Vintage L12B Speakers

Chasspencer
Chasspencer Posts: 7
edited July 2010 in Vintage Speakers
:) Hello there, I'm new to this forum and had some questions about these speakers. I just purchased them today for $100 complete mainly since they were Polk speakers but didn't have Internet available to do much research on them. Can anyone give some general information as to if I made got a good choice and what is best to use these for? (i.e action movies, or more classical/general music) Also would it be recommended to buy some speaker stands or are they made to be on the floor? The gentleman I bought them from purchased them in 1985 and they are in great shape head to toe. Thank you in advance! ;)
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited March 2010
    Got any pics? I've never heard of L12B's.:confused:

    Is this just a pair of speakers...or a home theater 5.1 set?

    What size/how many drivers do they have?



    You didn't mean RTA12B, did you? 1985 would be the right time period for RTA12B's...
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Chasspencer
    Chasspencer Posts: 7
    edited March 2010
    I was looking online and the only pics I could find are from this Ebay auction that had ended.

    http://www.polksda.com/ebay/5760960807_RTA12B.pdf

    I was a bit confused myself with the model information. All of the numbers and model info on the back of one speaker state: Polk L12B 17887. I was assuming the L12B was the model number but I'm probably incorrect.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited March 2010
    Chasspencer wrote: »
    I was looking online and the only pics I could find are from this Ebay auction that had ended.

    http://www.polksda.com/ebay/5760960807_RTA12B.pdf

    I was a bit confused myself with the model information. All of the numbers and model info on the back of one speaker state: Polk L12B 17887. I was assuming the L12B was the model number but I'm probably incorrect.

    That should be the model number on the back. That's odd...I've never heard/seen those marked as "L12's". Were they perhaps purchased overseas originally?



    In either case...for $100, you got those at a great price!!!
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Chasspencer
    Chasspencer Posts: 7
    edited March 2010
    They sounded really nice on the demo from the salesperson but I cannot decide if these are better on the floor or if I should invest in some speaker stands. They're odd because they have these unique tweeters that rest on top of the unit. I could have sworn I found some online thread about them.
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  • Chasspencer
    Chasspencer Posts: 7
    edited March 2010
    When googling them, I got a little more info on what type of speakers they were called. "RARE POLK AUDIO LOU SPEAKERS MONITOR SERIES MODEL-L12B"
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  • Chasspencer
    Chasspencer Posts: 7
    edited March 2010
    I just found this thread with quite a bit more information too.

    https://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=277472
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,393
    edited March 2010
    They are a very nice find. I am wondering if the seller finger-fumbled. Could "RARE POLK AUDIO LOU SPEAKERS MONITOR SERIES MODEL-L12B" really be "RARE POLK AUDIO LOUD SPEAKERS MONITOR SERIES MODEL-12B"?

    They are designed to be floor standing, however, you might add a a speaker plinth if you want. http://shop.mapleshadestore.com/departments.asp?dept=62

    Enjoy
    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited March 2010
    My speakers (RTA12Cs) were labelled L12C and R12C on the serial number tag to designate the left channel and right channel...
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,393
    edited March 2010
    Aaaa. That makes sense.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • geppy1
    geppy1 Posts: 3,075
    edited March 2010
    As indicated that is the left speaker of a pair of RTA 12Bs The other one should have an R Based on the serial number it would be from late 83 early 84 . As I am gathering data on this line what color is the tweeter faceplate and what color and number are on back of the tweeter. You will also find a date if you take off the two thumb screws on the top crossover and flip it over there will bwe a date on the bottom of that in chalk or on a paper tag. What is it?? Thanks,keith
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  • Chasspencer
    Chasspencer Posts: 7
    edited July 2010
    My gosh it's been a long time. I just revisited this thread and didn't see that there was a question for me on this. Sorry about that. If anyone reads this, it says within the tweeter that it was made Feb of 1986.
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  • Chasspencer
    Chasspencer Posts: 7
    edited July 2010
    Upon doing some more research I found out the true model of these speakers. They are the RTA 12c's. ;)
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited July 2010
    case-closed-stamp.gif
    Jake
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