Rta-8t

ken brydson
ken brydson Posts: 8,783
edited August 2009 in Vintage Speakers
Found an ad on my local CL for these. Only wants $50. No pic's but he says they sound great. Yardsale this weekend. Run don't walk?
Post edited by ken brydson on
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited July 2009
    Yep. Run don't walk. Grab them, post pictures.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • smglbrth
    smglbrth Posts: 1,481
    edited July 2009
    No pics, sound great, $50... Hmmm...., as long as they are in good shape I'd pick them up in a heartbeat. Wait, I already have a set and I'd get them anyway!
    Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    Dang it.
    Why is it that just after I buy a pair, the "super sale" ones show up?

    Although my "new" ones are the "TL" with the SL2500 tweets and MW6516 mids, [even though the model #'s list them as "8T's"??] (original owner)
    I paid twice that, yesturday!!!
    They do sound great BTW with my 7B's...much better than the Mon50's I had forr HT.

    sign...oh well.

    Although this would almost be worth it for the tweets and drivers, I don't have any speakers that take the MW6510's and I already have a few 'extra' SL2000's....

    I emailed him to see if they have the SL2000's tweeters
    (he linked to the polksds model page in his add) http://www.polksda.com/rta8t.shtml
    We'll see what he says.

    There is another pair for $100 in 'walnut' or other wood grain (non-black) up here in Seallte area.
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    Dang it.
    Why is it that just after I buy a pair, the "super sale" ones show up?

    Although my "new" ones are the "TL" with the SL2500 tweets and MW6516 mids, [even though the model #'s list them as "8T's"??] (original owner)
    I paid twice that, yesturday!!!
    They do sound great BTW with my 7B's...much better than the Mon50's I had forr HT.

    sign...oh well.

    Although this would almost be worth it for the tweets and drivers, I don't have any speakers that take the MW6510's and I already have a few 'extra' SL2000's....

    I emailed him to see if they have the SL2000's tweeters
    (he linked to the polksds model page in his add) http://www.polksda.com/rta8t.shtml
    We'll see what he says.

    There is another pair for $100 in 'walnut' or other wood grain (non-black) up here in Seallte area.

    I emailed him to see if I could get them today but he's booked. I'm booked in the morning tomorrow but I'm planning to run by in the afternoon if he hasn't sold them yet. What are you running yours with? I've read they like lots of juice. If I score them I was thinking of running them in my home office rig with my vintage Marantz 2252B. Any thoughts on how they'd pair with that?
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    I asked him for pics and he said he just posted some.
    Cases look alittle scratched up and the grills are faded....but that is not to hard a fix...plus if nothing else the MW's and tweeters are worth that much alone...


    I am running mine in a B&K AVR 101, 105wpc @ 8ohm/ 175wpc @ 4ohm...It's a 'high current' amp (they say)
    IDK the specs for your Marantz, but if is a similar 'vintage' it will probably run them fine. I have not had mine long enough to try them out on other amps yet.

    I can tell you that the "8TL's" are more efficient sound-wise than my 7B's..ie alittle louder at the same setting, but not quite as much bass...

    FYI, I metered one of my speakers and they are reading 4.4ohm at the speaker terminals, even though PA rates them as a "6ohm' in the brochure specs, but then again, mine have the "TL" specs
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    I asked him for pics and he said he just posted some.
    Cases look alittle scratched up and the grills are faded....but that is not to hard a fix...plus if nothing else the MW's and tweeters are worth that much alone...


    I am running mine in a B&K AVR 101, 105wpc @ 8ohm/ 175wpc @ 4ohm...It's a 'high current' amp (they say)
    IDK the specs for your Marantz, but if is a similar 'vintage' it will probably run them fine. I have not had mine long enough to try them out on other amps yet.

    I can tell you that the "8TL's" are more efficient sound-wise than my 7B's..ie alittle louder at the same setting, but not quite as much bass...

    FYI, I metered one of my speakers and they are reading 4.4ohm at the speaker terminals, even though PA rates them as a "6ohm' in the brochure specs, but then again, mine have the "TL" specs

    My Marantz is only 52wpc but it's heavy as hell and built like a tank. Might be a fun project if I can get them. Are you local?
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    Good luck I hope you get them.:D

    I am up North in West Edmonds
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  • bsoko2
    bsoko2 Posts: 1,449
    edited July 2009
    Check craigslist for Seattle/Tacoma, there are 3 pairs of the RTA 8's for sale from Wedgewood: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/1286081059.html, Bellevue: http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/ele/1281826149.html, and N. Tacoma: http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ele/1286691264.html. With 3 sets you could make a good HT setup.

    Bill
    My 2012 HT Room - http://www.avsforum.com/t/1416077/bsoko2-new-ht-june-2012
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    bsoko2 wrote: »
    Check craigslist for Seattle/Tacoma, there are 3 pairs of the RTA 8's for sale from Wedgewood: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/1286081059.html, Bellevue: http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/ele/1281826149.html, and N. Tacoma: http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ele/1286691264.html. With 3 sets you could make a good HT setup.

    Bill

    I saw all of those. For $50 you can't go wrong. Hope he still has them when I can get by tomorrow.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited July 2009
    Got me a pair. Love 'em! For $50 grab them. You won't be disappointed.
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    FYi: I got a email back from the sellers in Wedgewood.
    They are the RTA-8TL's (with the newer SL2500 tweeters)
    Look to be in good shape, but no pics of the drivers.

    She is askin $100 but asked if she will go lower...
    We'll see...


    The ones in Bellevue are GONE...THEY'RE mine now...:)
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    ken brydson wrote: »
    I saw all of those. For $50 you can't go wrong. Hope he still has them when I can get by tomorrow.

    Ken, did you get them? I asked the seller to email me if he sold them, and he just said they "sold"

    IF not, PM me....I might have a deal on the 'other pair" in Wedgewood.
    :D
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  • bsoko2
    bsoko2 Posts: 1,449
    edited July 2009
    Hope you guys get them. How often do that many 8TL's show up for sale at the same time?

    Bill
    My 2012 HT Room - http://www.avsforum.com/t/1416077/bsoko2-new-ht-june-2012
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    Ken, did you get them? I asked the seller to email me if he sold them, and he just said they "sold"

    IF not, PM me....I might have a deal on the 'other pair" in Wedgewood.
    :D

    Yep, snagged them up. They sounded awesome on his set-up. Cabs are a little dinged up but that will be a fun project. I noticed that both drivers in one speaker had a tiny tear (like 1/4 in) in the surrounds. Didn't seem to effect the sound though. Pointed that out to him and got them for $30!!!
    I'll post some before and after pic's after I get them cleaned up.
    BTW- can I dab some silicone or something on the tears in the rubber surrounds to repair them?
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    bsoko2 wrote: »
    Hope you guys get them. How often do that many 8TL's show up for sale at the same time?

    Bill
    IDK, I never really saw anything much about them until "my" pair showed up for sale last week.

    But I definitely like them better than my M50's for HT fronts. They seem to have more bass and 'blend' better with my 7b's.

    I am temped to buy the ones in Wedgewood just to have replacement SL2500's and MW6516, especially since the MW6516 seems to have been 'less' used than other mid-drivers like the MW6502's.
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    ken brydson wrote: »
    Yep, snagged them up. They sounded awesome on his set-up. Cabs are a little dinged up but that will be a fun project. I noticed that both drivers in one speaker had a tiny tear (like 1/4 in) in the surrounds. Didn't seem to effect the sound though. Pointed that out to him and got them for $30!!!
    I'll post some before and after pic's after I get them cleaned up.
    BTW- can I dab some silicone or something on the tears in the rubber surrounds to repair them?
    wow...nice bartering....search around, I know I have seen a thread or two
    on repairing the surrounds...think ppl used speaker glue or rubber cement though.

    The condition of the boxes just gives yo an oppertunity to veneer them in whatever kindof wood you like. :)
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  • bsoko2
    bsoko2 Posts: 1,449
    edited July 2009
    PU the pair in Wedgewood and use them for surrounds. Later on when the $$$ line up, amp them out. I'm glad I amp'd out my setup, it sounds new all over again.

    Bill
    My 2012 HT Room - http://www.avsforum.com/t/1416077/bsoko2-new-ht-june-2012
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    I am temped, but I think my 'next' purchase is probably the caps & resisters for my 7b's & 5jrs.
    I have the 5jr's already running as surrounds, and also have a pair of Mon30's, that I just switched out, so surround speakers are pretty well covered.
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  • bsoko2
    bsoko2 Posts: 1,449
    edited July 2009
    kcoc321, good luck with the setup.

    Bill
    My 2012 HT Room - http://www.avsforum.com/t/1416077/bsoko2-new-ht-june-2012
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    bsoko2 wrote: »
    kcoc321, good luck with the setup.

    Bill

    Thanks...:D
    its fun although I wish I had more time to play with it all...

    The RTA-8TL's sound good so far..much fully sound, but have not had time to rewire them to my amp(s) to see which sound better, but they are an improvement over the M50's. IMO...
    They "play well" with the 7b'c...

    Course NOW I have to decide which tweeters I like better, since I have several kinds, SL1000 (7b's) SL2000 (5jr's, 7c's) or SL2500's (RTA-8TL's)
    Not to mention the RDO options...

    Then I will update all the tweets to the same (or at least on the ones I am going to keep, at that point) and rebuild the x-overs accordingly.

    And also try each on my different amps...B&K, Carver, Parasound...
    decisions, decisions...
    :D
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    I just finished cleaning them up (finally) and they're playing on my main rig as I type this. Man, these sound REALLY nice. No amps here now, running off my Elite VSX01. These sound very similar to my LS50's. Still trying to decide which tweeter I like the best. The SL's seem a little more laid back than the tri-lams.
    Cleaning the drivers was a ****. The previous owner had cats and the tackiness of the drivers was a magnet for cat hair.
    I pulled the drivers and tweeters and everything appears original, the SL2000's are dated 6/88 and the MW6510's are also dated 6/88.
    The cabs were a little rough. After a thorough cleaning I touched up some scratches and edge dings with a Minwax Stain Marker. Really made a difference.
    They sound so good I may have trouble moving them to my office rig!:D
    Best $30 I ever spent!
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited July 2009
    Very nice cleanup job. They look brand new!
    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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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    cfrizz wrote: »
    Very nice cleanup job. They look brand new!

    Thanks! The pictures don't really show the flaws but they sure do sound nice.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited July 2009
    Nice job Ken! May they give years of enjoyment.

    Now feed them some real power....;)
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited July 2009
    Funny that you compare them to LS50s. A guy asked me which I preferred the other day and I really couldn't answer other than say don't pass either up at the right price. Polk really did it right with those 2 small floorstanders.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    Ron Temple wrote: »
    Funny that you compare them to LS50s. A guy asked me which I preferred the other day and I really couldn't answer other than say don't pass either up at the right price. Polk really did it right with those 2 small floorstanders.

    Being the little brother (or red headed stepchild) of the phenomenal LS90's the 50's don't get much love. I think they are very under-rated. Mine have been the cornerstone of my system and running strong since '96.
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    Hey those look great, for the price you flippin stole them...:)

    And hey, a weekend and alittle veneering and they will be golden.....

    Course then there is RDO's and X-over upgrades..hehe

    enjoy
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited July 2009
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    Hey those look great, for the price you flippin stole them...:)

    And hey, a weekend and alittle veneering and they will be golden.....

    Course then there is RDO's and X-over upgrades..hehe

    enjoy

    Yeah, yeah... knew that was comin'..... The first project I was thinking of was re-veneering. I'm pretty handy with a router but the beveled front edge has me wondering....
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited July 2009
    Hey I just said what you were already thinkin...;)

    I have been thinking about the bevel veneering issue....
    I think it could be done by working front to back, so that the front veneer overlays the bevel and the bevel overlays the sides....should work...
    I have too redo my 5jrs, but I am also thinking I might just fill in the bevel...
    I like the square edges of my 'older' 7b's and actually seeing some wood on the front.....course I am also thinking about just making a full overlay in matching wood as well...I like the look of the wood with the grills off.
    Wish I had a CNC router....
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited August 2009
    More RTA8 TL's in Renton. Only $80. Someone should grab these!!

    http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/1301673837.html
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