Picked up a pair of Polk Monitor 10Bs and some weird cable...

jon s
jon s Posts: 905
edited June 2008 in Vintage Speakers
Okay... I just picked up a pair of Polk Monitor 10Bs... I'd say the condition is a 7/10. The vinyl appears to be okay but the rear edges are peeling a bit. Are there any suggestions on what I should be looking for and any maintenance suggestions? The tweeter looks a bit transparent. Can the cabinets be easily refinished? How hard is it to remove the old vinyl? I was thinking of tryingto use real wood veneers instead of vinyl... suggestions?

Also, I got a pair of supposedly Polk speaker cables... They are green and copper colored cables with a clear vinyl sheath. The green and copper wires are very fine and look "braided" and are terminated with soldered solid core wires. I did not think Polk made cables. Are these for real?

:confused:
Post edited by jon s on
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
    Yes, Polk made speaker cables years ago.

    Here is some info on them. http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-SpkrCab.html
    "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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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2008
    Yep sell them, and get something better, and have money left over.
    Ben
    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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  • Boywonder
    Boywonder Posts: 225
    edited May 2008
    Jon: Here is a link for re-veneering monitor 10's:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61901
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    edited May 2008
    Just beware of the Cobra Cables... they are reactive (in the AC sense of the word) and some amps ('specially back in the 1970s) were unstable when loaded with them to the point of runaway HF oscillation and self-destruction. Other than that, they were pretty nice.
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited May 2008
    thanks for the link for re-veneering the polks... very informative... btw, my polk cables do not have that black "cylinder" on the end, it is bare wire on both ends...

    I am thinking of replacing the tweeters... is it best to use the same type (SL2000) or go with the 2500s? Polk customer service said it was not a good idea as the 2500 is not compatible with the 2000.

    getting back to veneering, I have decided to remove the vinyl covering and try to veneer the cabinet with Hawaiian Koa wood (see below for Koa samples) or American Walnut.

    koa3.jpgkoa1.jpg
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  • PumpkinStalker
    PumpkinStalker Posts: 16
    edited May 2008
    That is some beautiful wood, both of them! I like the Koa because it's a little more exotic and more fun to explain to people what it is!
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited May 2008
    well, here are some pics of the Monitor 10Bs.... I thought the logos are supposed to be on the grill?
    attachment.php?attachmentid=33584&d=1212281043
    attachment.php?attachmentid=33585&d=1212281043
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
    Those are clean!

    As for the logo, I have a pair of Monitor 7C's that the logo on the face like yours. They also have the SL1000 tweeter like yours do also.
    "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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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2008
    Can you give an accurate measurement of the tweeter flange.
    Thanks
    Ben
    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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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited May 2008
    Tweeter upgrade recommendation is the RDO's. Not sure of the model number needed for your tweeter though. (I am sure others will know it)

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
    I believe 194's are the closest match, but he may have to bore out the tweeter hole with a router and drill new screw holes.
    "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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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited May 2008
    actually, i like the sound from the 10Bs... it's the sda1Bs that sound like crap. the highs are shrill, the midrange is too pronounced and the mid-bass is rather weak. could be position because i have them about 3 ft from the rear wall. overall, i am di9sappointed with the SDA1Bs.

    I have definitely decided to strip the vinyl and replace it with real wood veneer, probably cherry since Koa is too expensive.
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  • dcmeigs
    dcmeigs Posts: 708
    edited May 2008
    jon s wrote: »
    actually, i like the sound from the 10Bs... it's the sda1Bs that sound like crap. the highs are shrill, the midrange is too pronounced and the mid-bass is rather weak. could be position because i have them about 3 ft from the rear wall. overall, i am di9sappointed with the SDA1Bs.

    I have definitely decided to strip the vinyl and replace it with real wood veneer, probably cherry since Koa is too expensive.


    Don't be so fast to throw those 1Bs overboard. You need to upgrade the tweeters and sort out the other problems that the speaker may have. Did you test the cabinets for air-tightness by gently pushing on the PR?
    The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    the cabs are airtight, pushing the passive radiator moves all the mids out. Ip laced the speakers against the wall but the room is bad for music since it is all hardwood. makes everything harsh.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    edited June 2008
    oops, nevermind :-P
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    Lasareath wrote: »
    You do have a right and a left speaker?, not two rights?

    yes.. a left and right
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    i am going to order the RDO194-1 tweeters to replace the SL1000 tweeters. Can anyone tell me if I have to mod the cutouts to put in the new drivers? If so, do I need to mod both cutouts (upper ledge and/or lip)? BTW, Polk CS told me the price of the tweeters are $48 plus $22 shipping each tweeter... total $140 (ouch!!!)... I guess no more free shipping...Dang the price of gas!!!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited June 2008
    Did you tell them you were a Club Polk member?
    "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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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    Face wrote: »
    Did you tell them you were a Club Polk member?

    yes... the price is $48 plus $22 shipping each...
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,846
    edited June 2008
    jon s wrote: »
    yes... the price is $48 plus $22 shipping each...

    I've never paid for shipping. As a Club Polk member, you are supposed to get free 2-day delivery. Are you located somewhere other than CONUS?
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    Hawaii.. paradise tax.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2008
    paradise tax indeed
    Jake
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