RTA-11t or Montor 10B?

[billbillw]

I've got leads on a set of walnut vinyl 10B in original boxes, and I'm also looking at a pair of rosewood 11t in orignal boxes.

Could anyone give me an idea how the sound compares between the two?
All things considered, which of these speakers would you rather own assuming both had the SL2000 tweeter.

[halo]

I've owned both (at the same time) and IMHO the RTA11 is the better speaker. You must upgrade to the RDO194-1 tweeters no matter which speaker you choose.

[billbillw]

I've owned both (at the same time) and IMHO the RTA11 is the better speaker. You must upgrade to the RDO194-1 tweeters no matter which speaker you choose.

Thanks.
Yeah, I was planning on tweeter upgrades for whichever pair I get (if I get them). I also like the idea of the 11t better because of the smaller footprint.

[heiney9]

RTA-11t is a much better performer than the M10. I've owned 10b's and they were very good. The 11t takes it to another level. I've liked them so much I've had them for almost 20 years. Overall the MTM (D'apolitto) design is better and the bass really digs deep (with proper amplification). They aren't difficult to drive, I've found that becasue of the twin PR's a high current amp with excellent damping factor really tightens up and extends the bass response. They are rather large speaks that benefit from being atleast a foot away from the wall. As Peersool says upgrade to the RDO's. I will hopefully be doing that real soon (Peersool).

FWIW

H9

[billbillw]

The poor monitor 10B is 0 for 2 so far.
I'm kinda surprised because a little over a month ago, I asked how the RTA 11T compared to the RTA12B and most said that the RTA12B was better. I was under the impression that the Monitor 10 and the RTA12 were not that far apart when it comes to sound quality. The old Polk brochures made it seem that way anyhow. I'm disadvantaged because I've not really heard any of the vintage Polks, just my newer RT series. I definetly want to get some in the house to give some serious listening to though.

[heiney9]

The poor monitor 10B is 0 for 2 so far.
I'm kinda surprised because a little over a month ago, I asked how the RTA 11T compared to the RTA12B and most said that the RTA12B was better. I was under the impression that the Monitor 10 and the RTA12 were not that far apart when it comes to sound quality. The old Polk brochures made it seem that way anyhow. I'm disadvantaged because I've not really heard any of the vintage Polks, just my newer RT series. I definetly want to get some in the house to give some serious listening to though.


Well the 12B is a very different design config than the 10b. Having the tweet mounted on the top and a much more complex x-over network helps it achieve much better soundstaging than the M10. The side by side mid-woofers have always been a bit suspect and the down fall of the M10. Side by side drivers are a bit unconventional and tend to overlap at certain freq and cancel each other out. The RTA-12 has the same config. I've haven't spent any quality time with the RTA-12 to really determine if it's better (many say it is). I'm still not convinced side by side is of any great benfit and is actually a detriment. But I can say the RTA-11's are better (as I explained in the earlier post) than the M10's in almost every aspect. Of course, IMO.

[george daniel]

11 T,with tweeter upgrade :)

[halo]

3 strikes - the 10B is out!

[billbillw]

Well, I'm convinced, but we will just have to see what kind of deal I can get.

[heiney9]

Well, I'm convinced, but we will just have to see what kind of deal I can get.

Actually I've mentally tracked prices, and the RTA-11 can be gotten fairly cheap. Normally they don't seem to sell for more than about $275 and usually go for between $150-200 depending on cond. I've seen 10's go for that. 11's don't come up too often but you should be able to find some.

H9

[billbillw]

Actually I've mentally tracked prices, and the RTA-11 can be gotten fairly cheap. Normally they don't seem to sell for more than about $275 and usually go for between $150-200 depending on cond. I've seen 10's go for that. 11's don't come up too often but you should be able to find some.

H9
That's what I'm hoping, but it seems that the last several pair have gone for $250 on up to almost $400.

[Loud & Clear]

The RTA 12 comes in a left/right pair. Though the woofers are side-by-side I believe that the woofers are designed to interpret and express different signals. Perhaps that overcomes their inappropriate relationship with one another. Hopefully the people that are shopping for RTA 12s are making sure that they're getting a right and a left. If not they could end up dancing with two left feet.

[heiney9]

That's what I'm hoping, but it seems that the last several pair have gone for $250 on up to almost $400.

Doesn't that always seem to be the case when you are in the market for a particular item. :( . Either you can't find when there have been plenty before, or the price seems abnormally high.

H9

[joelll]

The RTA 12 comes in a left/right pair. Though the woofers are side-by-side I believe that the woofers are designed to interpret and express different signals. Perhaps that overcomes their inappropriate relationship with one another. Hopefully the people that are shopping for RTA 12s are making sure that they're getting a right and a left. If not they could end up dancing with two left feet.

Early RTA-12's don't have left- and right-marked speakers, it seems that practice started with the RTA-12B. :)

[heiney9]

The RTA 12 comes in a left/right pair. Though the woofers are side-by-side I believe that the woofers are designed to interpret and express different signals. Perhaps that overcomes their inappropriate relationship with one another. Hopefully the people that are shopping for RTA 12s are making sure that they're getting a right and a left. If not they could end up dancing with two left feet.

The reason some are labeled left and right is because originally they were truely time aligned. Simply, time alignment requires physically lining up the loudspeaker components. It requires consideration of the driver placement, driver delay and adjustment of the crossover delay parameters. This achieves the precise simultaneous acoustical arrival time of each driver throughout the crossover region. Of course room-reflections play a big part in messing this up.

My guess is that at some point (when they stopped labeling them) they no longer took the effort to time align the drivers or use the more complex x-over. It seems there are several configurations of the 12 so tiny design compromises/changes were made for whatever reason.

[polksda]

Interesting... having owned both RTA11 (non-TL) and Monitor 10, I would pick the 10 for music by far. Granted, mine were the Monitor 10 Series 2, not the 10B; not sure how much qualitative difference there is between the two...

[billbillw]

Interesting... having owned both RTA11 (non-TL) and Monitor 10, I would pick the 10 for music by far. Granted, mine were the Monitor 10 Series 2, not the 10B; not sure how much qualitative difference there is between the two...

A lone dissenter? I'm just going to keep my eyes open and just grab whatever deal falls into my lap. I'm open to trying out any RTA, or any Monitor 5, 7 or 10.

Its not looking good right now. So far, the guy with the 10B is not returning my messages. Maybe I pissed him off with what he thought was a lowball offer, but it was actually very close to going ebay prices.
The 11T are currently in auction, who knows what will happen there.
I've also been trying since last December to get a local guy to sell me a pair of RTA12B for a fair price, but he hasn't returned any of my recent messages.
Maybe there will be some Spring cleaning down here in the Southeast pretty soon and there will be some gems that come out of the woodwork.

[Tour2ma]

I'd take the 10's as well. You should be able to bag them for $150 or so.

Time alignment is not all that tough... toe them in and tilt them back, if necessary. Solved...

[DennisM]

Hi, I noticed that a number of folks seem to enjoy the sound of the MONITOR 10 speakers. I have a pair of them sitting in my family room in their original boxes. They have never been used. I tried them out and they work fine. They are black walnut, and are in great condition, with original packing in the original boxes. I am not even sure what they are worth, but if someone makes me a fair offer and is willing to pay the freight, I'll be happy to sell them! Not only that, but the wife wants to make room, and all you married guys know what that means!

[polksda]

Before any of the regulars tear you a new one, some words of advice:

1. Post an asking price. We don't do offers here.

2. Pictures are mandatory.

[Tour2ma]

Well at least this is not in the FM... ;)They have never been used. I tried them out...Well, they're used now... :D

Welcome to the Forum, but being a first time poster, don't expect folks to mail you a wad of cash. So let us know your general location as well and a local sale could easily happen.

Agree on the pics and that will determine which series 10 you have, which will impact the value.

Even with the series determined, I can see where price could be tough. If what you have are essentially NOS Mon 10's, they're obviously worth more than the run-of-the-mill ebay offering, even to the Club...

It'd been better if you had not broken the tape seal on the boxes, assuming they were sealed.

EDIT: And start a new thread in the Flea Market section, when you're set to sell.

[billbillw]

He's in Northern Jersey. I get the impression that he maybe used them for a very short time when he first bought them, but then he moved and they sat in the box for all these years, but I'm not positive on this. Either way, they are probably nicer than most of the Monitor 10 out there. I've asked him for some pics. We will see if he follows through.
Local P/U would definetly be best on these if they are mint. Who would want to risk damaging the speakers or the boxes for that matter.