Imbalanced sound - suspect tweeter problem with RTA11t

zappem2000

Hi all, new here and from sunny Singapore not USA

Got a pair of RTA11t from what i can gather from google searchers as i cant find any info on Polk Audio website itself.

I think one of my tweeters are having issues as the sound i.e. female vocals seem to be coming more from the left speaker. Any idea how to get replacements? I believe the tweeter is a SL2000. I have read that there are new replacement tweeters for this silver SL2000 called the RDA-0194? Do they match the crossover in the 11t?

Much appreciated for any inputs here.

Tks!

candyliquor35m

RTA 11TL question: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64015

Problem with SDA-1C: http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63993

cambir

Welcome to the forum. There have been a lot of ? regarding this model lately, so I would try the search function.

I can't really help you with your tweeter question, but try here to help identify your Polks:
http://www.polksda.com/

zappem2000

i am pretty sure they are the RTA 11Ts. There is website with pictures and all: http://www.polksda.com/rta11t.shtml

I took out the tweeter and it is a SL2000. SO from what i read the replacement from Polk are the RD0194-1s. Any idea if Polk ships them still and do they do overseas?

candyliquor35m

Please be aware that the rd0194 is not sonically the same tweeter as the sl2000.

If you currently like the way your tweeters sound then the rd0194 may sound like crap to your ears or you may find them very pleasing. Used sl2000's are readily available on here and sometimes on ebay. They usually go for $20-$30 shipped to anywhere in the usa.

F1nut

Before you do anything else you need to check if the tweeter is actually bad or if it's the polyswitch, which is a thermal reset device in the speakers that protects the tweeters from damage. They can go bad after many years. Simply swap the tweeters, if the problem follows then you have a bad tweeter. If the problem stays with the right speaker, you'll need to replace the polyswitch. It's best to replace either both tweeters and/or both polyswitches.

The RD0194-1 is a vastly superior tweeter compared to the old SL2000. I'm not sure about Polk shipping overseas. Do you have an authorized Polk dealer is your area? If so, I'm sure they could order them for you.

BTW, the polyswitch part # is RDE 050A.

zappem2000

Tks for the tips. I have in fact switched both tweeters around and the problem follows the tweeter

polk is slow to reply emails...i think i will give them a call once their office opens on Monday to see if the 194s can be shipped to Singapore.

george daniel

congrats and welcome to club polk. When you get the new tweeters, be sure to save the gaskets as you will need to use them with the new replacements. Have fun and enjoy.

candyliquor35m

Also be sure to only install 1 tweeter first and then listen to it for about 1 month before installing the other one. This will allow you to do a side by side comparison between the new tweeter (rd0194) and your current tweeter (sl2000).

This is the only way to know which one sounds better to your ears.

good luck.

F1nut

By installing one SL2000 and one RD0194-1 you're never going to get a true sense of either tweeter. Just another bad idea. If one wants to here the differences between them, listen to one set, then the other.

candyliquor35m

Once again, I look forward to your opinion after you've tried the side by side comparison. This is the best (only) way to compare 2 tweeters. I've had incredible results with putting a cap on the sl2000 which tames the highs a bit but retains the open airy smooth silky highs that the sl2000 is known for. This saved me $800 by not having to replace the 16 sl2000's in my 3 pairs of polks.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?&attachmentid=30823

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31246

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63676

F1nut

Carl, you just don't get it and I suspect you never will despite the overwhelming facts that what you're doing totally screws up the entire high frequency spectrum. Cutting all response above 12kHz is not fixing the problem, period. Now, you want to have people test one tweeter in each speaker, which again, totally screws up what you are hearing. You end up hearing a little of both, but not what each tweeter sounds like individually. I suppose you're going to suggest turning the balance from one side to the other (if someone has a way of doing that), but that will not give a true sense of what they really sound like either as full left or right balance cuts out certain information. Another fact you've failed to grasp. The only way to truely hear the difference is to swap all the tweeters as I suggested, although it's a waste of time as the RD0's are vastly superior.

I'll ask you again to please stop giving out bad advice for the good of the forum.

candyliquor35m

Since you haven't tried the cap or did a side by comparison of the 2 tweeters then you wouldn't know.

I try not to comment on anything I haven't personally tried.

When I do a side by side comparison, I mostly walk from one speaker to the other and instantaneously and accurately compare the two. Yes I also listen right in the middle but that tells me very little.

danger boy

swapping out tweeters is pretty easy... to really get the full effect of what tweeters can do and how they sound when played in stereo, you need to use both of the same kind at the same time.

F1nut

candyliquor35m wrote: »

Since you haven't tried the cap or did a side by comparison of the 2 tweeters then you wouldn't know.

I try not to comment on anything I haven't personally tried.

When I do a side by side comparison, I mostly walk from one speaker to the other and instantaneously and accurately compare the two. Yes I also listen right in the middle but that tells me very little.

Again, you are ignoring the indisputable facts of the matter. Please stop.

You have no idea what I have tried, but I guarantee, it's more than you have and some crazier stuff too. Therefore, I can say, without a doubt, that what you're doing does not work.

cfrizz

CL, while I have no problem with keeping the original SL2000 tweeter if a person likes how they sound, you obviously didn't read the OP comments. One of his tweeters is kaput. Therefore, it makes the most sense to order the new replacements from Polk change out BOTH & then sit back & enjoy his speakers.

All of this endless debate about the SL2000 tweeter is just ridiculous! Instead of shoving the (SL2000 tweeter should be replaced at all costs) down everyones throat, people should at least wait until someone comes in & complains that the tweeter is annoying to them & then tell them about the replacement.

Until I joined this forum I had no idea that some thought that the tweeter wasn't good. I have always enjoyed how it sounds. I'm sure others also enjoy it as well.

Not everyone feels it necessary to tinker & pull apart speakers to upgrade, so telling some newbie to ALWAYS do this upgrade is possibly counterproductive.

candyliquor35m wrote: »

Also be sure to only install 1 tweeter first and then listen to it for about 1 month before installing the other one. This will allow you to do a side by side comparison between the new tweeter (rd0194) and your current tweeter (sl2000).

This is the only way to know which one sounds better to your ears.

good luck.

candyliquor35m

cfrizz wrote: »

Instead of shoving the (SL2000 tweeter should be replaced at all costs) down everyones throat, people should at least wait until someone comes in & complains that the tweeter is annoying to them & then tell them about the replacement.

Until I joined this forum I had no idea that some thought that the tweeter wasn't good. I have always enjoyed how it sounds. I'm sure others also enjoy it as well.

Not everyone feels it necessary to tinker & pull apart speakers to upgrade, so telling some newbie to ALWAYS do this upgrade is possibly counterproductive.

I agree 100%

tonyb

The rta line is getting up there in age.If you are going to keep these for a while,doing the tweets and polyswitches are probably a good idea.Otherwise,use it as an excuse to upgrade your speakers.Gotta tell the wife something,right?

cfrizz

LOL Tony!

Well for me, the day my 18 yr old RTA-8T's lose a tweeter or driver I will be shopping for a new pair of speakers. I'm not into taking things apart & hoping I put them back together correctly!:eek:

That was the whole reason I went out to Goodwin Audio with Mark. (Bagged Lancer)

If they go before Polk markets a LSi tower speaker whose weight I can manage, I will purchase these.

http://www.dynaudio.de/eng/systems/lines/focus/focus220.php?sid=430f2e4e47441

tonyb wrote: »

The rta line is getting up there in age.If you are going to keep these for a while,doing the tweets and polyswitches are probably a good idea.Otherwise,use it as an excuse to upgrade your speakers.Gotta tell the wife something,right?