Cheap parts in the L600 speakers?

muncybob
muncybob Posts: 3,262
in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
So I was surfing around in YouTube yesterday not looking for anything in particular and saw some videos of L600 reviews. Saw one from GR Research in which there was high praise for the speaker followed by it could have been so much better with different caps, resistors, etc. Doing a quick search here I see GR is no stranger to many of you and there are varied opinions on GR's work/comments.

If their statements are true that while the L600 is a good speaker but built to a certain price point and modding the crossovers would make them a worthwhile exspense , I'm wondering if anybody has gone down this road with these speakers?

My L600s sound very good to me but as usual I've got that curiosity as to how much better could they sound?
Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,495
    I've worked on a few l200 at this point and there is of course improvements to be made but to be fair Polks mission is to bring great sound to every living room and the legends perform.

    Also given the complexity of the crossovers of these speakers is you really went all out you just about need to go external due to the size of the inductors if all air core.

    The build I came up with targeting air core inductors at specific points takes up the entire bottom of the speaker and there's still 2 or 3 iron cores left.

    Biggest difference is in the detailing and transparency of the entire speaker using quality parts but Polk would have had to charge maybe 2 to 3 times as much to include that stock.

    The r200 with halfway decent parts was 1500 and that was still with sand cast resistors.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,267
    Par for course. Besides X-overs, given their stamped-steel baskets, they would also benefit from Dynamat at the very least.

    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,262
    I was thinking Dynamat too....but, I don;t hear any ringing and neither did the Gr guy in the video.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,267
    Just because you don't hear any ringing doesn't mean it is not happening within the enclosure and translating back to the cone.

    I'd also suggest foaming the inner frame of the midrange too.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,784
    Danny also did a review of an L800 a couple weeks ago. I think it's one of the few times I've seen him throw up his hands in defeat at not being able to upgrade them or even map out the complex crossovers. So many parts, so little time! >:)

    I suspect if Polk did design them with unusual for the industry parts quality the cabinets would have had to be bigger and the cost would have put them out of reach for most potential buyers.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2lJ0Wu1l2w
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,950
    I listened until he said they were not high-end speakers.... Yes, he is right that it would be expensive to upgrade them, but to say they are not worth the trouble?
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon MiND2 Shunyata Triton

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson

    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,495
    edited February 17
    Listening to him talk about them shows he knows very very little about their design anyways

    Edit, he admits as much in the video as well

    Edit 2, also the fact he can't really listen to them only having one speaker, yet calls them a gimmick is very strange
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,973
    I heard: "Don't buy this speaker, buy my kit." And I agree. Polk has never been a truly high end speaker, but where this description falls flat on it's a** is the price point. Sure most wealthy audiophiles would consider Polk as not Hi-Fi due to it's price but it's bang for buck has always been top tier. IMHO you have to spend a LOT more money to get to any next level.

    As for his opinion of the SDA being a gimmick. Well his entire podcast is a gimmick so takes one to know one.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre Upgraded with Mundorf Supremes
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)

    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,950
    ASR now has more credibility IMHO....
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2800 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon MiND2 Shunyata Triton

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson

    How many flies need to be buzzing a dead horse before you guys stop beating it?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,880
    People still pay attention to him...LOL
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • skipshot12
    skipshot12 Posts: 2,044
    Still... not as bad as an Infinity Kappa 9 crossover.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 5,267
    Make one yearn for the days of an SRS rebuild.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,262
    Well, based on the apprx. cost of parts & labor to rebuild both speaker crossovers approaching $1600+ I would be spending almost as much as I paid for them a few years ago and it's a crap shoot if these old ears could make it worthwhile. I think I will treat the baskets though,

    Looking forward to some brave soul doing the mod and posting :)
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
    Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter