The Official Polk Audio Speakers Thread

[Big Daddy]

Please discuss your Polk Audio speakers in this thread. You can include pictures, reviews, or any other comments regarding your speakers.

Manufacturer’s Website: http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/index.php

For additional information about Polk speakers or any problems, contact

Jessica Villavicencio
Sales and Operations Assistant
(ph) 410-764-5211
jvillavicencio@polkaudio.com
Polk Audio, Inc

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Finally, we can have a single thread instead of having 5 pop up in one day!!

Thanks big daddy

In short, I own the 'flagship' (that's a joke) speaker system from the Monitor line. Monitor 70s for fronts, CS2 center, and Monitor 40s for surrounds. Throw in an Onkyo 805 and I have no problems driving rather very power hungry fronts at an entry level perspective. The center is clear and clean, and the surrounds are easy to drive and sing with concert Blus and umm, yeah even DVDs. Overall, I'm very please with what I got for the price, and could be happier. That's right, I want to upgrade. But in reality, these are great speakers for the price I got them at and get the job done well till I can afford some Paradigms or Definite Tech speakers. Cheers all!

And if I have to say one last thing: Monitor Line=TSi Line. Build a bridge and get over it.

[JJ]

And I own the ol' reliables as my surrounds, the Monitor 50s.

And if I have to say one last thing: Monitor Line=TSi Line. Build a bridge and get over it

But that Piano Gloss top cover is SOOO SHINY!!!

But they are the same, chaps.

[Polyh3dron]

What's the best place to get a pair of Monitor 70s online? I'm seeing $229.99 at Newegg as the best price from a reputable site (with free shipping that is).. does anyone know of a better deal?

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

We should all just redo the finish on the Monitors, slapping on some fake veneers, and then we'll see what that Piano Gloss top cover has on us..

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Originally Posted by Polyh3dron

What's the best place to get a pair of Monitor 70s online? I'm seeing $229.99 at Newegg as the best price from a reputable site.. does anyone know of a better deal?

That's only $20 less than what I got my Monitor 70s for way back in August. They're pretty hard to find these days, as the Monitor line was discontinued last summer and replaced with the TSi line. If you can get the Monitor 70s off Newegg, I would do it, as they are hard to find, and that is prob the best deal you could get for the 70s right now.

[Driver_King]

That is a picture of my front sound stage with the Polk SDA's as the fronts in my home theater and stereo setup. I have always found vintage equipment to be the best of audio manufacturers as it was a much different time back then for manufacturers when everyone was competing to offer the best speakers and such as possible compared to today where style, convenience, and the WAF plays a major role in audio choices. Polk was a high-end audio company in the 70's and 80's. Polk focuses more on entry-level and mid-end speakers now. The sound of the SDA's is simply indescribable and beautiful. I also have more pictures of Polk speakers in my gallery. I have the Polk Monitor 5Jr.'s for surrounds and Monitor 4's for back surrounds. The sound staging of entire the system is simply flawless and surreal at times.

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

That is a picture of my front sound stage with the Polk SDA's as the fronts in my home theater and stereo setup. I have always found vintage equipment to be the best of audio manufacturers as it was a much different time back then for manufacturers when everyone was competing to offer the best speakers and such as possible compared to today where style, convenience, and the WAF plays a major role in audio choices. Polk was a high-end audio company in the 70's and 80's. Polk focuses more on entry-level and mid-end speakers now. The sound of the SDA's is simply indescribable and beautiful. I also have more pictures of Polk speakers in my gallery. I have the Polk Monitor 5Jr.'s for surrounds and Monitor 4's for back surrounds. The sound staging of entire the system is simply flawless and surreal at times.

I would love to hear you preach that in person with a very deep Gospel like voice. Haha

[crazyBLUE]

TSi-300 for surr. & rear surr. for me !!!!
Thanks BD

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

TSi-300 for surr. & rear surr. for me !!!!

We need to see the picture of the Polk speaker with the crazy driver.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

We need to see the picture of the Polk speaker with the crazy driver.

Just for you Big Daddy !!!

[Audiophile_At_Birth]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

We need to see the picture of the Polk speaker with the crazy driver.

No! You'll make Mr. Polk sad and upset that his employees don't know which way is up and down anymore..

[Big Daddy]

I own a pair of vintage Polk Audio RTA-15TL speakers. I bought them in 1990-1991. The Polk RTA-15TL were the top-of the line non SDA Polk speakers from 1990 to 1992. I bought them brand new back then for $1,400. These are the specifications:

Drivers
One 1 inch (25 mm) SL 3000 Dome Tweeter
Four 61/2 inch (165 mm) Trilaminate Polymer Bass-Midrange Drivers (6503)
Two 10 inch (254 mm) Sub-Bass Radiators, One High-Resonance, One Low-Resonance
Frequency Response
20 Hz - 26 kHz
-3 db Limits
35 Hz - 25kHz
Recommended Amplification
30-250 Watts/Channel
Impedance
Compatible with 8 Ohms Output
Efficiency
90 db
Size
43"H (109.2 cm), 12.5" W (31.7 cm), 15.5" D (39.4 cm)
Shipping Weight
77 lbs (34.9 kg)


I recently replaced their tweeters with new silk dome tweeters (RD0198-1), developed by Polk Audio.


This picture is taken with the old SL 3000 tweeter:

This is the Polk RTA-15TL speaker with the new RD0198-1 tweeter:

I also added a pair of LCY 100K super tweeters from E-Speakers.Com for about $580, including tax and shipping. Their frequency reponse are rated up to 100kHz with two built-in crossover settings.

[crazyBLUE]

Big Daddy you're post says 2 - sub- bass radiators I only see 1 , Is the other on the back of the speaker !!!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Big Daddy you're post says 2 - sub- bass radiators I only see 1 , Is the other on the back of the speaker !!!

These speakers are from the time when Polk Audio used to be a higher-end company and almost all their speakers were designed by Matthew Polk. You could only buy them at specialty audio stores and they were relatively expensive in the 1980's and early 1990's.

The RTA15 speakers have two 10" passive radiator. There is one in the front and one in the back. The one in the back has a slightly lower resonance frequency. The speakers need to be placed a couple of feet away from the rear walls.

[Tru2theBlu]

I just saw a pair of these (Polk RTA-15TL) locally for $400. In fact, I know the guy selling them. They are very tempting.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Tru2theBlu

I just saw a pair of these (Polk RTA-15TL) locally for $400. In fact, I know the guy selling them. They are very tempting.

If you can, bargain for them.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

These speakers are from the time when Polk Audio used to be a higher-end company and almost all their speakers were designed by Matthew Polk. You could only buy them at specialty audio stores and they were relatively expensive in the 1980's and early 1990's.

The RTA15 speakers have two 10" passive radiator. There is one in the front and one in the back. The one in the back has a slightly lower resonance frequency. The speakers need to be placed a couple of feet away from the rear walls.

Good I thought I was going crazy there for A moment & seeing things wrong
I'm sure they sound great with that radiator on the back .

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Tru2theBlu

I just saw a pair of these (Polk RTA-15TL) locally for $400. In fact, I know the guy selling them. They are very tempting.

If they are in good shape, you can consider them. Check Ebay and Audiogon and see if you can talk the price down.

[HiDef-Crazy]

I have some monitor 50s and Monitor 30s shipping this week. My living room has Monitor 60s CS2 and R150

What I would like to do is keep the Monitor 60s and the CS2 in th living room then add the Monitor 30s for the surrounds. Then move the R150 surrounds in to the game/movie room with the Monitor 50s that are coming also. The only thing is finding a great sub for the movie room. I run 2 JBL venue series in the living room.

Just wanted to let you know with people like Big Daddy and others on this forum I would have had my BOSE Speaker system forever but not now after listening to them. The system I have now sounds like a sound system should.

I have pictures in my gallery if you want to take a peak.