Are these Monitor 10s?

jimbo1421

Hello,

I spotted these for $75/pair. Are they Monitor 10s? I have been looking for speakers for a 2 channel system and already have a Parasound HCA-1000A to drive them (125 watts RMS x 2, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 8 ohms, both channels driven or 200 watts RMS x 2, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 4 ohms, both channels driven). Does this sound like a good match? I have been bidding on LSi9s at Polk Direct, but if these sound good I would be $400 happier.

Steamer

Must be. They look just like my Monitor 10's. Couldn't tell you if they are the original 10's or the 10a's or 10b's.

BigMac

Yes they are M10 and for $75.00 they are a steal if everything is in proper condition. Heck, even IF you don't like them you can sell them for more and make your money back. The amp you are talking about will power these just fine. No idea how they will sound together as I have not heard the Parasound amp before. The LSi9 speakers are more for critical listening than the M10 imo. I like the M10 better ( I have a pair of 10b) for all around listening and use them for my mains in ht as well. The LSi9 are geared for music like classical,jazz,easy listening, and the like imo. Also to get the most from LSi9 you would probably want to add a subwoofer which will add to the cost. The M10 have quite a bit of bass so many people do not use a sub with them (I do though); want the most out of my 2 channel and ht experience.

So in conclusion, it really depends on what type of music you listen to and how you like your sound. I think of the LSi9s as speakers that will let you hear as much of the music as you can for not a whole lot of money (very good highs and mids but lacks bottom end imo-they are bookshelf speakers after all). In the case of the M10 I think of them as being very well rounded for music and sounds pretty good no matter what you play on them (good highs- you can order drop in replacement tweeters from Polk for the M10 btw),decent mids (if you area very critical listener the mids can "smear" a little from what others say but I have never had an issue with it),great low end).

jimbo1421

Thanks, BigMac & Steamer. I have not heard back from the seller yet. If I go for them it will be a 6 hour drive round trip and some lost billable hours. These will be for music listening and I am really looking for something that will reproduce the upper octaves of classical piano without aggravating my tinnitus. Live performances don't make my ears ring louder, so maybe it is possible that a good speaker won't either.

What about their age? Do the Monitors maintain their sound quality over 25-30 years of normal usage?

Jim

McLoki

I have a pair of the Monitor 10 series II speakers and they are just a fun speaker to listen to. Not the best for critical listening, but a great speaker to just turn it up a bit and reconnect with the music.

One of my favorite all around speakers for that reason - They just make me smile.

BigMac

Imo the LSi9 will kill the M10 for highs (they use a much better tweeter) but many people like the M10 highs as well. The M10 are a "warm" sounding speaker (you can brighten them up with the right choice of equipment though if that's what you like). The age is nothing to worry about for the 10s if they were cared for. Mine are all original and sound great. From the pic of the speaker they look to be in pretty decent shape......and for $75.00, you cannot go wrong.:)

That's a long trip to take for some speakers but the 10s are one of those speakers that if in great shape are worth the drive and to hold on to after that. One of the best bang for the buck speakers made imo. I use to want to hear every little everything in music and I was fortunate enough to listen to a system like that but I hated it. I swear you could hear a fly **** the system was so good!!!! Of course that has its drawbacks to me as I heard all kinds of "stuff" I usually did not hear and I disliked it so much because it distracted me from hearing from the music. I was listening to the system and not the music which just misses the point imo.

Steamer

Yes, you'll definately get your money's worth of listening pleasure and my monitor 10's still sound great for their age. Although I wouldn't make a 6 hour drive for them. That's just me though.

jimbo1421

"Warm" vs "bright". I can guess at the meaning of these terms, but really I don't know what they mean. It sounds like "warm" might be the solution to the tinnitus issue. I do like to just sit and listen to music, not just have it as a background to other activities.

BigMac

jimbo1421 wrote: »

"Warm" vs "bright". I can guess at the meaning of these terms, but really I don't know what they mean. It sounds like "warm" might be the solution to the tinnitus issue. I do like to just sit and listen to music, not just have it as a background to other activities.

I can sit and listen to the 10s for hours on end with no tweaking, everything in the neutral position with my system. With the LSi9 I was always adjusting something to give me the sound I like. I either wanted more bass to make the music sound more "real" or lowering the highs because they were to harsh for some of the classic rock/rock,metal I listen to. I listen to all types of music so I wanted a speaker that sounded good to me for that. Don't get me wrong, the LSi9 kick the crap out of the 10s for accuracy and highs but for me the trade off was not worth it imo.

Steamer

I have a problem with tinnitus also. Sometimes not bad and other times it really bothers me. Too many years of working in a noisy machine shop. The monitor 10's will not be nearly as bad as many other speakers. The speakers that bothered me most were KEF 105's. Loved the sound but the high end got to me. Too bright for me.
Tubes helped tone them down.

jimbo1421

BigMac wrote: »

I can sit and listen to the 10s for hours on end with no tweaking, everything in the neutral position with my system. With the LSi9 I was always adjusting something to give me the sound I like. I either wanted more bass to make the music sound more "real" or lowering the highs because they were to harsh for some of the classic rock/rock,metal I listen to. I listen to all types of music so I wanted a speaker that sounded good to me for that. Don't get me wrong, the LSi9 kick the crap out of the 10s for accuracy and highs but for me the trade off was not worth it imo.

Hi BigMac, got your PM.

Your posts are the best endorsement of a pair of speakers I have ever read. I am still chuckling over your "fly ****" remark. I don't think I need a system that reveals all the faults of my sound source material. My thanks to you, Steamer and McLoki for your comments. I still haven't heard back from the seller and will keep you all posted.

Jim

BigMac

Ok, I'm back.....darn rush hour traffic. Good luck on getting the M10. If for some reason the M10 fall through see if you can put your ears on a pair of M7. The M7 have a clearer midrange (no smearing) and from what I have seen in almost every post I have read on them they kick major butt. They have a little less bass than the 10s but are suppose to be superior in every other aspect. I have yet to find a pair locally but if I do I am going to snatch them up in a heartbeat.

Btw, I owned a pair of LSi7 and hated them. The reason I hated them was I did not have the right equipment powering them. This is when I first got into home audio in the fall of last year. I thought they sucked but little did I know I was the one who sucked for not powering them correctly. Once I started adding better equipment (to me) I borrowed a pair of LSi9 and listened for a week or so. I really liked them but I just could just not put my finger on what was missing. In the end looking back, I think it was the lack of bass and that I had to "fiddle" so much. I just wanted to turn everything on, hit play, close my eyes and get transported away to a musical wonderland. Of course it may be a little different now as I am more versed on home audio and have added even more quality equipment (to me) that may make them sound better so I don't have to fiddle. Not that changing stuff is bad, I just hated doing it on almost every song. Listen-make adjustment-listen-make adjustment and so on.

BigMac

Oh, just so you know, my equipment is as follows.

AVR-Pioneer 1018 (average receiver)
DVD Universal player-Marantz DV-6600
Adcom 535II amp (currently not in use)
Luxman M-117 (very warm and pleasing tube like sound)
APC H-15 power conditioner
Monster HTS-1000 Mark III power conditoner/surge protector
Anti Cables speaker wire (bought for a good pricce to try them out and I was lucky........they had great synergy with my system)
Luminous Audio interconnects (local company that has great quality)

Ender

I'm looking to get a pair of 10B's as well... I'm kinda excited lol. But definitely not as much of a smoking deal as yours.

cnh

I'd just like to hear a pair, you guys are driving me nuts. I haven't heard most of the Vintage gear...only the new stuff...which is quite good! I'm not sure what I would think because my ears are virgins? It's like being in Korea and having some one rave about Phillie cheesesteaks (which I grew up with) and having no way to 'taste' one!

cnh

Ender

You haven't had speakers make sweet sweet love to your ears yet? Sadness... What have your ears had? A couple licks here and there? Some rear entry (to 'technically' stay a virgin... or not...)?

lightman1

I've got a set of 10A's. Love 'em! When I get a wild hair up my patootie, I drag 'em out and throw the juice to them. Just keep a few spare fuses around.:cool: Rock n Roll lives.

rayslifecycle

On the monitor 10s - those look to be the SL2000 tweeters in the pic.
If they are the silver dome tweeter with a plastic like cover - it is very sensitive and I recommend the upgrade suggested by Polk. There are a lot of posts about this.
I have the SL2000 tweeter in my SDAs and becasue I listen to them at low volume usually - I love how crisp they are. Soon they will be upgraded though.....probably after I get married......

If they are the Peerless tweeter - which is a black silk domed tweeter with a hole drilled in the middle - this tweeter is highly regarded and I find it very pleasant. Rock on and enjoy.

On the difference between the M7 and the M10 - I have both in my 5.1 system - and have used both as the mains and as rears. As mains - the M10 sound had a lot more impact and bass. As Mains - the M7 had a very clear mid section, but it wasn't as exciting or dynamic. It felt like the system had to work harder.

The pics in my showcase show the M7 as the mains.......but a month or two ago - I went back to the M10 as my main on the original Polk stands and will not go back.
The stands made all the difference in the world when it comes to imaging.

jimbo1421

It has been three days since the last e-mail from the seller. I guess they are gone. Or else he spotted this thread and decided to keep them. My thanks to all who helped and introduced me to the vintage monitor line. I will be keeping an eye out for other Monitor 10s.

Can anyone make a comparison between the Monitor 10 and the more recent Monitor 60 or 70? I have seen some good prices at Newegg and Polk Direct but the specs indicate that they would probably need a sub. Again this would be for music only.

McLoki

jimbo1421 wrote: »

Can anyone make a comparison between the Monitor 10 and the more recent Monitor 60 or 70? I have seen some good prices at Newegg and Polk Direct but the specs indicate that they would probably need a sub. Again this would be for music only.

No comparison except in name. IMO - the vintage monitor series destroys the new one, but thats just my opinion.

Michael

BigMac

jimbo1421 wrote: »

Can anyone make a comparison between the Monitor 10 and the more recent Monitor 60 or 70?

I asked the same ? not to long ago because I could pick up a pair of monitor 70s for really cheap (at first post I thought I was not going to be able to listen to them so I was asking for peoples opinions). I took 2 amps with me and some cds I knew very well. I began listening and at first I thought I had wax buildup in my ears or something. When listening to the monitor 70s they seemed very soft to me. What I mean is I had to really listen for things that I was use to hearing very easily with the monitor 10s. Other parts of the music I was use to hearing was not there at all. Not a bad speaker, but geared for HT use imo. Music sounded "ok" to me but the 70s were not my cup of tea/coffee/beer/wine. As far as the low end goes the 10s walk all over the 70s.

McLoki

McLoki wrote: »

No comparison except in name. IMO - the vintage monitor series destroys the new one, but thats just my opinion.

Michael

BigMac wrote: »

I asked the same ? not to long ago because I could pick up a pair of monitor 70s for really cheap (at first post I thought I was not going to be able to listen to them so I was asking for peoples opinions). I took 2 amps with me and some cds I knew very well. I began listening and at first I thought I had wax buildup in my ears or something. When listening to the monitor 70s they seemed very soft to me. What I mean is I had to really listen for things that I was use to hearing very easily with the monitor 10s. Other parts of the music I was use to hearing was not there at all. Not a bad speaker, but geared for HT use imo. Music sounded "ok" to me but the 70s were not my cup of tea/coffee/beer/wine. As far as the low end goes the 10s walk all over the 70s.

And his...

bluecomet

If you can, try to find the Monitor 10's with the peerless tweeters. They are excellent. I totally agree with the post that the M10's are excellent main speakers for a HT system. The M7's could benifit from a subwoofer in a HT setting. The M7's are a very balanced speaker that you could sit and listen to all day without getting listening fatigue. Again I would look for the peerless tweeters. They make a big difference in my opinion compared to the SL2000 tweeters. If you do find M10's with the SL2000 swap them for the RDO 194's. You will be glad you did. If you are into 2 channel listening you may want to find yourself a parametric EQ. I have an old SAE system and just added one from SAE and I was stunned at the difference it made with these vintage speakers. It was a major improvement, if you have any polk speaker with the SL2000 tweeter. Does anyone else use one. Good luck finding your M10's. I am sure a set will come your way.

jimbo1421

These have come back up for sale and I am driving up tomorrow to get them. Any suggestions for transport in my pickup? I will have plenty of foam and blankets. Should they be carried lying on their backs or standing upright?

Jim

wizzy

When I got mine I put lots of soft stuff in the trunk and put them face down, so the weight of the magnets would be held up by the basket when hitting bumps.

But I was just guessing.

jimbo1421

Thanks, Wizzy.
That sounds like a good way.

Jim

jimbo1421

Got 'em. They were not quite the bargain that I thought since they have some damage to the bottoms: the mitre joints are open, in some places the full depth of the cabinet, in others just part way. It doesn't look like water damage since the vinyl isn't lifting or bubbled. I will have pull the radiators to look inside to see if there is any other damage. I may be able to draw it back together with some clamps and epoxy.

Still they are so much better than my old speakers that I can't really complain for $75. They have the silver coil dome tweeters. For now I will improvise some stands from cinderblocks and wood blocking to get the 6 degree tilt back.

One quick question: Is the positive terminal on the left? That is where the red terminal caps are now. There are no markings and the caps can be completely unscrewed. They could easily have been mixed up in the last 30 years.

Thank you, guys, for all your help.
Jim

PS: Polk CS said to transport them upright since that is the way the internal bracing is designed.

michaeljhsda2

"One quick question: Is the positive terminal on the left?"

Correct. Positive is on the left. Too bad about their condition but I agree, excellent sounding speakers for the money.

jimbo1421

Thanks, Michael. I found the manual at polksda.com

Jim

BigMac

Glad to see you got them. Enjoy. On a side note I have been looking all over for speakers that have the monitor 10 sound but are more recent and up to date. Well, finally found some!! I swear if you closed your eyes and did an a/b comparison you would not be able to tell which speakers you were listening to. The speakers I am talking about are the Dali Concept 8. They were $1000.00 marked down from $1200.00. Just thought I would mention that since we both have M10. I have always wondered what other speaker sounded like a M10 and how much it would cost......well, so far it's $1000.00.

jimbo1421

Reviews of Polk speakers often say that they sound as good as speakers costing twice as much. Now we know that they sound as good as those costing 13.33 times as much.

Jim