FRANKEN-POLK Definition?

Even though you have the original drivers, the phase plug is not.
I admire your skills with the binding post " cup" that is IMHO much better than the original.

I believe you answered your own question in the second paragraph.

I’m not a “modder” so my opinion probably doesn’t mean much, but I’ve always thought of Franken-Polks as being a hack job as opposed to someone who knows what they are doing and are truly improving/repairing the speaker.

I think of a guy who has an old pair of non-working Monitor 7’s and a bunch of random speaker parts. Viola…the “Monitor 7’s” are working again.

Any successful mod must without question improve the sonic accuracy and realism of the speakers. Anything otherwise is (as noted above) a "hack job". I don't mind the alterations to the VH M7's @Toolfan66 built. They are the confluence of restoration, creativity, craft, and skill. I'd bet they sound better than stock as well.

I've seen Franklin-Polks before;

Imo, butyl mat is way more labor intensive then utilizing a phase plug. Even if it is pre cut and the material itself is kind of pricey.

Having a cnc machine routing a hole in the magnet then having a worker put glue on the bottom of a plastic phase plug and inserting it in a hole is fairly simple.

VR3 wrote: »

Imo, butyl mat is way more labor intensive then utilizing a phase plug. Even if it is pre cut and the material itself is kind of pricey.

Having a cnc machine routing a hole in the magnet pole piece then having a worker put glue on the bottom of a plastic aluminum phase plug and inserting it in a hole is fairly simple.

Say the extra machining and assembly labor time plus machine time and materials cost added up to maybe $20 per driver. If their profit per speaker was $80 previously, now they have reduced their corporate profit by 25%. I know Polk contemplated going public but never did, but if they reported that on their quarterly earnings report, the shareholders would probably sue or something

Horns, mate.
Horns.

Toolfan66 wrote: »

Trust me I know the phase plug is controversial here, and Rob has taken a lot of smack about them, even from me. That is one of, if not the biggest reason I kept quiet about using them in this project, I knew it would be hated on out the gate. When Rob reached out, I was already thinking about trying them, that this would be the perfect time, and project to do so.

I'm not one to wade into controversy but I'll dip my toe in the water...

Larry, I've always interpreted your skilled mod's from the perspective of getting every extra inch out of the sound. Be it SDA or monitor.

What kind of rubs me wrong is the advice CPer's give to "try for yourself" when someone asks about this or that. Here's the rub...Rob and crew have done this and, from what I see, get the most flack from folks that haven't taken that advice before stating, absolutely, that it can't do what they've professed. Not that I think anyone's wrong...or right. Just an observation.

I think you're in a unique positition because you are one of the revered and trusted pioneer's on this forum. I kind of think you're doing Rob a disservice by not at least confirming what his mod's do...for you. Raiffe did this w/respect to the phase plug mod and SDA. A very trusted member and a valid reference point. Agree, disagree, he put it out there.

Not trying to debate this with anyone. Larry, you did what you do best with the VH "Frankenpolks". I'd expect no less from you. Mad props and, in the end, you're true to you. Rock on!

Appreciate that (your explanation). I'm really speaking more about the difference w/and w/out the plugged driver. I believe it would be a fun and easy experiment to swap the drivers. I know you mentioned it, and believe you don't have the second drivers, but all I'd ask is if you were able to get the exact same you'd try it. I think your impression/opinion would have credibility and would bring some perspective to the forum at large.

And...in the interest of full disclosure...I ordered a set of the plugs from Rob and have the intention of using them in a set of 5A's or Jr's I have. You and I are hoarders. I have a stash of drivers that almost rivals yours....to include SW-150's! LOL. My plan is to do a comparison w/ and w/o. Unfortunately, I just haven't had the time to tackle them, yet. In fact, on a small break as I type this, I'm putting together a workbench for my basement that's part of my new work area that'll be used for such projects. Last thought, even though I will do the comparison....my words don't have the same clout yours do. No a $ $ kissing here but obvious fact...you've earned your credibility.

As an aside, I have all the Mofi VH SACD's on backorder. Received VH1 the week before last and ripped the DSD 64 (SACD) layer to my server. Have to say...I'm really digging it. Definitely way more spacial, clear and Dave's vocals improved. Still need more time w/it but I'm not disappointed. My CD version had a bit to much digititis (is this a word?) and I found I avoided it. Not so with this and I'm jonesing for the next ones.

Peace,

John

F1nut wrote: »

xschop wrote: »

VR3 wrote: »

Yes, most of what we do is stuff Polk couldn't do back in the day due to cost or lack of available tech.

Phase plugs have been around a long time and if they wanted to use them I believe they would have for sure, minimal cost difference over a dust cap.

If this is true, why didn't Polk add butyl mat to the baskets before they left the factory?

Dynamat wasn't introduced until 1989, so at the end of the vintage Polk speaker models. Not clear if there was a product like it before then.

"By the 1950s it had become common to increase damping in beams and plates by attaching a secondary
structural or “constraining” layer to the base structure using what was termed as “damping tape" "

This article is interesting but doesn't say when materials like Dynamat went onto the market. Clearly the technology was well known and in practice even in the infancy of Polk Audio.

https://aipp.silverchair-cdn.com/aipp/content_public/journal/poma/19/1/10.1121_1.4800606/4/pma.v19.i1.065023_1.online.pdf

More than anything, what constitutes a FrankenPolk (as a negative label), from the stage where a lot of tomatoes and rocks get thrown at, is:

'FrankenPolk, noun, negative connotation: What approximately a dozen members of this forum deem it to be at any given time.'

From my place on the stage, if you weren't a member of the cool kids' club, you'd have gotten a vigorous rogering from the box seats in the gallery.

I think what you made is fan-friggin-tastic. You won't find me in your thread making snide remarks and insulting your work over what you might have done that I don't like. That you love the brand enough to put that kind of effort into those speakers is a wonderful thing.

That others do the same, in their own ways, but get shat on- ruthlessly? That is hypocritical, whether we decide on a definition of FrankenPolk or not.

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Even if the Creature had all the qualities and potential (possibly moreso) of a person, it was all torches and pitchforks from the frightened villagers- no matter if it deserved it or not.