Polk monitor 10 opinions

[Aqs612scag]

Hello forum,
I recently came across a pair of monitor 10A's and last vintage monitor 10's both selling for $80 each. Both are in decent shape. Bear in mind that Im just a beginner wanting to upgrade from my 5A's so I dont know much about these things. Which one should I buy and any differences in sound quality being as they are in the same configuration. Do you think the price is fair too.
Thanks

[nadams]

The original Monitor 10's had the SL2000 tweeter. All things being equal, I would choose the later model of speaker, having the SL2500 tweeter.

I love my Monitor 10 Series two's, and would recommend them to anyone who likes the sound of the vintage Polk speakers, but can't afford the larger SDAs.

At $80 each, do you mean per speaker, or per pair?

Have a good time!

[Loud & Clear]

The original 10's had the peerless tweets, or at least some of them did. I have a pair of these, in horrendous condition (looks like someone took a hammer to the cabinets, the tweets look older than dirt itself, and the mids have some zits on 'em. The passives look great, though) that flat-out sound better than a pair of series II Monitor 12's in every way, save for perhaps that last ounce of bass extension; and the 12's are in fantastic shape. Not sure if that helps any, I just wanted to tell my story.

[nadams]

I could've been mistaken, but I thought they had the SL2000, which had that nasty hump that everyone tries to avoid.

Well, Aqs612scag, you may just have to wait until some more people chime in. Sorry...

nadams

[nadams]

Okay, I _was_ wrong. According to the list (http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/service/models/modelpartslist.php3?model=monitor), the Monitor 10 series all the way through the early "b" models had the Peerless SL1000. The later "B"s had the infamouse sl2000, and the series two had the sl2500.

The 1000 was better than the 2000, and the 2500 comes in the middle... I think

I should stop opening my mouth so wide.... makes for easy entry of the foot.

[dorokusai]

The older the Mon10, the better.

[Aqs612scag]

to answer your question nadams the price is for a pair.
I bought the older monitor 10's and loved the sound & I paid $75 for the pair. Unfortunately they didnt come with the stands where could I find replacement for them?
This week I will take a look at the newer monitor 10's and see if they are worth a buy.

[Aqs612scag]

attached pic of the speaker purchased.

[mhardy6647]

That's the Peerless tweeter. The coated PR suggests these are Monitor 10A's. The unsuffixed Monitor 10 had an uncoated paper 10" PR.

[nadams]

Originally posted by Aqs612scag
to answer your question nadams the price is for a pair.
I bought the older monitor 10's and loved the sound & I paid $75 for the pair. Unfortunately they didnt come with the stands where could I find replacement for them?
This week I will take a look at the newer monitor 10's and see if they are worth a buy.

You got a steal of a deal, there... I paid $150 for my pair of 10's, and that was even a good price. I'd say snatch up the other pair if they're as good of a price. If nothing more, you could sell them for more than you paid, I'm sure.

As for the stands, I think you're stuck either building your own, or finding a pair of used ones somewhere. Polk no longer sells them, I believe.

[mhardy6647]

The stands are quite low tech; just some MDF. They tilt the speakers back to provide poor-man's time alignment, plus they get them up off the floor.

I can take measurements of mine if you're interested (although the later stands for the 7's and 10's weren't identical, as I recall).

[Aqs612scag]

mhardy, pls send the measurements. Thanks

[nadams]

Yeah, post 'em up... I could use them, too :)
Thanks,

Noah

[dorokusai]

Monitor 10 - Stand (http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=245015#post245015)

Mhardy - If you have the older version let me know. I'd like to keep all the related information on the same thread, and keep it logical. Thanks for taking the time to check yours out.

[mhardy6647]

oops, forgot to measure 'em last night. A little busy this week.
There's hope for tonight. :-)

[RuSsMaN]

The 10's were (and are) a popular speaker, but from a critical listening standpoint, I'll never know why. They throw a reasonably large soundstage, but there is no placement within the soundstage, and the stereo image is smeared at best.

The best sounding speakers of the bunch are the Monitor 7's, with the 5's close behind. The problem with the 10's is the side-by-side driver placement, and if they had gone with a vertical or MTM array - they wouldn't be time-aligned on the stands. And hey, time alignment is time alignment, poor mans or not.

Had a lengthy discussion with several forum members, Polk Paul, and Al Ballard - and the consensus was the same - the only thing the 10's offered over the 7's was a little more low-end, but then they lost so much more in the way of imaging.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy listening to 10's, and they are a good speaker as a whole, but the 7's are so much more 'real'.

Cheers,
Russ

[mhardy6647]

Russ et al:

To be honest, I always found the 10's to be a little 'thicker' sounding than the 7's. This may have been rationalization on my part, since I couldn't afford the 10's when I bought the 7's!

I did measure the stands tonight & will post a drawing tomorrow if time permits. Meanwhile a couple of photos of one of my stands. Don't make fun of its condition... John threw the stands in gratis when I bought my demo Monitor 7A's (in 1978, IIRC). They were a little banged up then, and by golly they still are!

[mhardy6647]

...

[mhardy6647]

...

are these helpful to anyone?

[dorokusai]

Those are definetly the original's.

[mhardy6647]

They're effing old, man!

Took dimensions (late) last night. You'll note that I missed a couple (he said sheepishly).

Here's the top view:

[mhardy6647]

Here's the side view. Note that the base 'underhangs' the speaker shelf by more in the back than the front.

Inexplicably, I didn't write down the front and back height of the pedestal. Dang.

[Ken_Polk_J]

I have had a pair of 10B's for years, heard Boston Acoustics, Electrostatic plates, mireade of others....giant JVC horned tweeters and 36" conical drive...etc. I find the Monitor 10B's better than almost all with very careful and moderated help from a Polk Subwoofer.

I simply cannot aquire a taste for base reflex exchaust on par with the acoustic suspention Monitors.

What would be a reasonable upgrade thats true to the original 10B Monitor acoustic suspension configuration and is vintage?

[heiney9]

The 10B's or any Polk speakers for that matter are not acoustic suspension. The 10's are bass reflex, but instead of using a port they use a passive radiator. See link

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=436182&postcount=6

H9

[dorokusai]

They're effing old, man!

Took dimensions (late) last night. You'll note that I missed a couple (he said sheepishly).

Here's the top view:

You don't mind if I link these to the MON10 Reference thread do you?

[mhardy6647]

by all means; I'd be honored...

[heiney9]

What would be a reasonable upgrade thats true to the original 10B Monitor acoustic suspension configuration and is vintage?

See earlier post about acoustic suspension. What type of sound are you looking for? Better bass (less boom, overhang, etc), midrange, soundstage, more realistic instrument timbre? Is there some area you find lacking in the 10's that you'd like to find another speaker to fill that void? Seriously, there are alot of great vintage speakers out there, help narrow it down a bit by stating some listening habits.....etc. :)

H9

[markmarc]

I owned the 10B's with the sl-1000 tweeter which I found quite smooth. I consider the 10B's to be second only to the ADS L810's for quality and value during the late 70's-80's.

[jon s]

I found the drawings hard to read but the info was very informative. i was able to draft a drawing with more details. One measurement was off... here is the drawing (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=33681&d=1212793190)... I think it's accurate but if you guys find any errors, let me know and I will redraw it...

[Jack A]

The stands are quite low tech; just some MDF. They tilt the speakers back to provide poor-man's time alignment, plus they get them up off the floor.

I can take measurements of mine if you're interested (although the later stands for the 7's and 10's weren't identical, as I recall).

Do you have the measurements for the monitor 10b stands/ Jack A.

[TennMan]

Welcome to the forum Jack A

Post 21 and 22 in this thread show them but here they are again.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6492&d=1103203891

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=6493&d=1103203991

Here is an alternative to the original design:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=55402&d=1297014756