Monitor 10s?

Audioreality
Audioreality Posts: 23
edited August 2002 in Speakers
Hi all,
I just picked up a pair of Monitor 10s.
I've never heard about them.
Polk is still new to me, but I like what i'm hearing so far.

Anyway, I paid $200 for the set.
They're in very good shape.
Only 2 things wrong, that I can tell.
One has a broken grille, and both have "sticky" mid-drivers. What's up with that?
They've got a really good sound to them.
I've looked at the spec. sheet here on the site and it ain't telling me much.

I could do a search, but I need the posts.

So, what can you all tell me about these impressively heavy speakers?
Are they worth their weight?
You should of heard just what i've seen.
Post edited by Audioreality on

Comments

  • nascarmann
    nascarmann Posts: 1,464
    edited August 2002
    The Monitor 10's are "probably" what jump started Polk Audio into the company it is today. They were and still are in my opinion as good a bang for your buck as any speaker out there if they are the 10B's. Yeah....I know some will say I'm crazy but for your 2 bills you have a very nice sounding speaker that IMO no other speaker you could find for $200.00 would come close to it in over all performance. Get a good 200wpc amp and enjoy.....
    Oh, the bottle has been to me, my closes friend, my worse enemy!
  • hoosier21
    hoosier21 Posts: 4,408
    edited August 2002
    very much worth their weight. the midwoofer are a treated paper cone, they are suppose to be sticky
    Dodd - Battery Preamp
    Monarchy Audio SE100 Delux - mono power amps
    Sony DVP-NS999ES - SACD player
    ADS 1230 - Polk SDA 2B
    DIY Stereo Subwoofer towers w/(4) 12 drivers each
    Crown K1 - Subwoofer amp
    Outlaw ICBM - crossover
    Beringher BFD - sub eq

    Where is the remote? Where is the $%#$% remote!

    "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us have...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."
  • Audioreality
    Audioreality Posts: 23
    edited August 2002
    Cool.
    Thank you both.
    That's what I was hoping to hear.

    So far they been able to handle everything I can throw at them. Haven't found their limit with any of the equipment I have. I'm impressed.
    I was a little bummed to hear the woofer is passive. Still rocks, though.
    Anybody tell me when these babies were made?
    10-170477
    10-170499
    What the story with the "silver coil dome" tweeter?
    Looks interesting.
    You should of heard just what i've seen.
  • nascarmann
    nascarmann Posts: 1,464
    edited August 2002
    What the story with the "silver coil dome" tweeter?

    Not sure what you mean....Contact customer service and they can give you the "born on" date:D
    Oh, the bottle has been to me, my closes friend, my worse enemy!
  • Audioreality
    Audioreality Posts: 23
    edited August 2002
    Hi Nascarmann,
    Thanks, i'll get ahold of them.
    With the tweeter, i was wondering about the details around it's engineering. Is it special or just your basic, silver plated soft dome tweet.
    It looks pretty agressive.
    I like that.
    You should of heard just what i've seen.
  • nascarmann
    nascarmann Posts: 1,464
    edited August 2002
    Well don't hold me to this.....I think it's a peerless tweeter but not sure of that:confused: So....don't quote me on it....But I do like the SL2000:D
    Oh, the bottle has been to me, my closes friend, my worse enemy!
  • Audioreality
    Audioreality Posts: 23
    edited August 2002
    SL 2000?
    Is that what she's called.
    Huh. sounds cool.
    You should of heard just what i've seen.
  • burdette
    burdette Posts: 1,194
    edited August 2002
    I have a pair of Monitor 7Cs, which are the slightly smaller brother of your 10s. You have two midbase drivers, I have one. I have a 10" passive radiator, I think you do as well. You have a larger cabinet. The "vintage" section of the Polk site shows both the 7s and the 10s with a black tweeter, which I think is the SL2500 - I have the 'clear' SL2000, and it sounds like you do, to. I have another pair of Polks with the SL2500 and I think the SL2000 is better.

    Don't be bummed that the 'woofer' is a passive radiator. I did extensive listening when I bought my 7s, and the combination of midbase driver and 10" passive radiator blew away many of the competitors that had a motorized 10" woofer. I would have bought the 10s over the 7s but decided not to spend the extra money... plus, I think what Polk said is true... depending on room size, the speakers sound the same... the 10s in a large room sound the same as the 7s in a smaller room, and I had smaller rooms.

    Anyway, I think you got a great speaker, and for two hundred bucks... you got an incredible amount of bang for your buck.
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited August 2002
    The only thing that can make your Monitor 10's even better is to locate/fabricate the original ANGLED polk stands that sit about 10" tall. These speakers REALLY benefit from sitting on proper stands.

    The only negative about the Monitor 10's bass is that it tends to be a little bit loose - though, very deep. Enjoy the deep rumbles.
    If anything ever needs replacing, Clubpolk stocks all replacement components.

    I paid $120 for my M10's with generic (non-polk) drivers and
    original angled stands. Then, I sent $200 to Polk and purchased 4 new drivers. I have the SL2500 tweeters - yours are better.
    Anyway, I agree. This is a fabulous speaker. ENJOY ! ! !
  • Audioreality
    Audioreality Posts: 23
    edited August 2002
    Thank you for your responses.
    I'm really liking these Monitors.
    Glad to hear that their held in such high regard.

    I got ahold of Ken from customer service.
    I'll have to do a little surgery to determine their bithdate. They certainly look older.
    I will post my findings A.S.A.P.

    The tweeters are clear (more like opaque)

    Does anyone have the plans for the risers?

    Maybe it's just me, but i'm really tempted to paint the dust caps to make them look like faces! LOL.
    You should of heard just what i've seen.
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited August 2002
    The monitor 10 is often referred to as the "Booby Speaker".
    Stands are about 10" tall and tilt the speaker backwards maybe
    10 degrees or so. Ken (from Polk) may be able to provide you with specs from a file. I've got a set of stands at home - that I'd never part with. But, if you intend to make your own... maybe I can give you a few critical dimensions.

    I think the SL2000 tweets are really ugly. But, they have a fond following. They can be easily destroyed if you run an amp/receiver to clipping. Be careful.
  • nascarmann
    nascarmann Posts: 1,464
    edited August 2002
    They can be easily destroyed if you run an amp/receiver to clipping. Be careful.

    That may or may not be true.....The tweeter protection has ingaged a few time on mine before damage was done to the tweeter when I was using a 70wpc receiver many years ago.....Turned down the volume and 30 seconds later they reset and away I went.....

    I have never heard of "Booby Speaker".....
    Oh, the bottle has been to me, my closes friend, my worse enemy!
  • mhw58
    mhw58 Posts: 359
    edited August 2002
    I'm confused about the difference between the 2000
    and 2500 tweeter. Is the metal casing on both of them
    black and the difference is the 2000 dome is a clear opaque
    color and the 2500 is black? My tweeters on my SDA2's
    are the clear opaque color.
    Thanks, MIke
    Fronts: SDA1C's
    Rears: SDA2's
    Center:CS400i
    Sub: PSW505
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited August 2002
    SL2000 is a clear looking tweeter.
    SL2500 is black "plastic" looking.
    The SL2500 has ULV (ultra-low-viscosity magnetic fluid) that handles the heat better - more reliable.

    The SL2000 Polk replacement is black and sound very sweet too.

    Pop off the covers, use your imagination, and those side-by-side 6 1/2" drivers kinda look like big D-cups.
  • Audioreality
    Audioreality Posts: 23
    edited August 2002
    All she needs now is a bass port.
    Oh Momma.....

    Well, the results are in.
    My monitor 10s were built in or around Aug. 1987.
    Doesn't look too bad in there. Alot of baffling.
    I now see why the cabinet weighs so much.
    Definately got some thick MDF here.
    Intresting looking crossover. Decent leads.
    Looks to be well built. Even the wood grain veneer is in decent shape. Go figure.

    Thanks for the responses.
    Anyone know of any mods for these?
    Driver upgrades or tweaks?
    Aside from a tuned port. Ha Ha Ha Hmmm.
    You should of heard just what i've seen.
  • nascarmann
    nascarmann Posts: 1,464
    edited August 2002
    No upgade needed......just stands....
    Oh, the bottle has been to me, my closes friend, my worse enemy!
  • Audioreality
    Audioreality Posts: 23
    edited August 2002
    Cool.
    I'm gonna build some stands.
    Still have to get the plans.
    My lazy **** just hasn't gotten round to it yet.
    I'm liking these 10s.
    They gotta a good flavor to them.
    Sort a mellow with a dash of spice.
    They go well with greens and a couple a shots of rum.
    Yummy.
    You should of heard just what i've seen.