well I just got off the phone with Polk about ordering a pair of RDO194s, and I have to say I'm very impressed with Polk's CS!

I dealt with a very freindly gentlemen who knew exactly what I was talking about, and what's more, they should be in my mailbox by Thursday! This is what really impressed me.

I'm looking forward to getting them in and seeing what they do.
My system

"The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • read-alot
    read-alot Posts: 812
    edited December 2007
    nms wrote: »
    Well I just got off the phone with Polk about ordering a pair of RDO194s, and I have to say I'm very impressed with Polk's CS!

    I dealt with a very freindly gentlemen who knew exactly what I was talking about, and what's more, they should be in my mailbox by Thursday! This is what really impressed me.

    I'm looking forward to getting them in and seeing what they do.


    Out of the box they're good, with a few hours on them they're better.

    I'll be surprised if you don't like them.
    polkaudio SRS (rdo194 x 8)
    Dodd ELP (separate power supply)
    JC 1 blocks ( strapped )
    Rega Apollo
    MIT (speaker cables) Outlaw (ICs)

    polkaudio SDA2(rdo194x4) (front) polkaudio CRS (rdo194x4)(rear) polkaudio 400i (center)
    B&K 505
    Samsung LCD
    VIP 622
    HSU STF-2
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2007
    I should be getting mine today.

    How do they compare in brightness to the peerless and SL1000?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    Face wrote: »
    I should be getting mine today.

    How do they compare in brightness to the peerless and SL1000?

    From what I've found searching the forum, the consensus seems to be that the RDOs are less harsh than the SL2000s, but not quite as good as the peerless.

    I'm replacing SL2000s, so this is an upgrade for me:D
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited December 2007
    the RD0's are better than the peerless tweeters as well. they are top notch.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2007
    nms wrote: »
    I dealt with a very freindly gentlemen who knew exactly what I was talking about, and what's more, they should be in my mailbox by Thursday! This is what really impressed me.

    I'm glad you had a good experience with Polk CS. They are top-notch and the best in the business.
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited December 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    the RD0's are better than the peerless tweeters as well. they are top notch.
    Thanks. I guess the old lady will be getting my Monitor 7's with the Peerless and I'll keep the RD0 pair. :D
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • mlastarza
    mlastarza Posts: 32
    edited December 2007
    Ordered RD0-194s for my RTA-11ts a couple of weeks ago. Very good customer service from Polk. Even got my discount for being a member of club polk. Drop in installation, at least into RTA-11ts, although I had to do a thread search to be absolutley sure I was hooking them up correctly (black wire goes to red tweeter terminal). Speakers are 17 years old and sounding better than ever.
    MWL
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited December 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    the RD0's are better than the peerless tweeters as well. they are top notch.
    You say so db! :rolleyes: I prefer the Peerless. Tomato / Tomahto ;):) My $.02. YMMV.

    nms - congrats on the upgrade!
    read-alot wrote:
    Out of the box they're good, with a few hours on them they're better.

    I'll be surprised if you don't like them.
    +1 :)
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    Out of the box they're good, with a few hours on them they're better.

    I'll be surprised if you don't like them.

    Thanks. To my ears, my one properly working sl2000 is a little too harsh, so it sounds like the RDOs are just what I need (no pun intended).
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    edited December 2007
    Hmm, I mailed polkcs@polkaudio.com back on the 28th and never received a reply about the upgrade. Guess I'll have to call. What's the member price on the 194's?
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    JimMueller wrote: »
    Hmm, I mailed polkcs@polkaudio.com back on the 28th and never received a reply about the upgrade. Guess I'll have to call. What's the member price on the 194's?

    $48 apiece shipped. If you call in the morning it appears they'll arrive a day earlier than you expect - mine should come in tomorrow, were ordered Tues.

    OK, this may be a dumb question, but how does Polk send the tweeters? USPS? UPS? FedEx?

    Thanks!
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited December 2007
    nms wrote: »
    $48 apiece shipped. If you call in the morning it appears they'll arrive a day earlier than you expect - mine should come in tomorrow, were ordered Tues.

    OK, this may be a dumb question, but how does Polk send the tweeters? USPS? UPS? FedEx?

    Thanks!

    2 day FedEx also they add tax to the $96 and it ends up being about $105 total
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    2 day FedEx also they add tax to the $96 and it ends up being about $105 total

    Thanks. The tax thing crossed my mind once and was promptly forgotten about. :)
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • JimMueller
    JimMueller Posts: 100
    edited December 2007
    They add tax to parts shipped out of state?:confused:
    Yamaha RX-2600 receiver, Nakamichi Dragon, Mitsubishi HS-U80 VCR, Pioneer DVL-90 LD Player, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray player, Sony CDP-X555ES CD player, Carver TFM-42, Carver AV-634, Panasonic TC-P54V10 plasma, BenQ W1070 PJ, Fisher MT-90 turntable, AKG-K340 headphones, Polk SDA-1C mains, CS-400i center, FX A4 surrounds, Rti A1 surround backs
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited December 2007
    JimMueller wrote: »
    They add tax to parts shipped out of state?:confused:

    Yep.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    Just got the RD0s and man are they purty!

    I'm going to hold off installing them until I get the SDAs this Sat, and they'll go in them. Then the SDAs tweeters will go in the monitors. Musical tweeters anyone?
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • avguytx
    avguytx Posts: 1,628
    edited December 2007
    Heck, put them in the Monitors for now and play them to help get them broken in!
    Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner.
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited December 2007
    avguytx wrote: »
    Heck, put them in the Monitors for now and play them to help get them broken in!
    good idea.

    nms - congrats on the SDA's.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    nms - congrats on the SDA's.

    Thanks, but it's premature - I don't have them yet!

    avguytx - I'm tempted... Aww heck with it - where's my screwdriver?
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    Got the new tweeters in (yes, wired correctly - black wire to red terminal). Fired it up, and the same speaker still sounds fuzzy, but less so.

    So the problem is in the wiring or the crossovers. Any suggestions on how to proceed from here?
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited December 2007
    check the drivers too...

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited December 2007
    The new tweeters take at least 24 hours before they start to sound right.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    F1nut wrote: »
    The new tweeters take at least 24 hours before they start to sound right.

    This isn't break-in I'm hearing. It's only in one speaker, and the same problem was present with the older tweeters (also in only one speaker).

    The sound is kind of "fuzzy" or "hissy" from one tweeter. In lower frequencies it could be called a buzz.
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited December 2007
    In that case, I'd say you have at least one bad capacitor on the crossover board.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    F1nut wrote: »
    In that case, I'd say you have at least one bad capacitor on the crossover board.

    I just shorted the polyswitch with solder and it sounds the same, so I'd have to agree.

    But when I tired to measure the resistance of the caps with an ohmmeter, the needle would peg at zero resistance. It did this for all caps, all resistors, and even from the binding posts (entire speaker circuit). I think I'm using the ohmmeter wrong, because the speaker still works besides the "stuffy" tweeter.

    What am I doing wrong, and how can I locate the bad capacitor?

    Thanks.
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • avguytx
    avguytx Posts: 1,628
    edited December 2007
    So, with no tweeters, is there a buzz? I can't remember if I read where you noticed the sound with the tweeters not in at all. I do recall reading about covering the drivers with a pillow or something. I'm with F1 in that it sounds like something in the crossover. It does happen, that's for sure. At least with the Monitor 10's, you could get new caps (and resistors?) pretty darn reasonable.
    Richard? Who's your favorite Little Rascal? Alfalfa? Or is it........................Spanky?.................................Sinner.
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  • nms
    nms Posts: 671
    edited December 2007
    avguytx wrote: »
    So, with no tweeters, is there a buzz? I can't remember if I read where you noticed the sound with the tweeters not in at all. I do recall reading about covering the drivers with a pillow or something. I'm with F1 in that it sounds like something in the crossover. It does happen, that's for sure. At least with the Monitor 10's, you could get new caps (and resistors?) pretty darn reasonable.

    I never ran them with the tweets out, but I did do the pillow thing and it was pretty conclusive that it's coming from the tweeters. When the tweeters were covered there was no buzz.
    My system

    "The world is an ever evolving clusterf*ck." --treitz3
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited December 2007
    The polyswitch isn't going to cause a buzzing noise, basically they either work or they don't. If you have a digital VOM, you can check the capacitance, which will be marked as uF. If your VOM doesn't have that feature, you can't check them. Since at least one has gone bad, it would be a good idea to change all of them in both speakers.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited December 2007
    A VOM will not read resistance across a cap. It will indicate an open circuit.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited December 2007
    F1nut wrote: »
    Since at least one has gone bad, it would be a good idea to change all of them in both speakers.
    +1. http://www.partsconnexion.com/.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
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