Should I build Polk Monitor 10s from scratch?

[onanysunday]

It's up to you, but I think there'd be more success in finding a working pair of speakers then tweaking them a bit more to your liking. At least that's what I would do. You'd be more guaranteed of success or satisfaction I would think. I am just finishing up a Polk SDA-2B "TL" conversion, installing RD0-198 tweeters with improved crossover materials/ changes. Can't wait them to pit them against my Vandersteen 2Ce Sig. II when finished. The results should be interesting.

 

[Lavane]

The crossovers in the Monitor 11 were not tweaked. Polk added a dividing wall between the two mid-drivers that went slightly below them. They then added acoustic foam below one of the mid-drivers to alter the frequency range thereby greatly reducing the comb filtering inherent to the Monitor 10.

Thanks for clearing that up. I was told something different.
So, with the midbass drivers and tweeters the OP has, what model Polk speaker or speakers did they come from? I'm sure it might help knowing what crossover he has too.
I'm getting a new table saw soon and I think I'm going to make new cabs for that second ratty pair of 10's I have.
It would be cool to have the dimensions for the 11's cabs including any added internal bits. Then I could just use the components to make a pair of 11's instead. At any rate I think it would be fun to make new cabs using real wood veneer on them, along with different grills.

 

[F1nut]

Thanks for clearing that up. I was told something different.
So, with the midbass drivers and tweeters the OP has, what model Polk speaker or speakers did they come from? I'm sure it might help knowing what crossover he has too.
I'm getting a new table saw soon and I think I'm going to make new cabs for that second ratty pair of 10's I have.
It would be cool to have the dimensions for the 11's cabs including any added internal bits. Then I could just use the components to make a pair of 11's instead. At any rate I think it would be fun to make new cabs using real wood veneer on them, along with different grills.

Well, he seems to have a mixed bag, so hard to say what model.

 

[Starpacer]

Couple of things.

The 11T is a very different speaker than the Monitor 11.

The 11T is not a very good speaker. I wouldn't try to copy it.

The correct replacement tweeter for the Monitor 10 is the RD0194-1.

The Polk mid-drivers have very specific parameters. Those Goldwood 6028 drivers are not acceptable replacements.

I've attached a pic of the crossover that I have - appears to be for M10 or 11T? That made me think these were from Monitor 10 Series 2, which would imply use of the later tweeters (and RD0198 replacement)? I'm thinking of the Goldwoods as a temporary experiment - if they sound okay, fine - if not install some OEM Polks (if I can find them)

 

[Starpacer]

Thanks for clearing that up. I was told something different.
So, with the midbass drivers and tweeters the OP has, what model Polk speaker or speakers did they come from? I'm sure it might help knowing what crossover he has too.
I'm getting a new table saw soon and I think I'm going to make new cabs for that second ratty pair of 10's I have.
It would be cool to have the dimensions for the 11's cabs including any added internal bits. Then I could just use the components to make a pair of 11's instead. At any rate I think it would be fun to make new cabs using real wood veneer on them, along with different grills.

Sounds like you have the same idea that I have, only you know a lot more about the audio side... I do a lot of woodworking, thought it would be fun to try my hand a building some speakers, and what better candidate than a Polk Monitor 10! So I picked up these components from multiple sources - they're definitely a "mixed bag" - just an attempt at getting the parts I'd need to build something resembling an M10...

 

[Lavane]

Sounds like you have the same idea that I have, only you know a lot more about the audio side... I do a lot of woodworking, thought it would be fun to try my hand a building some speakers, and what better candidate than a Polk Monitor 10! So I picked up these components from multiple sources - they're definitely a "mixed bag" - just an attempt at getting the parts I'd need to build something resembling an M10...

The Polk forum could probably help you out. The crossover is going to be the thing you would need to look at for those drivers to play nice together.
I've read a few posts there where people have adjusted the crossovers to use different tweeters, etc. Just do a web search for the Polk forum.
I haven't been on it much lately myself. Just sign in and you should be a le to post some questions.
the motor wore out in my old table saw. So I have to get another one with a bigger table. I can't complain, I got 20 years out of the old one. I just want a better one this time around.

 

[Lavane]

I've attached a pic of the crossover that I have - appears to be for M10 or 11T? That made me think these were from Monitor 10 Series 2, which would imply use of the later tweeters (and RD0198 replacement)? I'm thinking of the Goldwoods as a temporary experiment - if they sound okay, fine - if not install some OEM Polks (if I can find them)

It looks pretty much like mine did before I recapped it. The mylar film cap is different, but they would source parts from various vendors. Zooming in on the picture of my model 10 crossover, it has 10/11T on it as well.
As for having 10/11T on it, they may have just used the same board for both. Just different values for the parts for one or the others.

 

[drumbum]

Thanks for clearing that up. I was told something different.
So, with the midbass drivers and tweeters the OP has, what model Polk speaker or speakers did they come from? I'm sure it might help knowing what crossover he has too.
I'm getting a new table saw soon and I think I'm going to make new cabs for that second ratty pair of 10's I have.
It would be cool to have the dimensions for the 11's cabs including any added internal bits. Then I could just use the components to make a pair of 11's instead. At any rate I think it would be fun to make new cabs using real wood veneer on them, along with different grills.

If you follow through with the build,...make sure and use the same material they were originally built with (or as close as reasonable). I built new boxes for a pair of Imperial 6's, reusing the og baffle and back panel and MDF sides instead of particle board, and that pair sounds slightly different than my original pair.

 

[Lavane]

If you follow through with the build,...make sure and use the same material they were originally built with (or as close as reasonable). I built new boxes for a pair of Imperial 6's, reusing the og baffle and back panel and MDF sides instead of particle board, and that pair sounds slightly different than my original pair.

Thanks, that makes sense . I have a pair of Imperial 6 speakers also. I really like them.