dorokusai
08-01-2004, 02:12 AM
I organized a small gathering of the local Polkies for some food, bullsh*t and demo's yesterday. I found out in my coordination, that I did not know as many local Polkies as I thought :( Shell flew under the radar, and I apologize for not letting him know sooner.
If there is anyone else I missed, I apologize, and will have another local/extended BBQ, for the gang, in August/September to make up for my lack of thorough planning. :) Deal?
ANYWAYS.....those who said they would come...came, and that's always nice for the host. Thanks go out to the crew that came down, and I had a fantastic time. The wife even had some fun, and that's a bonus for me only. :)
Roster: Beekyman, Dorokusai, F1Nut, John Strong, Madmax, Warlocks1.
On Deck: Polk Monitor 10A, Polk RTA-12C, Polk SDA 1C, Polk LSi7 and Dahlquist DQ-10.
Front End: Sony SCD-C555ES(SACD Changer)
Back End: Anthem Pre-2L(PreAmp - Mullard Tube), CTC BBQ(Amp)
Interconnects: MIT Shotgun S3(IC)/ Signal Cable(IC-Power)/ PS Audio Juice Bar(Power)
Material: VARIED - Maxwell(RB)/ Alice in Chains(RB-Unplugged)/ Beck(SACD)/ Pink Floyd(SACD)/ Maceo Parker(RB)/ NIN(RB)/ Keb Mo'(RB)....I may be forgetting a couple, but it was fairly simple as the point was to keep it short in order to demo different speakers with the same material.
Summary: We really were informal, as just talking about things audio and non-audio were as cool as anything present for listening. I finally met Warlocks(Jeff), and he is a really nice guy, which differs from his reputation ;) Just kidding. I already knew the others, and Beekyman(Ervin) is a friend from work. He is a new Polkie, so be nice to him, ha-ha. He recently purchased RTi8's from CC, so please feel free to get on him about getting more and more Polk's.
I will let the crew comment on what they were able to hear and their thoughts upon the gear as they see fit to do so.
I think it worked out pretty good, and MY pick of the BBQ is the RTA-12C's. I love my SDA's, but I picked these up from a very cool member, TroyD some time ago....and had never taken the time to listen to them until recently. Shame on me. They sound really great.
Monitor 10A: This is a classic Polk design if there ever was one. Generic design...nothing that really stands out for this child except the sound. I found these with original stands, so that made placement pretty easy. The Peerless tweeter really has something special in the early Polk's. It is not the most expressive speaker in the high end, but the midrange is so warm you want to snuggle up with a blanket. Bass is square in the M10, tight and accurate....a Polk trademark in my eyes, not much has changed aside from the love of vintage Polk for me.
RTA-12C: This array has alot more extension than the M10A in the high end, and carries ALOT of nice tight bass. There are design differences, which is a no brainer, but the comment is meant as an FYI. I feel it has a moderate, defined midrange....but highs that extend beyond the typical soundstage....and a low end that is accurate, powerful and tight. Aside from the robot like look of it sans grills, it's a very un-assuming speaker. It isn't pretty, but sonically, is one of the better vintage Polk's, I have heard.
LSi7: We did not listen to them. I like these speakers, but the vintage gear took precedence. I picked these up from another member, Brett22, and they are solid. The certainly are much more than they appear, and need some break in time to really start singing. I think you would be insane, NOT to pick a pair of these up from Brett....at the very least, you can get your hands on the entry LSi line....and form a REAL opinion on it's performance. I will post some thoughts later when they are burned in more.
Dahlquist DQ-10: This was a late addition, as they are in a "rebuild" status, but Madmax was invigorated by the offer of a demo, so I dug them out. I really like these speakers, again, another member SOLID hookup TroyD, YOU ROCK!
These speakers really define vintage audio. Do yourself a favor and find a pair of these at some point in your life, as they are much more than they appear. They are not Rock or Techno speakers....as by design, and age, they are not ready for that genre.
The DQ10 is very unique in its sound, and they have an airy, 3D image that is UNBELIEVABLE for that time...and even now, sounds fresh and smooth. It really approaches SDA IMO.
Acoustic music is outstanding....that's all I need to say.
When you think about the drivers involved....specifically a "Super" Piezo tweeter! Are you kidding me...the cheapest thing you could possibly buy EVER, even at that time! It all works folks, seriously. The treble has some grain, duh, but the midrange is as solid as any speaker I have ever heard. Don't ever pass up, or sell on Ebay, a pair of these speakers....it's true audio, true vintage, and at LEAST keep them long enough to find out more about what makes them as sought after and loved as Polk SDA's.
SDA 1C: These speakers came via forum hookup by way of Hoosier21....do you feel a pattern here? These smoke everything IMO, screw these other speakers :D I love these speakers like no other SDA's. I mean that as NO slight to other SDA owners.
I'll put it this way....you know when you find that all the pieces fit...and everything works...and that you are floored by what comes out of something you have worked so hard to build? That means alot to me....and makes me want to dance, and believe me, I can't dance.
My 2CH rig is an extension of me, and has alot of sweat and love built into it's existence. I don't need 7.1....I don't need THX....I don't need SVS....I don't need DVD-A ;)....it's just simple....caveman gear....welcome to the cave.
Thanks for taking the time to read, feel free to ask any questions or add violent comments.
This forum is THE best, period....stop lurking, start contributing and you never know what will cross your path. This forum lives because of it's members, get active.
PICS WILL FOLLOW BUT I AM TIRED.....HERE'S ONE TO KEEP YOU MOTIVATED :D
If there is anyone else I missed, I apologize, and will have another local/extended BBQ, for the gang, in August/September to make up for my lack of thorough planning. :) Deal?
ANYWAYS.....those who said they would come...came, and that's always nice for the host. Thanks go out to the crew that came down, and I had a fantastic time. The wife even had some fun, and that's a bonus for me only. :)
Roster: Beekyman, Dorokusai, F1Nut, John Strong, Madmax, Warlocks1.
On Deck: Polk Monitor 10A, Polk RTA-12C, Polk SDA 1C, Polk LSi7 and Dahlquist DQ-10.
Front End: Sony SCD-C555ES(SACD Changer)
Back End: Anthem Pre-2L(PreAmp - Mullard Tube), CTC BBQ(Amp)
Interconnects: MIT Shotgun S3(IC)/ Signal Cable(IC-Power)/ PS Audio Juice Bar(Power)
Material: VARIED - Maxwell(RB)/ Alice in Chains(RB-Unplugged)/ Beck(SACD)/ Pink Floyd(SACD)/ Maceo Parker(RB)/ NIN(RB)/ Keb Mo'(RB)....I may be forgetting a couple, but it was fairly simple as the point was to keep it short in order to demo different speakers with the same material.
Summary: We really were informal, as just talking about things audio and non-audio were as cool as anything present for listening. I finally met Warlocks(Jeff), and he is a really nice guy, which differs from his reputation ;) Just kidding. I already knew the others, and Beekyman(Ervin) is a friend from work. He is a new Polkie, so be nice to him, ha-ha. He recently purchased RTi8's from CC, so please feel free to get on him about getting more and more Polk's.
I will let the crew comment on what they were able to hear and their thoughts upon the gear as they see fit to do so.
I think it worked out pretty good, and MY pick of the BBQ is the RTA-12C's. I love my SDA's, but I picked these up from a very cool member, TroyD some time ago....and had never taken the time to listen to them until recently. Shame on me. They sound really great.
Monitor 10A: This is a classic Polk design if there ever was one. Generic design...nothing that really stands out for this child except the sound. I found these with original stands, so that made placement pretty easy. The Peerless tweeter really has something special in the early Polk's. It is not the most expressive speaker in the high end, but the midrange is so warm you want to snuggle up with a blanket. Bass is square in the M10, tight and accurate....a Polk trademark in my eyes, not much has changed aside from the love of vintage Polk for me.
RTA-12C: This array has alot more extension than the M10A in the high end, and carries ALOT of nice tight bass. There are design differences, which is a no brainer, but the comment is meant as an FYI. I feel it has a moderate, defined midrange....but highs that extend beyond the typical soundstage....and a low end that is accurate, powerful and tight. Aside from the robot like look of it sans grills, it's a very un-assuming speaker. It isn't pretty, but sonically, is one of the better vintage Polk's, I have heard.
LSi7: We did not listen to them. I like these speakers, but the vintage gear took precedence. I picked these up from another member, Brett22, and they are solid. The certainly are much more than they appear, and need some break in time to really start singing. I think you would be insane, NOT to pick a pair of these up from Brett....at the very least, you can get your hands on the entry LSi line....and form a REAL opinion on it's performance. I will post some thoughts later when they are burned in more.
Dahlquist DQ-10: This was a late addition, as they are in a "rebuild" status, but Madmax was invigorated by the offer of a demo, so I dug them out. I really like these speakers, again, another member SOLID hookup TroyD, YOU ROCK!
These speakers really define vintage audio. Do yourself a favor and find a pair of these at some point in your life, as they are much more than they appear. They are not Rock or Techno speakers....as by design, and age, they are not ready for that genre.
The DQ10 is very unique in its sound, and they have an airy, 3D image that is UNBELIEVABLE for that time...and even now, sounds fresh and smooth. It really approaches SDA IMO.
Acoustic music is outstanding....that's all I need to say.
When you think about the drivers involved....specifically a "Super" Piezo tweeter! Are you kidding me...the cheapest thing you could possibly buy EVER, even at that time! It all works folks, seriously. The treble has some grain, duh, but the midrange is as solid as any speaker I have ever heard. Don't ever pass up, or sell on Ebay, a pair of these speakers....it's true audio, true vintage, and at LEAST keep them long enough to find out more about what makes them as sought after and loved as Polk SDA's.
SDA 1C: These speakers came via forum hookup by way of Hoosier21....do you feel a pattern here? These smoke everything IMO, screw these other speakers :D I love these speakers like no other SDA's. I mean that as NO slight to other SDA owners.
I'll put it this way....you know when you find that all the pieces fit...and everything works...and that you are floored by what comes out of something you have worked so hard to build? That means alot to me....and makes me want to dance, and believe me, I can't dance.
My 2CH rig is an extension of me, and has alot of sweat and love built into it's existence. I don't need 7.1....I don't need THX....I don't need SVS....I don't need DVD-A ;)....it's just simple....caveman gear....welcome to the cave.
Thanks for taking the time to read, feel free to ask any questions or add violent comments.
This forum is THE best, period....stop lurking, start contributing and you never know what will cross your path. This forum lives because of it's members, get active.
PICS WILL FOLLOW BUT I AM TIRED.....HERE'S ONE TO KEEP YOU MOTIVATED :D