Monitor 10s?

[Audioreality]

Hi all,
I just picked up a pair of Monitor 10s.
I've never heard about them.
Polk is still new to me, but I like what i'm hearing so far.

Anyway, I paid $200 for the set.
They're in very good shape.
Only 2 things wrong, that I can tell.
One has a broken grille, and both have "sticky" mid-drivers. What's up with that?
They've got a really good sound to them.
I've looked at the spec. sheet here on the site and it ain't telling me much.

I could do a search, but I need the posts.

So, what can you all tell me about these impressively heavy speakers?
Are they worth their weight?

[nascarmann]

The Monitor 10's are "probably" what jump started Polk Audio into the company it is today. They were and still are in my opinion as good a bang for your buck as any speaker out there if they are the 10B's. Yeah....I know some will say I'm crazy but for your 2 bills you have a very nice sounding speaker that IMO no other speaker you could find for $200.00 would come close to it in over all performance. Get a good 200wpc amp and enjoy.....

[hoosier21]

very much worth their weight. the midwoofer are a treated paper cone, they are suppose to be sticky

[Audioreality]

Cool.
Thank you both.
That's what I was hoping to hear.

So far they been able to handle everything I can throw at them. Haven't found their limit with any of the equipment I have. I'm impressed.
I was a little bummed to hear the woofer is passive. Still rocks, though.
Anybody tell me when these babies were made?
10-170477
10-170499
What the story with the "silver coil dome" tweeter?
Looks interesting.

[nascarmann]

What the story with the "silver coil dome" tweeter?

Not sure what you mean....Contact customer service and they can give you the "born on" date:D

[Audioreality]

Hi Nascarmann,
Thanks, i'll get ahold of them.
With the tweeter, i was wondering about the details around it's engineering. Is it special or just your basic, silver plated soft dome tweet.
It looks pretty agressive.
I like that.

[nascarmann]

Well don't hold me to this.....I think it's a peerless tweeter but not sure of that:confused: So....don't quote me on it....But I do like the SL2000:D

[Audioreality]

SL 2000?
Is that what she's called.
Huh. sounds cool.

[burdette]

I have a pair of Monitor 7Cs, which are the slightly smaller brother of your 10s. You have two midbase drivers, I have one. I have a 10" passive radiator, I think you do as well. You have a larger cabinet. The "vintage" section of the Polk site shows both the 7s and the 10s with a black tweeter, which I think is the SL2500 - I have the 'clear' SL2000, and it sounds like you do, to. I have another pair of Polks with the SL2500 and I think the SL2000 is better.

Don't be bummed that the 'woofer' is a passive radiator. I did extensive listening when I bought my 7s, and the combination of midbase driver and 10" passive radiator blew away many of the competitors that had a motorized 10" woofer. I would have bought the 10s over the 7s but decided not to spend the extra money... plus, I think what Polk said is true... depending on room size, the speakers sound the same... the 10s in a large room sound the same as the 7s in a smaller room, and I had smaller rooms.

Anyway, I think you got a great speaker, and for two hundred bucks... you got an incredible amount of bang for your buck.

[rskarvan]

The only thing that can make your Monitor 10's even better is to locate/fabricate the original ANGLED polk stands that sit about 10" tall. These speakers REALLY benefit from sitting on proper stands.

The only negative about the Monitor 10's bass is that it tends to be a little bit loose - though, very deep. Enjoy the deep rumbles.
If anything ever needs replacing, Clubpolk stocks all replacement components.

I paid $120 for my M10's with generic (non-polk) drivers and
original angled stands. Then, I sent $200 to Polk and purchased 4 new drivers. I have the SL2500 tweeters - yours are better.
Anyway, I agree. This is a fabulous speaker. ENJOY ! ! !

[Audioreality]

Thank you for your responses.
I'm really liking these Monitors.
Glad to hear that their held in such high regard.

I got ahold of Ken from customer service.
I'll have to do a little surgery to determine their bithdate. They certainly look older.
I will post my findings A.S.A.P.

The tweeters are clear (more like opaque)

Does anyone have the plans for the risers?

Maybe it's just me, but i'm really tempted to paint the dust caps to make them look like faces! LOL.

[rskarvan]

The monitor 10 is often referred to as the "Booby Speaker".
Stands are about 10" tall and tilt the speaker backwards maybe
10 degrees or so. Ken (from Polk) may be able to provide you with specs from a file. I've got a set of stands at home - that I'd never part with. But, if you intend to make your own... maybe I can give you a few critical dimensions.

I think the SL2000 tweets are really ugly. But, they have a fond following. They can be easily destroyed if you run an amp/receiver to clipping. Be careful.

[nascarmann]

They can be easily destroyed if you run an amp/receiver to clipping. Be careful.

That may or may not be true.....The tweeter protection has ingaged a few time on mine before damage was done to the tweeter when I was using a 70wpc receiver many years ago.....Turned down the volume and 30 seconds later they reset and away I went.....

I have never heard of "Booby Speaker".....

[mhw58]

I'm confused about the difference between the 2000
and 2500 tweeter. Is the metal casing on both of them
black and the difference is the 2000 dome is a clear opaque
color and the 2500 is black? My tweeters on my SDA2's
are the clear opaque color.
Thanks, MIke

[rskarvan]

SL2000 is a clear looking tweeter.
SL2500 is black "plastic" looking.
The SL2500 has ULV (ultra-low-viscosity magnetic fluid) that handles the heat better - more reliable.

The SL2000 Polk replacement is black and sound very sweet too.

Pop off the covers, use your imagination, and those side-by-side 6 1/2" drivers kinda look like big D-cups.

[Audioreality]

All she needs now is a bass port.
Oh Momma.....

Well, the results are in.
My monitor 10s were built in or around Aug. 1987.
Doesn't look too bad in there. Alot of baffling.
I now see why the cabinet weighs so much.
Definately got some thick MDF here.
Intresting looking crossover. Decent leads.
Looks to be well built. Even the wood grain veneer is in decent shape. Go figure.

Thanks for the responses.
Anyone know of any mods for these?
Driver upgrades or tweaks?
Aside from a tuned port. Ha Ha Ha Hmmm.

[nascarmann]

No upgade needed......just stands....

[Audioreality]

Cool.
I'm gonna build some stands.
Still have to get the plans.
My lazy ass just hasn't gotten round to it yet.
I'm liking these 10s.
They gotta a good flavor to them.
Sort a mellow with a dash of spice.
They go well with greens and a couple a shots of rum.
Yummy.