My recent purchase - RTA 11TL's

Pycroft

Hi all...

As George posted, I stopped by yesterday to purchase a pair of RTA 11TL's. I couldn't be happier,and figured I'd post a few pics.

First picture are the old speakers - Monitor 50's.

Then a side by side comparison, and finally the new speakers.

Next, I need to find a new center channel

Pycroft

superjunior

those look sweet! what center is in there now?

leroyjr1

Very Nice!!!!

Pycroft

It's a CS1, that I had paired with my Monitor 50's. No luck finding a CS-350, or CS400i yet...still on the prowl for one

Pycroft

vc69

Nice man. You might want to move those out from the wall a little. They look cherry. Well done.

I upgraded from Monitor 50's and have never been happier.

Maybe you should mod your CS1

kcoc321

vc69 wrote: »

........

Maybe you should mod your CS1

For a match to the RTA-11TL, that should be a SL3000 tweeter

vc69

kcoc321 wrote: »

For a match to the RTA-11TL, that should be a SL3000 tweeter

Lol... I'm sure you are correct. A fellow from another forum recently did that modification. I think he is a HUGE fan of the SL2000. Just thought it might provide some laughs, although I see no reason why it wouldn't sound good with some tweaking of the crossover.

Pycroft wrote: »

It's a CS1, that I had paired with my Monitor 50's. No luck finding a CS-350, or CS400i yet...still on the prowl for one

Pycroft

I got a CS350 from fleabay recently for $125. Just keep prowling.

cfrizz

Looks great, congrats.

George Grand

Sounding good James?

Acoustik

Congrats! Good lookin' and soundin' speakers. Though not exactly the same, I got some RTA11t's last Feb that I replaced my Monitor 50's with (they are now my HT fronts).

Pycroft

George - sound FANTASTIC! Thanks again!

Acoustik - VERY nice looking speakers. If they sound as nice as mine you must be thrilled!

Pycroft

danz1906

Good Looking speakers-Congrats!

Pauly

Congrats. Love my 11T's

Pauly

bdaley6509

I used to own the 8TL's and I thought they sounded fantastic. Nice snag.

everpress

I love my 11TL's... I picked them up on a whim not knowing what they were and I can honestly say that they changed my life... No, seriously.

BB3

Pycroft,

Congratulations on getting those RTA's. Very fine speaker to say the least.

Happy Listening Pycroft.

---

BB3

Pycroft

Thanks all...

For music they sound fantastic. I feel it's missing something because of my center channel. I'm DYING to get my hands on one, but alas, so far, nobody here or ebay/audiogon has one. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I'll be listening some more tonight, can't wait! Back to work now :0

James

vc69

I had to really look through the polk listings. I was_not_able to find a CS350 LS by using the "search" function for some reason. Sometimes they were just listed as "Polk Center Channel speaker". I have seen at least three in the past month though I thought 2 were a little high in price.

Here's one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/POLK-AUDIO-SC350-LS-CENTER-SPEAKER-CS-SERIES-HOME_W0QQitemZ300349678640QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item45ee3c6430&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

and another:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Polk-Audio-CS350-LS-Center-Channel-Speaker-CS-350-LS_W0QQitemZ300349241114QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item45ee35b71a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

and another buy it now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/POLK-AUDIO-SPEAKER-CS350-LS-CENTER-CHANNEL-THEATER_W0QQitemZ270458071712QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSpeakers_Subwoofers?hash=item3ef88eaaa0&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

I am assuming of course you want a CS350 LS, no?

Pycroft

VC-

THanks so much. I've been looking for 2 weeks now, and saw both of these. I'm watching both, and contacted the second one (Currently at 61.00 plus 28 shipping). I was hoping to offer him money and do it outside of ebay, but he said he'd rather let it go. Any comments on the first one? It looks a bit damaged, and am nervous, because it looks like someone picked it up at some estate sale, doesn't know anything about it, and is selling it. I'm worried it could be damaged, etc. It does have one of the rubber feet broken. Any comments on what I should pay for a speaker in that condition? Is it worth the risk?

Also, I was told that a CS400i would be better. Check this out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290352180964&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

It's listed as a Polk CS400, but inside the listing it says 400i. It just seems small compared to the CS 350. Is this the speaker that would match up to the RTA 11TL's?

Thanks all.

Pycroft

NJPOLKER

Can you share some listening comparisons/impressions between the 50's and the 11tl's?

vc69

Well as far as I know, there are no rubber feet on them unless someone did that after purchase. Mine does not nor does it appear to ever have had rubber feet. So maybe stay clear of that one. The one at $61 "looks" good but you will have to wait it out. I might have gone for the "buy it now" one, except for the one I won actually looked nicer and I got it cheaper.

As to the CS400i I can only say that the 350 is a perfect match for my LS90's and I like the lower profile. YMMV. Good luck!

Oh, and I paid $125. So it was a total of $150 shipped in original box. Very nice specimen.

Pycroft

NJPolker -

I haven't had time for deep, intense listening yet... Based on an overall first impression, the RTA's have a fuller mid sound, seem to have more coming out with less juice. If you look at the pics, you can even see the difference. The RTA's are about 3-4 inches taller, 3 inches wider, and about 5 inches deeper. Also, looking at the front without the grills on, you can see the difference. I've heard that the imaging is fantastic on them, from both George and another source. i'm not sure if I completely understand that term yet, so I can't comment. Also, for such larger speakers, I feel that my meager Onkyo 606 is powering them just fine. I believe their sensitivity is rated at around 91 or so. Love them so far...can give more in depth details when I get a better chance to sit down with them.

Pycroft

ben62670

vc69 wrote: »

Lol... I'm sure you are correct. A fellow from another forum recently did that modification. I think he is a HUGE fan of the SL2000. Just thought it might provide some laughs, although I see no reason why it wouldn't sound good with some tweaking of the crossover.



I got a CS350 from fleabay recently for $125. Just keep prowling.

Let me guess his screen name is Candyliquer. He was banned for PMing all the newbs with his miracle mod to the SL2000's, and his trolling.

The CS350 is a much better match. Sell the center you have now and put the money into a proper center for the setup.
Ben

vc69

ben62670 wrote: »

Let me guess his screen name is Candyliquer. He was banned for PMing all the newbs with his miracle mod to the SL2000's, and his trolling.

Lol... I believe you are correct, though he goes by another name. He contributes to another forum and is very adamant in his love for the SL2000.
Now he just has his "miracle mod" in his sig.

Meh...

ViperZ

Pycroft wrote: »

.
Also, I was told that a CS400i would be better. Check this out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290352180964&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

It's listed as a Polk CS400, but inside the listing it says 400i. It just seems small compared to the CS 350. Is this the speaker that would match up to the RTA 11TL's?

Thanks all.

Pycroft

This is a CS400 (black drivers). Will probably be a better match for your speakers than CS400i.

NJPOLKER

vc69 wrote: »

Lol... I believe you are correct, though he goes by another name. He contributes to another forum and is very adamant in his love for the SL2000.
Now he just has his "miracle mod" in his sig.

Meh...

I think his name over there is cornholeo or something like that. You can't trust anything he says in regards to Polk's

Ron Temple

From the quick glance that I took, both speakers look to be in very good shape. The rubber foot can easily be glued on. As far as which is better...haven't heard the CS350LS, but the tweeter is the same as both the CS400 and 400i. I'm the one that recommended the 400(i) over the CS350LS, simply because I know it's a great match with my 1Cs. It extends further and can deliver very decent bass for a center channel. They share some of the drivers (6510 IIRC) with the 11TLs and the trilam tweet is quite a good match with RDOs...I assume with SL3000s too.

Congrats James, the 11TLs are excellent speakers...you're on the slippery slope now. Just ask vc69 .

ben62670

vc69 wrote: »

Lol... I believe you are correct, though he goes by another name. He contributes to another forum and is very adamant in his love for the SL2000.
Now he just has his "miracle mod" in his sig.

Meh...

LOL he is a nut job. It's really a shame.

NJPOLKER wrote: »

I think his name over there is cornholeo or something like that. You can't trust anything he says in regards to Polk's

Thats his screen name. Big Beavis and Butthead fan.

comfortablycurt

Congrats!! The RTA11TL's are a sexy looking speaker...I've never heard them though.

They're one of the vintage Polk's that I definitely intend to try out sometime down the line.

Could anyone tell me whether or not you can use the RD0-198's in the 11TL's? I'm guessing you can, due to the "TL" designation...Is this true, or do you have to use the 194's?

vc69 wrote: »

Nice man. You might want to move those out from the wall a little. They look cherry. Well done.

I upgraded from Monitor 50's and have never been happier.

Maybe you should mod your CS1

That must be candyliquer's center channel...lol

Ron Temple

198 yes

comfortablycurt

Ron Temple wrote: »

198 yes

Thanks for the info...that's what I figured.

I'd love to snag a pair of 11TL's eventually...those are one of the sexiest looking vintage Polk's IMO.