Say a guy .....

dracoskeeper
dracoskeeper Posts: 142
edited February 2009 in Vintage Speakers
Say a guys going through post NFL depression and is trolling the local CL for audio stuff and at the very end of a ad it says "oh buy the way I have some old Polk speakers that don't sound right that you can have if you come get them,they are pretty heavy". So I must at least call right! These need rescuing I'm almost sure! On the phone the owner states that they have sustained "cat" damage and one of them doesn't sound right. Then she describes them and now I know I've got a mission! But she lives in the old upper north side which on a weekend is no easy trip. But since there's no games on later, the "honey dew" list can wait, and my mission begins. Well 1.5 hours later I'm finally at the courtyard of her building ringing her bell. Remember the old lady in "Great Expectations", well this was Chicago's version with cats! Turns out shes a very eccentric old artist who was quite the audiophile 30 years ago and we talked for close to an hour about jazz and equipment and I left with an old GAS preamp and these old Polks. Trust me when I say you don't want to see what they looked like when I picked them up and I realize a complete restoration is needed. Heres my first question of many.....What are these???? and what can I expect sound wise.
Post edited by dracoskeeper on
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Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2009
    RTA 12's...AKA: R2D2's.
    "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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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited February 2009
    Face wrote: »
    RTA 12's...AKA: R2D2's.

    Is that tweeter supposed to be exposed like that or is the top missing?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2009
    Yes and no. The tweeter is in the correct position, but there is supposed to be a hat like grill that goes on top.

    510_83_thumb.jpg

    Larger version: http://www.polkaudio.com/images/showcase/510_83_big.jpg
    "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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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2009
    The tops are missing.
    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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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2009
    They have little "top hats" that go on them.
    Jake
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited February 2009
    congrats on your new old speakers.. rebuild them.. and you'll have a nice pair for not to much money. :)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • dracoskeeper
    dracoskeeper Posts: 142
    edited February 2009
    I've also got the top hats but between the grills and top hats "smokey" smell they are not allowed in the house. Have any Polkies here done the crossovers on these? I just think there kind of "fugly-cute" like my buldoggees, as a mater of fact my male is really got his eyes on the left channel speaker. I'll post pics later with grills and top hats so you can really appreciate how much Polks can take.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2009
    Sweet find. Go to partsexpress and get some new grill cloth. Its cheap and will do wonders for you. The XO's are easy to do if you can solder. Plenty of room on the board.
    Congrats.
    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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  • dracoskeeper
    dracoskeeper Posts: 142
    edited February 2009
    I just hooked these up down in the "man cave" system and they sound very good. I wouldn't put them near my restored/updated 2.3tl's but they more than hold there own with my Monitor 10 (tl's). Anyone ever modded these to use the #98 tweets, then I could use them and my 10's in 7.1 surround, the neighbors will love it. I guess the owner must have had a problem with her amp or pre because there is nothing functionally wrong with them.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited February 2009
    Congrats on the pickup!!! Also the GAS pre.. They had some good stuff!!
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2009
    Those are Peerless tweeters. Mod the XO and be nice to those tweets:)
    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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  • dracoskeeper
    dracoskeeper Posts: 142
    edited February 2009
    Glad to hear these are the Peerless tweets since I've always wanted to hear them. Here are some picks with clothes on, now imagine them with 1/8" of cat fur on them! They are another testament to how much old polks can take and yet they sing beautifully.
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