Polk Monitor 10's on CL -Deal or No Deal?

[Wolverine]

Local CL has a pair of Polk Monitor 10's for $150. They appear to be in good condition. Quick search of E-Bay makes it seem like a deal but then I see threads where people are picking them up at thrifts etc for less than $100. This pair dates from 89 so I am guessing would not have the peerless tweeter.
I am currently running a pair of RTR Series IV's as my mains which actually sound very good. Would the Polk's be a step up or a step sideways??

[Cosmos]

Wow, you ask hard questions to answer.

Yes, if you thrift and you get lucky, you can find 10s at a thrift for much less money. I think I paid $15 for mine that needed a tweeter at SA. That said, are they worth $150? There are many AK'ers that would be on them for $150.They seem to consistently sell for more, so I don't think you'd get hurt too bad if you don't like them...

Personally, I was not an overwhelming fan of the pair I owned until I parted with them. I traded mine to another AKer. On his system and in his home, they sound very very nice. Another AK'er has a pair that sound great too. They both are running tube amp/preamp combos, that for whatever reason, the Polks seem to like. To me, on my shop test system, they sounded a little bloated in the mid bass. I tested them on a SS receiver. I didn't like them enough, based on that, to ever try them on my main system. After trading them, I wish I had at least tried them on my main system prior to trading them. I don't think they would have made it into a permanent spot in my main system, but they certainly could have made it into being a "keeper". Additionally, I have read other people's comments echo my experience so I can only assume they are very dependent on system balance/synergy.

As to whether they are a step up from RTR series 4's... I think they are a little apple and oranges, but I would think I'd favor the Polks by a narrow margin. Then again, if you are happy with your RTRs.. I am not sure I'd bother.

That is my two cents.. FWIW. YMMV.

[Andyman]

I've heard them and like them, but they didn't wow me either on SS out in the garage. But I do collect speakers and have LOTs of sweet vintage stuff. I think they were going up against some Polk 7s, Dynaco A25s, Pioneer HPM900s and EPI 500s, so they were in a pretty tough mix. I sold them to Kegger, which is probably one of the systems Cosmos heard, and they sound spectacular on his tube gear.

If you want them, that $150 is pretty fair. If you were to get a set on eBay, you'd have to kick in at least another $40 for shipping, so don't forget that. If you don't like them and are so inclined, you can always flip them and maybe even make some money. Love it or hate it, eBay does allow us to experience almost any gear we care to for what might only be the cost of shipping. If you don't like it, just turn around and sell it.

[Wolverine]

Thanks all. You both kind of echo what I was able to find on these speakers good not great seems to be common theme. I am happy with the RTR's but I know there is better out there so I just have this itch that I think needs scratching. I think my best bet is to just hold off until I have the $ for a real speaker upgrade or keep scouring the thrifts or CL and see if there is a diamond in the rough for the right price. E-Bay is always interesting but the good stuff speaker wise usually does go for near top dollar.

[Cosmos]

Thanks all. You both kind of echo what I was able to find on these speakers good not great seems to be common theme. I am happy with the RTR's but I know there is better out there so I just have this itch that I think needs scratching. I think my best bet is to just hold off until I have the $ for a real speaker upgrade or keep scouring the thrifts or CL and see if there is a diamond in the rough for the right price. E-Bay is always interesting but the good stuff speaker wise usually does go for near top dollar.

Well, if you find them for $50 in a thrift, jump on them. They are worth at least a listen.

A higher priced speaker doesn't mean you are getting more... There are speakers that I think get into a high demand phase and get priced above their real value.. not to say they are bad, just so in demand that their selling price goes up high enough to put them in another competition class... For instance, I have seen several Polk Monitor 10s sell for more than Polk SDA's or ADS L810 sell for more than ADS L1290 or L1590. Both examples defies logic.

[mhardy6647]

What they are worth depends upon which version of the Model 10/Monitor 10 they be. If they're Model 10s, or Monitor 10As, with the Peerless silk dome tweeters, in excellent cosmetic and working condition, $150 sounds fine to me.

[Wolverine]

What they are worth depends upon which version of the Model 10/Monitor 10 they be. If they're Model 10s, or Monitor 10As, with the Peerless silk dome tweeters, in excellent cosmetic and working condition, $150 sounds fine to me.

No I checked the owner states they were bought in 89 which is post peerless tweeter production.

Cosmos-I agree price does not equal quality but possibly just current popularity. BTW-You mentioned earlier that comparing the Polk's to the RTR Series 4's was an apple and oranges comparison. I am just kind of curious what you mean?

[Wolverine]

Owner is now willing to take $125 but I am sitting on the fence here..........aargh!!!!

[scootchu]

Go have a listen. I got my series 2 10's off of CL for $50. They are good, but my 7's a close equal.

[mhardy6647]

If they happen to have this tweeter version... I would pass on them at that price.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=59346&d=1188434588

[Kegger]

As Mentioned, I have 10B's, they HAD the posted above tweeter. (Got the new one)

I could not believe the sound Squidward was getting out of these speakers and one
of the modded ST-70's. He told me they were decent on solid state stuff but he had
to audition them for someone who was buying them and the only amp he had up and
running at the time was the modded 70, after selling them.. HE WENT AND GOT MORE!

They just work extremly well on tubes, what a wonderful match and I'm now hooked!

[Cadillac Kid]

I'm with Kegger, I picked up a pair of 10B's at the Thrift for a few bucks. They had that Silver Coil tweeter. I replaced the tweets with the new Polk replacement and I am now powering them with my Tube Pre and Amp. I am pleased with the sound. I auditioned some high end speakers when I bought my amp, but decided to stick with the Polks.

[Danger Boy]

the tweeters on those Monitor 10's are very upgradeable from Polk Audio.. to a very sweet sounding silk dome tweeter.. the part number is RD0-194 that is a direct drop in replacement/upgrade tweeter.

as we speak I am listening to a pair of Polk SDA 2B's with those exact RD0 tweeters.. smooth as a baby's butt ;)

$125 is not bad at all if they are in really good condition. of course we all love great deals.. but that price is not out of range at all. the SL2000 tweeter as pictured above is very open in it's soundstage, but it's rather ear piercing.. so the RD0-194 replacment is highly, i mean HIGHLY recommended.

go listen to them. if they aren't your cup.. then pass on em. but lots people once they listen to a pair of vintage Polks with plenty of power.. tend to change their mind. :yes:

[koseltri]

I paid $160 for my monitor 10's. It was actually a 'system' with a cheap Onkyo reciever (amp chip blown), BOTL yammie dual deck, and cheap CD-DVD changer. I haven't found the SL2000 to be harsh at all, but then I like my Kabukis too. ;):arrow: Hi Danger boy, nice to see other double-dippers here.

Scott

[mhardy6647]

...$125 is not bad at all if they are in really good condition. of course we all love great deals.. but that price is not out of range at all. the SL2000 tweeter as pictured above is very open in it's soundstage, but it's rather ear piercing... so the RD0-194 replacment is highly, i mean HIGHLY recommended.

In the interest of disclosure: that's another 80 smackers for the tweeters.

[onepixel]

I like the SL2000 silver domes, but then again I never heard the silk dome tweeters. They were in my M10s and SDA-2s.

Go take a listen if you like them, $125 is a fair to good deal.

[Llama50]

I'm enjoying my Model 10's right now. When I got them the foam on one of the mid's wasn't glued down for about 2/3's of the way around. Looks like someone tried to refoam all of them and screwed that one up. Quick fix and now they sound pretty good.
There was a 1976 stamp on the back of the driver and the tweeters are the original peerless. I don't think they're up to my bozaks or my hpm 100's but they certainly can hold their own against many other $150 - $200 speakers.

[Wolverine]

In the interest of disclosure: that's another 80 smackers for the tweeters.

Thanks MH!

That would take me up to $200 which while not bad still seems high versus the SQ. I think given the other posts here there is a chance I can find these when thrifting and then do the upgrade on the tweeter. I am starting to get a good sense of what I should jump on when I am thrifting or looking at CL so that may be the route until I have the money for a real speaker upgrade.

Thanks to all who have replied and I am sure I will be posting some more speaker questions whenever I come across the unkown or unusual.

[Andyman]

I think given the other posts here there is a chance I can find these when thrifting and then do the upgrade on the tweeter.

Well, I've found about 3 pairs in 9-10 years, so they're not as common as Large Advents or EPI 100s. If I wanted a set as keepers though, that $125 would be a fair price, especially if they were real nice cosmetically.

[Kegger]

With the new tweeter in place I personally grade them much higher then most of
the speakers that have come through my place and how well they work on tubes.

So I would more then likely grade them higher then what this thread "seems" to be
portraying them as, I have owned/own a ton of speakers, including what has been
mentioned and none have had the overall balance of what the 10's do in my system.
(ADS L880's have been dethroned in my system with the tube gear I now use)

[Danger Boy]

I think people tend to pass on a pair of speakers based on price alone.. without ever listening to them. That's not fair.

While the older Polk speakers may not sound like other speakers.. they do have their own unique sound. It seems for some odd reason people consider Polk speakers very entry level and not really to be taken seriously. I was skeptical too, but once I bought my first pair, i was hooked. Like any speaker, given good power and proper placement and set up... they could really shine.