Polk RTA-12c's
falconcry72
Posts: 3,580
I got my first ever pair of REAL speakers today, a mint used set of Polk RTA-12c's. The guy I gott'em from was the original owner and still had the manual as well as his receipt from a local, now non-existant, audio store dated to 1986. I have some Polks from the RT series (16's, 7's, and 3's), which I love, but the RTA-12c's blow'em away. The imaging is almost too good to believe. Anyone have suggestions on possible improvements? New tweeters? Non-passive 12? Why aren't any RTA's listed in the Polk "recent and vintage" section of their products? Thanks for the help; I'm having a blast right now relistening to old favorites 
2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
Post edited by falconcry72 on
Comments
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if they have SL2000 tweeters.. then you might want to replace those with a smoother sounding one from Polk. as for the passive radiators.. don't monkey with them at all. they are not available anymore.. and are become pretty rare.
RTA 12's are some amazing sounding speakers. cherrish and enjoy them. congrats!PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin: -
what would you reccomend as a replacement tweeter?
btw, i am suprised by how much sound the passive radiators put out. i love these things!2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
I had some pristine RTA12C's too and they were the bomb. I've moved on, but they will always be my first real, excellent speakers. Enjoy them & I'm sure someone on here will let you know the model number of your replacement tweeters. If no one tells you, just call Polk & they'll let you know. I never made the replacement myself.
Everyone says they sound better with the replacement tweeters, but hey, what you've got now sounds great already!"Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger -
falconcry72 wrote: »I got my first ever pair of REAL speakers today, a mint used set of Polk RTA-12c's. The guy I gott'em from was the original owner and still had the manual as well as his receipt from a local, now non-existant, audio store dated to 1986. I have some Polks from the RT series (16's, 7's, and 3's), which I love, but the RTA-12c's blow'em away. The imaging is almost too good to believe. Anyone have suggestions on possible improvements? New tweeters? Non-passive 12? Why aren't any RTA's listed in the Polk "recent and vintage" section of their products? Thanks for the help; I'm having a blast right now relistening to old favorites
Post a pic and don't even think about changing the passive PR to actual drivers...it's fine. I'd suggest replacing the tweeter depending on what model RTA12 it is....after that, some better binding posts to trick out the **** end for the ladies.CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint. -
Post a pic and don't even think about changing the passive PR to actual drivers...it's fine. I'd suggest replacing the tweeter depending on what model RTA12 it is....after that, some better binding posts to trick out the **** end for the ladies.
they are the rta-12c's. they have sl2000 tweeters manufactured in 1986. I gathered from past threads that the replacement would be the newer RD0194-1. I think I'm gonna try the new ones; if I don't like'em I'll just put the 2000's back in and sell the RD0's, seems pretty simple, and if I do like'em then great!
BTW, I'll put some pics up later today. They really are mint. Vinyl veneer, but they still look cool 2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's
Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses
Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's -
You're right, the replacement for SL2000s are indeed RDO-194s...you can buy these new Direct from Polk..just give them a call and tell them you're a member of Club Polk!
Enjoy.
cnhCurrently 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] -
my first 'real' speakers are also the RTA12C's, they live in the livingroom. my wife does not 'get' the audio quality, she puts up with large'ish' speakers in the livingroom! Mine are the real wood veneer version, I used a little wood feed and protect product, now they look almost as good as they sound. I also have yet to replace the tweeters. They sound great to me so I am keeping them as is!Polk Audio RTA 12c's, Monitor 7c, Monitor 5JR+, SDA CRS+
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BTW this is what mine look like, althought they are now in the livingroom rather than the bedroom.
http://picasaweb.google.com/aas.sanchez/PolkAudioRTA12C?feat=directlinkPolk Audio RTA 12c's, Monitor 7c, Monitor 5JR+, SDA CRS+ -
I have a friend who bought a pair of the RTA-12Cs new in '86, and he still has them. It's that pair of speakers that sold me on Polks, and is the reason I have my 3 sets of Polks today.
