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This weekend's find - Polk RTA-12C

dezmond76 said:
I doubt that you had the power that these need to really sing.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22050&d=1169353695
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Thanks for the article link from '1990 stereo review'.
It raves about RTA-15 so it should be good.


BTW, how much power should I give to the RTA-12's?
I have no way of giving 1100 watts like the Stereo Review magazine guys.

I have couple that output over 100 wpc (Yamaha M-50 @ 120 wpc and Kenwood KM105 @ 125 wpc) at 8 ohms. :scratch2:
 
The more power the better they seem to sound , especially down low.I would look at a couple of used parasound hca series that can be bridged.The hca-1000 or better 1200 would be great .
 
Mystery said:
Thanks for comments.


Thanks and no problem.
I always welcome opinions and constructive criticisms.
That's why I'm here. :)
The ones in your picture are with SL1000 tweeters that are considered to have even better sound stage than SL2000. Did you ever try replacing crossovers?

To tell the truth, may be I was expecting much better sound from these RTA-12C due to their size and TOTL model as I really like monitor 5B's and 7C's as well as CRS+.
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Yes, my opinions are just that so let your ears decide.
I truly was not impressed for whatever reasons with the Polk RTA-12 and 15tl I mentioned especially compared to my more musical and dynamic Monitor 10 and SDA-1's I once enjoyed :)
 
Congrates Mystery :) I saw those on CL at a great price, but I'm not really on the upgrade road anymore. Good to hear the A400's holding their own. But those Polks like fantastic
 
tubed said:
Yes, my opinions are just that so let your ears decide.
I truly was not impressed for whatever reasons with the Polk RTA-12 and 15tl I mentioned especially compared to my more musical and dynamic Monitor 10 and SDA-1's I once enjoyed :)
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I see. BTW, for every vintage Polk speakers, PA forum members always recommend replacing capacitors to make them sound as they were designed. Some threads even mention RTA-12C have better sound than SDA-1 except the dimensional effect.

So, I'll hold on to few I have until I decide to upgrade crossover and then compare. Few means quite a few. :D
Monitor 4, S4, 5B, 7A, 7C, RTA-8TL, RTA-12C, SDA CRS+.
Looks like Polks don't leave me alone. :music:

kermit z said:
Congrates Mystery :) I saw those on CL at a great price, but I'm not really on the upgrade road anymore. Good to hear the A400's holding their own. But those Polks like fantastic
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Thanks Steve.
Yes, they look very nice and are in great cosmetic condition.
Probably 1st quarter next year, I'll decide which pairs to upgrade crossover on the Polk. Then the real fun will begin. :thmbsp:
A400's are smoother while Polks are little forward but all Polks always have have that soft bass recoil effect I like due to passive radiator.:thmbsp:
 
Mystery said:
I see. BTW, for every vintage Polk speakers, PA forum members always recommend replacing capacitors to make them sound as they were designed. Some threads even mention RTA-12C have better sound than SDA-1 except the dimensional effect.

So, I'll hold on to few I have until I decide to upgrade crossover and then compare. Few means quite a few. :D
Monitor 4, S4, 5B, 7A, 7C, RTA-8TL, RTA-12C, SDA CRS+.
Looks like Polks don't leave me alone. :music:
Click to expand...

Mystery, how do you think your Monitor 7's compare to the RTA-12's? I've heard that the Monitor 7's are supposed to be the best of the pre-RTA (late 1970s)/SDA (1980s) period. I've always had my eye out for a pair, as I've never heard this earlier era of Polk speakers.
 
steelglam said:
Mystery, how do you think your Monitor 7's compare to the RTA-12's? I've heard that the Monitor 7's are supposed to be the best of the pre-RTA (late 1970s)/SDA (1980s) period. I've always had my eye out for a pair, as I've never heard this earlier era of Polk speakers.
Click to expand...

I haven't done a direct comparison yet.
Monitor 7's are not being used currently but the 7C's sounded very good when I compared with 5B's with added bottom end than the 5B's otherwise exact similar sound.
I remember 5B's imaged better than 7C's but 7C's sounded better overall.

My HT surrounds had CS350 center, CRS+ as fronts, 7C's as sides and 5B's as rear surrounds but had to remove 7C's due to size and use 5B's and monitor 4's instead.
I'll update if/when I compare 7C's and 12C's.
 
Issue or no?

Not sure if there is an issue or not...

Was playing songs this morning and sounded very good and clean.
Since their spec mention 17hz, I played 20 hz test tone and noticed the right speaker rattling even at medium volume.
The sound was similar to unglued surround slapping on the basket.
trr...trr..trrr..trr...

I increased volume and the left one also started.
Then I tried 30 hz test tone and it needed little more volume but the right speaker started again.
Left one took a higher volume to rattle at 30 hz.

So I took the grill off of the right one and watched what it is doing while rattling.
Everything looked okay. PR was vibrating like crazy due to low frequency tone but didn't see anything obvious that could cause this.
I think it is PR and not the mids causing this.
They sound solid without rattle while listening to songs even at high volume but I bet those songs never send that much low frequency as when testing.

When I refoamed JBL before, 30 hz tone would move a lot of air but never rattle.

I'm certain these can handle even 20 hz signal so 30 hz signal should be no problem for them.
So what could be the issue?
 
Didn't open them yet but did a listening session in loud volume with action movies and bass heavy songs. No rattle nothing from the speakers even though the floor was shaking.
Sounds great so I'll leave them alone. :thmbsp:
 
steelglam said:
Mystery, how do you think your Monitor 7's compare to the RTA-12's? I've heard that the Monitor 7's are supposed to be the best of the pre-RTA (late 1970s)/SDA (1980s) period. I've always had my eye out for a pair, as I've never heard this earlier era of Polk speakers.
Click to expand...

Did a brief comparison of my new 7C's and these.
They are not perfectly setup but from what I could do, they both sound similar but RTA-12's have more open and smooth mid and highs.
Bass kinda feels the same in same volume.
Also, I felt RTA-12's image better but 7C's are still very good sounding speakers for the price. :thmbsp:
 
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