Polk Monitor 10

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

I'm going to St Louis to check these out today. If I like them, I think I'll offer him $120.

 

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/ele/d/saint-louis-polk-monitor-10-speakers/7120802281.html

 

[BarryG 2,853]

Not the original tweeters!

 

are these 10, 10a, or 10b. It’s usually obvious from tweeter!  Polk has nice tweeter upgrades in general!

Edited May 12, 2020 by BarryG

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

From the ad:

 

 fully functioning with updated Vifa tweeters, a very common upgrade on these

 

Series 2 M-10

[BarryG 2,853]

Worth a good listen, let me know how they sound!

[Dennis47 973]

First I have ever heard of Vifa tweeters as a common upgrade for Polk speakers. 

Plenty of upgrade info on the Polk Fourm. I would highly recommend a crossover

upgrade (Solens/Mills). Let us know if ya get 'em.

[BarryG 2,853]

My thoughts too Dennis, crossover upgrade would be good!  Might have been changed when they changed tweeter.  I bought a cheap pair of polka, guy did not realize half the drivers were from radio shack, drivers I replaced from Polk sounded good!  For the most part Polk drivers are available!  Usually 50 each!  Not every model is available, you can find schematics on Polk forum as !well

Parts express is a good source for capacitors and resistors, Madisound has some too.  Sonicaps are nice but pricy (soniccraft).

[BarryG 2,853]

I just searched vifa tweeter on Polk forum, it’s a round tweeter used on some of the later polks.  Nowadays rebadged as Dayton!

[BarryG 2,853]

https://forum.polkaudio.com/search?adv=&search=Monitor+10+vifa+tweeter+upgrade&title=&author=&cat=all&tags=&discussion_poll=1&discussion_question=1&comment_answer=1&discussion_d=1&comment_c=1&within=1+day&date=

[Daddyjt 9,612]

These are the OEM Polk “upgrade” tweeters that belong in those speakers - the RDO-194. Polk has contracted Midwest to distribute the classic SDA drivers.

 

https://www.midwestspeakerrepair.com/shop/home-audio/tweeters/polk-audio-1-tweeters/polk-audio-sl2000-1-inch-dome-tweeter/

 

[BarryG 2,853]

Polk customer support would be cheaper if they have them in stock, there is an improved driver for the sl-2000 ( upgrade is rd0194) and for the dl3000 (Upgrade is rd0198). Last time I ordered , $49 each.  Mention your a member of club Polk , get a small discount, thinking it’s free shipping!  Midwest does not reduce price for club Polk members!  The upgrades are with it!  
 

some 10’s may have sl-2500, if that is what was originally in there, use the rd0198!

 

the first version of The 10s which I have, are fitted with peerless speakers!  If I upgrade would be the rd0194!  But have considered the rd0198 with changes to crossover!  Various crossovers are on the forum https://forum.polk.com

 

 

That Vifa driver might be an upgrade for newer speakers, I’m trying to figure how the box is sealed with that driver installed.

 The big woofer is passive, works well with a good sealed box!

Edited May 12, 2020 by BarryG

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

I just got home with these, and I like them. They are just a bit bright, but the percussion on the Pink Floyd's Time is nice and tight. The tweeters have some sort of gasket material behind them to seal the box. 

 

The guy didn't have the grills, but he had the stands. The bad news is he wouldn't part with the stands, even when I offered him his full asking price. I ended up bringing them home for $130, twenty off his original price.

 

The guy had a nice sounding rig. Old Denon turntable, Sansui AU9500 Integrated Amp. I didn't notice what his transport was, but after we loaded the speakers, he mentioned SACD. Though he's never played or heard one.

 

I'll see if I can find some grills, and after looking at the stands, I know I can make some with some 3/4 or 1" square tube stainless and some 3/16" flat stock.

 

Now in true OCD fashion, I need to find a use for them.

 

Oh, they sound better with the 4000t, oppo 105, and the M-500t mkII, but I'm sure y'all know that already.  

[kve777 6,888]

Cool.

 Get the right tweeters! Upgrade the crossovers.

 

Nothing wrong with a nice pair of Monitor 10's!

[compwaco 1,129]

If you have no luck finding grills I have 3 pair here and I can always part out one of them.

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

1 minute ago, compwaco said:

If you have no luck finding grills I have 3 pair here and I can always part out one of them.

 

I did see some grills on ebay, but they were for the speakers with the post on speakers. These will need grills with the post on the grill

[BarryG 2,853]

These speakers match well with a Carver m-500t mkii!

[compwaco 1,129]

I will try to get upstairs this

 Weekend and dig them out. I'm not sure which style they are.

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

I've been planning on a garage system, but the cabinets on these are too nice for the garage. 

[BarryG 2,853]

Plans for stands if your DIY!

 

i am using a pair of IsoAcoustics stands on mine I picked up cheap!  Seem to work well!

Even can angle them!

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

I found this schematic, and it looks like the SL2500 is the original tweeter. That brings up a couple of questions.

 

Should I decide to upgrade the crossovers, what parts should I use?

Is a crossover upgrade something an absolute novice should attempt?

 

 Polk Series 2 Monitor 10 schematic.pdf

[BarryG 2,853]

Crossover upgrade is the first thing I ever did, crossover in these is fairly easy.  I would do the rd0198 tweeter upgrade. Again Polk is your best source if they have them!  I used Dayton poly in my monitor 10s. 
 

good luck with your project!

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

Thanks Barry. The cabinets on these aren't sealed very well either. I pushed in the PR, and it was about a second and the mid drivers returned home. 

 

I like these as is, and I think with a little TLC, I'll be very pleased!

[jeffs 3,229]

17 hours ago, Sk1Bum said:

They are just a bit bright

Good score on the speakers.

I bought my brother a pair of SDA2B. After a 1/2 day of listening, I had to turn them off. I was fatigued, the tweeters were far too bright.

I bought a pair of the RD0194 and the difference way night and day. Not sure how your Vifa tweeters compare to the sl2500 or rd0198? If you go with the RD0198, you're basically doubling you outlay, and the crossovers are going to add as well. (I did resell the sl2000 for 1/2 the cost of the new rd0194.)

 

I used dayton poly caps in my JBL xovers and happy with the results.

 

Sounds like a fun project!

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

I just got off the phone with Polk Audio. I picked up a pair of RD0198-1 tweeters for $96 + tax, free shipping, $103 and change total.

 

Now to figure out how to recap the crossovers. Hmm, maybe just build a new crossover so I don't fubar the old ones...

[RodH 4,866]

Wonder what the value of resistor R1 in that crossover is, and should it be different with the new tweeter?

[Sk1Bum 11,404]

2 minutes ago, RodH said:

Wonder what the value of resistor R1 in that crossover is, and should it be different with the new tweeter?

 

Unless I've missed something, the RD0198-1 tweeter is a drop in replacement for the SL2500, but I'll need to figure out if whoever replaced the SL2500 with the Vifa tweeters modded the crossover.