What model are these bookshelf speakers?

Shintsu
Shintsu Posts: 7
edited January 2009 in Speakers
Greetings Club Polk!

I have a question as far as identification goes. I was considering these for a small system in my bedroom but I'm curious as to some specs but the guy doesn't have the stickers on them anymore nor does he know the model or anything and I am having no luck online. Can anyone tell me the model of these speakers, their age, and/or some specs? If there is some super Polk website like VintageTechnics.com or something with the history of Polk stuff instead I'd love to know what it is. In any regard, these speakers are $25 for the pair which seems more than reasonable especially given the system I'm trying to build is going for minimal cost in a smallish bedroom.

Here are the pics he has posted
3k83o83lf1f313a1gb91ibb173317e1041012.jpg

3k63md3o01f412413491i6257cba0b1be1b03.jpg

3ma3pb3lb11c1291g791i91cf4f230134144e.jpg

Thanks, hope you guys can identify these for me!
My stereo/gaming setup
Adcom GFA-5300 Amplifier
NAD Surround Sound Preamp 917
Technics SL-P770 CD player
Technics RS-TR210 cassette deck
Pioneer PL-71 turntable
Infinity Qe speakers
Energy AS-180 subwoofer
Panasonic TC-26LX60 LCD HDTV
Xbox 360
Post edited by Shintsu on
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Comments

  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    I'm not positive, but those look like the older Mini Monitors, which were produced in the early-mid 80's if I recall correctly. At 25 bucks for the pair, I say go for it. Some great little speakers.

    edit-Here are a couple places with info. on the vintage Polks.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/search/older.php

    http://www.polksda.com/
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
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    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Pauly
    Pauly Posts: 4,519
    edited January 2009
    Kinda looks like the Series 2

    Not Montiors the tweeter and mid give that away
    Life without music would♭
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    That looks like the same tweeter I've seen on other Mini Monitors. These have the same tweeters, but these are the newer Mini Monitors.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76668

    Could they be S4's? I don't think they are...they had a much different looking tweeter. The midwoofer looks an awful lot like the S4's midwoofer. Just going by memory anyway.
    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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  • Shintsu
    Shintsu Posts: 7
    edited January 2009
    Hey guys, thanks for the help so far it really looks like those in the picture you posted just minus the port on the front. I asked elsewhere and someone said they could possibly be one of the versions of the Monitor 4 series.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/monitor4/
    My stereo/gaming setup
    Adcom GFA-5300 Amplifier
    NAD Surround Sound Preamp 917
    Technics SL-P770 CD player
    Technics RS-TR210 cassette deck
    Pioneer PL-71 turntable
    Infinity Qe speakers
    Energy AS-180 subwoofer
    Panasonic TC-26LX60 LCD HDTV
    Xbox 360
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited January 2009
    I think they came out after the Monitor 4. I used to have a matching center for it. It was the CS200. I know that at the time they were available, Polk had that tweeter on the pic, and the Tri-laminate.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    I don't think they're Monitor 4's. The tweeter they had is quite a bit different looking. I'm still thinking they're older Mini's...but I'm not an expert. So I could be wrong.
    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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  • Shintsu
    Shintsu Posts: 7
    edited January 2009
    Hmm, how annoying. Well, I plan to give these a listen tomorrow and barring they just sound awful (doubtful) I'll be picking them up to use in a cheap setup! Hell, these would be great for rears if I were to ever find a 5 channel amp for my present setup.
    My stereo/gaming setup
    Adcom GFA-5300 Amplifier
    NAD Surround Sound Preamp 917
    Technics SL-P770 CD player
    Technics RS-TR210 cassette deck
    Pioneer PL-71 turntable
    Infinity Qe speakers
    Energy AS-180 subwoofer
    Panasonic TC-26LX60 LCD HDTV
    Xbox 360
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    I'd go for em. At 25 bucks for the pair, you really can't go wrong, no matter which model they are.

    I'm going out on a limb here...but they kinda look like Mini Monitors that don't have the original mid/woofer or something like that. The tweeter looks like a Mini's tweeter, and the mid/woofer looks like the mid/woofer from the S4 or S6...weird.

    We need to solve this mystery.
    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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  • Shintsu
    Shintsu Posts: 7
    edited January 2009
    I appreciate the initiative! Really, Polk could've used some better adhesive since this seems common with these older bookshelf speakers...maybe I'll be able to read something in the residue?
    My stereo/gaming setup
    Adcom GFA-5300 Amplifier
    NAD Surround Sound Preamp 917
    Technics SL-P770 CD player
    Technics RS-TR210 cassette deck
    Pioneer PL-71 turntable
    Infinity Qe speakers
    Energy AS-180 subwoofer
    Panasonic TC-26LX60 LCD HDTV
    Xbox 360
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    Those labels falling off is a very common problem. It seems like 3/4 of the Polks from that time period no longer have the labels. They all ended up falling off...and are long since gone.

    This is racking my brain...lol...I need to figure out what these are just to satisfy my own inquisitiveness. I've looked through basically all the vintage Polks on their website...and nothing.

    I'm going to retract what I thought about the mid/woofer though. It doesn't really look that much like the S4 or S6. The dustcap is to small for it to be that. The woofer looks more like the one the used in the smaller Monitors.

    So I'm gonna stick to my original thoughts, in that they're older Mini Monitors. Why is it that neither Polks website, or polksda.com has any information on Mini Monitors? I've been searching high and low...and have found next to no info on them. Anyone have any insight into that?
    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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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited January 2009
    Shintsu wrote: »
    I appreciate the initiative! Really, Polk could've used some better adhesive since this seems common with these older bookshelf speakers...maybe I'll be able to read something in the residue?

    I wish they had used better glue on my SDA 2s I purchased in the late 80s. The sides fell off. Apparently, they were warped, and over time the warpedness caused the glue to give way. I tried regluing, but they just went back to their warped ways.

    Oh well. Gave me an excuse to upgrade to PSB Synchrony 1 towers. Great move.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
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    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited January 2009
    They are the second generation 'Mini Monitor'.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Shintsu
    Shintsu Posts: 7
    edited January 2009
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    They are the second generation 'Mini Monitor'.
    Yes!!! Thank you. Finally I have a concurring answer from my other forum as well - I believe this is what they are. Hell, I'm willing to settle for believing that's what they are just for my sake lol! Thanks for the help guys!

    Given this revelation, does anyone by chance know their wattage, MSRP, age, etc?
    My stereo/gaming setup
    Adcom GFA-5300 Amplifier
    NAD Surround Sound Preamp 917
    Technics SL-P770 CD player
    Technics RS-TR210 cassette deck
    Pioneer PL-71 turntable
    Infinity Qe speakers
    Energy AS-180 subwoofer
    Panasonic TC-26LX60 LCD HDTV
    Xbox 360
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited January 2009
    Actually, they aren't the 'mini monitor', they are the larger 'monitor'.

    The mini had a 5.25" midwoofer, the larger monitor had the 6.5 you see in your pics.

    Yes, just 'monitor'. Circa 1993 give or take a year, I don't have my Orion in front of me, so I can't look it up. About $200 a pair, standard fare on specs, 100 watts, 91db efficient, 8ohm nominal.....

    The (second gen) mini monitor and the monitor were only out for a short time, and evolved into the first gen 'R' series, the R1 and R2.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    Actually, they aren't the 'mini monitor', they are the larger 'monitor'.

    The mini had a 5.25" midwoofer, the larger monitor had the 6.5 you see in your pics.

    Yes, just 'monitor'. Circa 1993 give or take a year, I don't have my Orion in front of me, so I can't look it up. About $200 a pair, standard fare on specs, 100 watts, 91db efficient, 8ohm nominal.....

    The (second gen) mini monitor and the monitor were only out for a short time, and evolved into the first gen 'R' series, the R1 and R2.

    Cheers,
    Russ

    Ah...there's the answer. I didn't know there ever was a model that was just called "Monitor". It seems like there are a bunch of different Monitor models that are really uncommon.
    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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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited January 2009
    Check out what just popped up on ebay. We now have completely undeniable confirmation of what they are.;)

    Polk Audio Monitors
    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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  • Shintsu
    Shintsu Posts: 7
    edited January 2009
    Great! Good to know with solid fact that's what they are. Indeed, they throw around Monitor too much! Thanks for those specs Russman!

    I planned to look at these today but we had a damn ice storm and that ruined it. But at least the university called off class today :D. Thanks again for all the help guys!
    My stereo/gaming setup
    Adcom GFA-5300 Amplifier
    NAD Surround Sound Preamp 917
    Technics SL-P770 CD player
    Technics RS-TR210 cassette deck
    Pioneer PL-71 turntable
    Infinity Qe speakers
    Energy AS-180 subwoofer
    Panasonic TC-26LX60 LCD HDTV
    Xbox 360
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter