My new RTA 11t's

davidfmartin
davidfmartin Posts: 106
edited February 2008 in Vintage Speakers
Hello all!

I just purchased a pair of RTA 11T's last night for 200.00 in perfect condition. I currently have them hooked to a Sonic Impact Super T-Amp and they sound great but I'm now thinking they would make a great starter to a home theater/man cave. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on current or past polk products that would match well with these? I would like to add a center channel and two surrounds.

Thanks!
My journey: http://www.1414audio.com/
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited January 2008
    The first thing you may want to do is to order new RDO 194 tweeters from Polk and tell them you are a member of Club Polk. @$102.00 shipped to your door in 2 days via fedex.

    I have a pair hooked up to a $15.00 Radio shack amp and they sound really good. I had them also hooked up to a 2 channel 100 watt Yamaha receiver and they did not sound good. No synergy. I have also hooked them up to my 2 channel integrated and they sounded awesome.

    I would buy a CSi5 center channel to match with them and feed them some decent power and sit back and enjoy.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited January 2008
    Nice score. Welcome to the club!

    Pics please.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited January 2008
    As your speakers are RTA 11TL's any of the Polk speakers using the SL3000 or the new replacement, RD0198-1 will mate well with your 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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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited January 2008
    I had the same speakers paired with the same amp. Amazing how well they work together.

    I rebuilt my crossovers with Solen Caps, Mills resistors, new bases (with spikes), and the RDO tweeter others have mentioned. Noticable improvement.

    They are GREAT speakers.

    Welcome to the Club!
    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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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited January 2008
    Halo,

    What amp?
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • davidfmartin
    davidfmartin Posts: 106
    edited January 2008
    Here is the amp I am using.

    http://www.amazon.com/Sonic-Impact-Super-5062-Amplifier/dp/B000GLQK20

    Here is the review at 6moons.

    http://6moons.com/audioreviews/sonicimpact2/t2.html

    I will take some pics tonight and post.
    My journey: http://www.1414audio.com/
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  • davidfmartin
    davidfmartin Posts: 106
    edited January 2008
    What will the RD0194-1 do to improve the sound?

    I haven't had much time to listen to all of my test material but the quick review is that Coltrane's "Blue Train", sounded good to great, Norah Jones vocals sounded awesome, and Led Zepp's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" made me wish that t-amp had an 11. I did notice the highs were a bit (very light) harsh, more time will tell on this.

    I'm glad to be a member club polk. I didn't get this same feeling from my B&W's, they don't even have a club.
    My journey: http://www.1414audio.com/
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited January 2008
    The silk domes are smoother. Will cut down on the harshness you refer to hearing.
    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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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited January 2008
    MillerLiteScott wrote: »
    Halo,

    What amp?
    Link

    31WSKF4YJ6L__SS500_.jpg
    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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  • John in MA
    John in MA Posts: 1,010
    edited January 2008
    I'm a little surprised a 15W amp can drive these things properly. I ran mine with a 40WPC Rotel and it sounded OK but not great. I realized why when I switched to a larger amp with output meters and at higher listening levels I was drawing in the 60-80WPC range with ease.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2008
    Don't worry davidfmartin, there are some of us here who love B&Ws too. Congrats on the Real Time Arrays, I've always wanted a pair...
    Jake
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited January 2008
    Welcome David. You bought a great set of speakers. I have a pair of 17 yr old RTA 8T's with the original tweeter. I love mine just fine.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited January 2008
    cfrizz wrote: »
    Welcome David. You bought a great set of speakers. I have a pair of 17 yr old RTA 8T's with the original tweeter. I love mine just fine.

    +1 My 8T's sound fine to me as well.
    Welcome aboard David.
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  • davidfmartin
    davidfmartin Posts: 106
    edited January 2008
    Thanks everyone for being so helpful and kind! As promised here are the pics. The final one kind of shows the temporary place in our living room I have given them, while waiting for the completion of the man cave. They fill the room quite well with 20 ft vaulted ceilings!

    Btw, I have been sampling more stuff and Pink Floyd "Breath" from Dark Side of the Moon almost made me cry it sounded so good!
    My journey: http://www.1414audio.com/
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited January 2008
    I think those are TL's. Which are better than the T's.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • davidfmartin
    davidfmartin Posts: 106
    edited January 2008
    I wish! It says rta 11t on the serial number tag.
    My journey: http://www.1414audio.com/
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  • John in MA
    John in MA Posts: 1,010
    edited January 2008
    Your wish is granted. Your speakers have SL3000 tweeters and the little baffle strips. That means TL. Polk skimped on the labeling with these things.

    I have a set of 11Ts. First Polk speakers I ever owned, loved the sound.
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited January 2008
    WOW! Those are a great looking pair of polks. And TL's to boot. Nice find.
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  • davidfmartin
    davidfmartin Posts: 106
    edited January 2008
    Is there another way to validate that these are tl's? There is no marking other than the polkaudio logo on the tweeter. Does Polk have a way to verify by serial number some where on their site? If they are TL's I think I got a really good deal at 200.00 for the pair.
    My journey: http://www.1414audio.com/
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  • John in MA
    John in MA Posts: 1,010
    edited January 2008
    The 11T came with SL2000 tweeters and no baffle strips. Your tweeters are either SL3000, or less likely a newer silk-dome replacement. You also have the baffle strips.

    If you wanted to you could also compare crossover component values. The tweeter, strip, and a couple of different parts on the board were the only difference.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2008
    The speakers look great, but why are they behind the couch?
    Jake
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited January 2008
    Scott is correct. They are, without a doubt, RTA 11TL's.
    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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  • davidfmartin
    davidfmartin Posts: 106
    edited January 2008
    zingo,

    The picture is kind of deceiving. The speakers actually have open space in front of them. My plan is to move them to my basement as part of a second home theater/gaming room as soon as that project is complete in about a month. They will then have ample room to breath!
    My journey: http://www.1414audio.com/
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited January 2008
    davidfmartin wrote: »
    Is there another way to validate that these are tl's? There is no marking other than the polkaudio logo on the tweeter. Does Polk have a way to verify by serial number some where on their site? If they are TL's I think I got a really good deal at 200.00 for the pair.


    The ARE TL's they have the sl3000 tweeter which designates them as TL's plus the fact they they have the tweeter diffuser. If you are real adventurous you can go here

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38755

    and look at the schematic for the RTA11 TL and pull your x-over and compare the parts to verify. But visually they are TL's. The sl3000 is a better tweeter than the sl2000 (which were in the "T" version) and fixes the shortcomings of the sl2000 which included a nasty +5dB peak at approx 15kHz which made them sound harsh and have an unnatural resonance.

    H9
    "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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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2008
    davidfmartin wrote: »
    zingo,

    The picture is kind of deceiving. The speakers actually have open space in front of them. My plan is to move them to my basement as part of a second home theater/gaming room as soon as that project is complete in about a month. They will then have ample room to breath!

    That sounds lovely!
    Jake
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  • cubdog
    cubdog Posts: 835
    edited January 2008
    Welcome David. I'm glad your getting some answers. Beautiful speakers btw.

    cubdog
    Shuguang Classic S8MK
    Emotiva XDA-2
    Bel Canto M300 mono blocks
    Bel Canto DAC 1.5
    Squeezebox Touch
    Sony SS-M7
    A/D/S L710
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2008
    I had three pair of 11t's and one pair of TL. The TL was the only one that came in a cabinet that didn't have beveled edges. The t's didn't have the "wing" below the tweet or the 3000 tweeter either. Yours are TL.
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited January 2008
    George your are right. I never noticed the TL's were in a box type cabinet and did not have the bevel edge.
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited January 2008
    Hello everyone. Polk sent me 8 Grill Pins for model RTi4, 6 or 8. I asked them to send me pins for my Monitor 7cs. I guess they got confused. Anyway I am giving them away to anyone who wants them, firts themst one to respond to this gets them. Polk is sending me the correct pins, (I hope).

    Thanks
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2008
    Scott, it's a real puzzler isn't it? Why go to the trouble of "improving" the speaker if you're going to possibly introduce more variations by changing the cabinet. By changing the cabinet to one that has historically been more problematic at that!
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