7B's: I'm Impressed!!!!

[Ricardo]

I bought a pair of Monitor 7B's with Peerless in May. I did some listening then and liked them, but had not done any critical listening. Now that I have no big speakers in the house (Tylers sold, Thiels at Thiel), I have the 7B's in my dedicated room with the "good" gear. All I can say is that for $150 I got a pair of speakers that will EASILY beat many speakers out there that cost a few grands. Great bass response, amazing imaging, soundstage, etc. This is a pair of speakers that really dissapear!!

All you guys that have heard them know this. But for the ones that have not, if you ever have the chance to get them, don't even think about it; RUN!.

[beardog03]

are those the ones that Mark had in the back room at Polk Fest ?

[Ricardo]

Not the same speakers...I got these locally. If you ask if it's the same model, I wouldn't know, since I wasn't there.

[hoosier21]

are those the ones that Mark had in the back room at Polk Fest ?

In the tube room, Mark had RTA 8's

[schwarcw]

I have a pair of the original Model 7's with the Peerless and the tweeter fuse in the back. They have been out of my vintage rig since I bought Ricardo's Carvers. The are a great speaker, like you said loads of bass, nice image. I think I paid $70 for mine, including stands. These speaks are no surprise to Polk enthusiasts, but they would surprise a lot of people.

[DaveMuell]

I agree, I have some 7B-ish speakers from RuSsMan. Great speakers.

But, I must admit, my daughter had her choice of them or her Phase Techs and she took the Phase Techs. Why? "Because the black towers match my room and sound really good anyway...".

Now, I can't displace my LS-90s in the HT with them, I can't displace my CRS+s in my office, I hate to put them in my garage with the Houston humidity. I hate to put them in my office at work. I don't know. I can't just get rid of them. I guess I keep them for a day when I have a bigger house.

[hearingimpared]

I've never seen a pair of these. Do you have any pictures available?

[beardog03]

I agree, I have some 7B-ish speakers from RuSsMan. Great speakers.

But, I must admit, my daughter had her choice of them or her Phase Techs and she took the Phase Techs. Why? "Because the black towers match my room and sound really good anyway...".

Now, I can't displace my LS-90s in the HT with them, I can't displace my CRS+s in my office, I hate to put them in my garage with the Houston humidity. I hate to put them in my office at work. I don't know. I can't just get rid of them. I guess I keep them for a day when I have a bigger house.



bathroom rig !! ;)

[DaveMuell]

I could pull of the master bedroom rig, if I finished them in a cherry veneer or something. Anyone ever do that?

[george daniel]

I've got a pair that I rebuilt the crossovers in when I was bored,hook em up with tubes,and they are sweet indeed! :)

[beardog03]

I could pull of the master bedroom rig, if I finished them in a cherry veneer or something. Anyone ever do that?


I have a roll of every flavor , to redo the speaks...that I bought a while back to redo my 2b`s, but I sold them before I could use any of it

If ya want a roll, just say the word and I`ll shoot one to ya

[rskarvan]

I'm not a big fan of the 7C (I had a very nice pair). They were ok... but, just didn't do anything for me. I am a huge fan of the Monitor 10's.

[reeltrouble1]

Yes Mark had a set of 7's and 10's in the tube room along with the RTA, I spent a good amount of time with that little rig and the Monitor sounded excellent.

RT1

[Ricardo]

I've never seen a pair of these. Do you have any pictures available?

There's a picture in my showcase; still in the garage the day I brought them. I will shoot a picture of them in the rig.

One of the last pictures.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=64116

[Ricardo]

Here; covered and nude...

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/garcimol/001-6.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t123/garcimol/002-3.jpg

[schwarcw]

Ricardo, you need to build a couple of stands for those. They bring the speaker about 5" off the floor and tilt it back every so slightly. It really helps the image IMO.

[Ricardo]

Maybe I'll build them someday; this is just a temporary solution; they are tilted back though, and trust me, the imaging is unbelievable. You would swear the sound is coming from the acoustic panels in the back.

[beardog03]

Ricardo, you need to build a couple of stands for those. They bring the speaker about 5" off the floor and tilt it back every so slightly. It really helps the image IMO.


I have seen those stnds you speak of...
I hear they make a big difference also

[schwarcw]

Maybe I'll build them someday; this is just a temporary solution; they are tilted back though, and trust me, the imaging is unbelievable. You would swear the sound is coming from the acoustic panels in the back.

Ricardo, what is that thing on top of the left acoustic panel with a long wire running out of it???:confused:

Is it you wife's "direct connect"?

Ricardo, turn that damn thing down!

Ricardo, time for dinner!

Ricardo, get in this kitchen and make me some pie!

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[avguytx]

Ricardo, what is that thing on top of the left acoustic panel with a long wire running out of it???:confused:

Is it you wife's "direct connect"?

Ricardo, turn that damn thing down!

Ricardo, time for dinner!

Ricardo, get in this kitchen and make me some pie!

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

LMAO! That was too damn funny!

[Ricardo]

ha ha. It's an ozone generator I ordered. I decided I wanted to try one and I think I'm keeping it (30 day money back end in 10 days or so).

I got the XT-400

http://www.air-zone.com/xt400800.html

[schwarcw]

That thing might oxidize your soundstage!:eek:

Interesting actually. Do you have an odor problem in the room?

Carl

[Ricardo]

That thing might oxidize your soundstage!:eek:

Interesting actually. Do you have an odor problem in the room?

Carl


Only when I'm in there :D :D :D

Not really; this thing is great to remove pet/smoke odors though; I used it in the car that had a strong cigarrette smell :o and it removed it COMPLETELY.

It is also supposed to be good with killing mold/bacteria. I have it in the listening room because it's the smallest room in the house and wanted to see if the lowest level was overkill or not. It does great. I was concerned that the % ozone could get too high so that's why I tried there.

[hearingimpared]

There's a picture in my showcase; still in the garage the day I brought them. I will shoot a picture of them in the rig.

One of the last pictures.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=64116

Nice old fashioned design. Those 3.1s WOW, I've never seen a picture of them before. . . . man they are strange looking but I bet they sound awesome.

[rskarvan]

Yes, very nice 3.1 TL's!!!

[engtaz]

HTrookie
It that a hammock in the HT pic of the side speakers?

[heiney9]

The whole vintage Monitor line continues to impress me still today. Back in the early 80's it's what I cut my teeth on. The 10's can't image quite as well but the bass is great. I have 5b's and they present the same soundstage you mention Ricardo, but they are just a bit bass shy in the lower octaves unless you really crank them. They are prefect for my smallish office. But the 7's seem to have that pefect balance with an ample amount of bass and the fantastic imaging and sounstage.

Even at 20+ years old a properly set-up classic Monitor really puts a lot of current speakers to shame and ones they don't, they can go head to head without shame. Peerless and RD0's are the key to Monitors sounding so good.

H9

[Lasareath]

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=64116

Ricardo, Very Nice pictures of your house!, I wish I had a room like yours for my system!

[danger boy]

Monitor 7B with peerless tweeters rule!

funny, but i never thought i'd ever sell my SRS, but I had no trouble letting those leave the house.. but my monitor 7B's will NEVER leave the house.. as said before. Imaging is top notch in these speakers.

[Lasareath]

7B's on eBay, 58 miles from my house. I just might have to bid :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290160479813

[Yashu]

They sure don't make them like they used to. I would love a set of smallish vintage polks to mess around with... but none of them are shielded.

Your speaker rotation, HTrookie, is quite impressive... I'll bet those monitor 7s would sound even better on stands.

[Lasareath]

I'm looking for a pair to give as a gift to a cousin of mine who is moving into her first apartment. Her dad gave her a really nice old JVC receiver but she has no speakers. I think the 7B's would be a very nice pair. They would fit perfectly with her as well, she's a 21st century hippie and would love 20 year old speakers.

[mantis]

I bought a pair of Monitor 7B's with Peerless in May. I did some listening then and liked them, but had not done any critical listening. Now that I have no big speakers in the house (Tylers sold, Thiels at Thiel), I have the 7B's in my dedicated room with the "good" gear. All I can say is that for $150 I got a pair of speakers that will EASILY beat many speakers out there that cost a few grands. Great bass response, amazing imaging, soundstage, etc. This is a pair of speakers that really dissapear!!

All you guys that have heard them know this. But for the ones that have not, if you ever have the chance to get them, don't even think about it; RUN!.
We all have our own opnions.....

[engtaz]

go for it Peerless tweets

[Ricardo]

HTrookie
It that a hammock in the HT pic of the side speakers?


Yes.

[Ricardo]

We all have our own opnions.....

Of course everyone has their own opinion...though I don't really get your point here.

[mantis]

Of course everyone has their own opinion...though I don't really get your point here.

He seems extremely happy with his speakers. he also thinks there better then other higher end speakers. All which is a matter of opnion. I'm happy for him, I just disagree on the level of quality those speakers bright. I have Installed them many times in customers home that still had them and wanted them in a basement, office , garage , or other room then the new system going in. I never thought they where great speakers. Actually I just hooked up a beautiful pair that looked brand new in a house in Princeton NJ in this guys office. He had some older NAD gear with a really nice older technic's Higher end Turn Table. They sounded nice but nothing like speakers I have heard in the 2k price class.

Like I said , it's all a matter of opnion. I'm not knocking his, I just disagree with it.

Dan

[DaveMuell]

He seems extremely happy with his speakers. he also thinks there better then other higher end speakers. All which is a matter of opnion. I'm happy for him, I just disagree on the level of quality those speakers bright. I have Installed them many times in customers home that still had them and wanted them in a basement, office , garage , or other room then the new system going in. I never thought they where great speakers. Actually I just hooked up a beautiful pair that looked brand new in a house in Princeton NJ in this guys office. He had some older NAD gear with a really nice older technic's Higher end Turn Table. They sounded nice but nothing like speakers I have heard in the 2k price class.

Like I said , it's all a matter of opnion. I'm not knocking his, I just disagree with it.

Dan

How can you compare speakers that were less than $600 retail 20 years ago and sell for around $75 - $150 with a $2,000 set now? While you do have an opinion, put it in perspective.

I can compare them very favorably with my LS-90s that retailed close to $2,000... come to think of it, the 90's compare pretty well to today's $2,000 offerings.

[rskarvan]

Mantis & DaveM, I think you missed HTrookie's point entirely. I think (though, I could be wrong) that HTrookie was just surprised at just how good these $150 used speakers sound and is impressed with them. I'm pretty certain that he thinks that the Thiels sound significantly better.

[Ricardo]

He seems extremely happy with his speakers. he also thinks there better then other higher end speakers. All which is a matter of opnion. I'm happy for him, I just disagree on the level of quality those speakers bright. I have Installed them many times in customers home that still had them and wanted them in a basement, office , garage , or other room then the new system going in. I never thought they where great speakers. Actually I just hooked up a beautiful pair that looked brand new in a house in Princeton NJ in this guys office. He had some older NAD gear with a really nice older technic's Higher end Turn Table. They sounded nice but nothing like speakers I have heard in the 2k price class.

Like I said , it's all a matter of opnion. I'm not knocking his, I just disagree with it.

Dan


Fair; you could have been more explicit in your first post.

[Ricardo]

Mantis & DaveM, I think you missed HTrookie's point entirely. I think (though, I could be wrong) that HTrookie was just surprised at just how good these $150 used speakers sound and is impressed with them. I'm pretty certain that he thinks that the Thiels sound significantly better.

Right on.

[mantis]

Mantis & DaveM, I think you missed HTrookie's point entirely. I think (though, I could be wrong) that HTrookie was just surprised at just how good these $150 used speakers sound and is impressed with them. I'm pretty certain that he thinks that the Thiels sound significantly better.
No I understood what he wrote. He said they would easily beat many speakers costing a few grands. Like I said I just disagree with that but he is entitled to his opnion. I'm happy he is digging them. Old polks have a unique sound. With the Peerless tweeter, that sounds like it improves on the overall experience. And for 150.00 , hell how can you argue that price while it brings all that happiness.

Dan

[G-2]

As we've said before, Polk 7B's were what Geoff was weened on! His dad has them in storage as his current living-with-lady-friend won't let him set them up or his stereo, what a Gem. I have already called 'dibs' on them, guess we'd need another amp, we'll rig that bridge when we get to it.

No other point to our post, just that we LOVE Polk 7B's!!! We realize this is our opinion and your actual millage my vary

[Lasareath]

I just bought a pair of Mint 7B's with peerless tweeters for $82.00 on eBay. The guy lives about 2 miles away from a client's office that I will be at tomorrow. So I am stopping at his house early to pick them up.

Here's the eBay auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290160479813

Sal

[Lasareath]

I've never seen a pair of these. Do you have any pictures available?

Yes, Here's the picture of the ones I just picked up for $82.00

[hearingimpared]

Cool are you going to do any upgrades to them?

[G-2]

Yes, Here's the picture of the ones I just picked up for $82.00

Nice Grab!!!

[Lasareath]

Cool are you going to do any upgrades to them?

Joe, I would love to. But they are for my cousin's house warming gift at the end of this month and the wife doesn't know I bought them, LOL

They been playing the past 2 hours and they sound really really good.

When I get a house I will put together 3 or 4 rigs and one will have a pair of these speakers ;)

Sal

[nik_martinov]

Here; covered and nude...



Nice! I love Audio Research.

I wonder if the 7C's are vvery different in sound.

[engtaz]

Congrats on the new speaks. Your cousin will be happy.

[jakelm]

The soundstage, sound quality, the amount of little power needed to drive them and the size. Taking all of that into concideration....Yes they beat out speakers in the thousand's of dollar range:)

[cambir]

[QUOTE=danger boy;697308]Monitor 7B with peerless tweeters rule!

I recently picked up a pair of 7B locally. Do all 7Bs have the peerless tweeters? How do you recognize/identify the peerless?

Anyone know the power handling and resistance of the 7B? Is it the same as the Monitor 7 listed on Polk's website (150W and 8 ohms)?

[jakelm]

The b's are more like 6ohms. And the power handling up to around 200 watts.

Peerless are black silk domes with a tiny hole in the middle of the dome. 2 wires cotted in black going from the dome at an angle towards the screws.