What model are these bookshelf speakers?

[Shintsu]

Greetings Club Polk!

I have a question as far as identification goes. I was considering these for a small system in my bedroom but I'm curious as to some specs but the guy doesn't have the stickers on them anymore nor does he know the model or anything and I am having no luck online. Can anyone tell me the model of these speakers, their age, and/or some specs? If there is some super Polk website like VintageTechnics.com or something with the history of Polk stuff instead I'd love to know what it is. In any regard, these speakers are $25 for the pair which seems more than reasonable especially given the system I'm trying to build is going for minimal cost in a smallish bedroom.

Here are the pics he has posted
http://images.craigslist.org/3k83o83lf1f313a1gb91ibb173317e1041012.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/3k63md3o01f412413491i6257cba0b1be1b03.jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/3ma3pb3lb11c1291g791i91cf4f230134144e.jpg

Thanks, hope you guys can identify these for me!

[comfortablycurt]

I'm not positive, but those look like the older Mini Monitors, which were produced in the early-mid 80's if I recall correctly. At 25 bucks for the pair, I say go for it. Some great little speakers.

edit-Here are a couple places with info. on the vintage Polks.

http://www.polkaudio.com/search/older.php

http://www.polksda.com/

[Pauly]

Kinda looks like the Series 2

Not Montiors the tweeter and mid give that away

[comfortablycurt]

That looks like the same tweeter I've seen on other Mini Monitors. These have the same tweeters, but these are the newer Mini Monitors.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76668

Could they be S4's? I don't think they are...they had a much different looking tweeter. The midwoofer looks an awful lot like the S4's midwoofer. Just going by memory anyway.

[Shintsu]

Hey guys, thanks for the help so far it really looks like those in the picture you posted just minus the port on the front. I asked elsewhere and someone said they could possibly be one of the versions of the Monitor 4 series.

http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/monitor4/

[organ]

I think they came out after the Monitor 4. I used to have a matching center for it. It was the CS200. I know that at the time they were available, Polk had that tweeter on the pic, and the Tri-laminate.

[comfortablycurt]

I don't think they're Monitor 4's. The tweeter they had is quite a bit different looking. I'm still thinking they're older Mini's...but I'm not an expert. So I could be wrong.

[Shintsu]

Hmm, how annoying. Well, I plan to give these a listen tomorrow and barring they just sound awful (doubtful) I'll be picking them up to use in a cheap setup! Hell, these would be great for rears if I were to ever find a 5 channel amp for my present setup.

[comfortablycurt]

I'd go for em. At 25 bucks for the pair, you really can't go wrong, no matter which model they are.

I'm going out on a limb here...but they kinda look like Mini Monitors that don't have the original mid/woofer or something like that. The tweeter looks like a Mini's tweeter, and the mid/woofer looks like the mid/woofer from the S4 or S6...weird.

We need to solve this mystery.

[Shintsu]

I appreciate the initiative! Really, Polk could've used some better adhesive since this seems common with these older bookshelf speakers...maybe I'll be able to read something in the residue?

[comfortablycurt]

Those labels falling off is a very common problem. It seems like 3/4 of the Polks from that time period no longer have the labels. They all ended up falling off...and are long since gone.

This is racking my brain...lol...I need to figure out what these are just to satisfy my own inquisitiveness. I've looked through basically all the vintage Polks on their website...and nothing.

I'm going to retract what I thought about the mid/woofer though. It doesn't really look that much like the S4 or S6. The dustcap is to small for it to be that. The woofer looks more like the one the used in the smaller Monitors.

So I'm gonna stick to my original thoughts, in that they're older Mini Monitors. Why is it that neither Polks website, or polksda.com has any information on Mini Monitors? I've been searching high and low...and have found next to no info on them. Anyone have any insight into that?

[BlueFox]

I appreciate the initiative! Really, Polk could've used some better adhesive since this seems common with these older bookshelf speakers...maybe I'll be able to read something in the residue?

I wish they had used better glue on my SDA 2s I purchased in the late 80s. The sides fell off. Apparently, they were warped, and over time the warpedness caused the glue to give way. I tried regluing, but they just went back to their warped ways.

Oh well. Gave me an excuse to upgrade to PSB Synchrony 1 towers. Great move.

[RuSsMaN]

They are the second generation 'Mini Monitor'.

[Shintsu]

They are the second generation 'Mini Monitor'.
Yes!!! Thank you. Finally I have a concurring answer from my other forum as well - I believe this is what they are. Hell, I'm willing to settle for believing that's what they are just for my sake lol! Thanks for the help guys!

Given this revelation, does anyone by chance know their wattage, MSRP, age, etc?

[RuSsMaN]

Actually, they aren't the 'mini monitor', they are the larger 'monitor'.

The mini had a 5.25" midwoofer, the larger monitor had the 6.5 you see in your pics.

Yes, just 'monitor'. Circa 1993 give or take a year, I don't have my Orion in front of me, so I can't look it up. About $200 a pair, standard fare on specs, 100 watts, 91db efficient, 8ohm nominal.....

The (second gen) mini monitor and the monitor were only out for a short time, and evolved into the first gen 'R' series, the R1 and R2.

Cheers,
Russ

[comfortablycurt]

Actually, they aren't the 'mini monitor', they are the larger 'monitor'.

The mini had a 5.25" midwoofer, the larger monitor had the 6.5 you see in your pics.

Yes, just 'monitor'. Circa 1993 give or take a year, I don't have my Orion in front of me, so I can't look it up. About $200 a pair, standard fare on specs, 100 watts, 91db efficient, 8ohm nominal.....

The (second gen) mini monitor and the monitor were only out for a short time, and evolved into the first gen 'R' series, the R1 and R2.

Cheers,
Russ

Ah...there's the answer. I didn't know there ever was a model that was just called "Monitor". It seems like there are a bunch of different Monitor models that are really uncommon.

[comfortablycurt]

Check out what just popped up on ebay. We now have completely undeniable confirmation of what they are.;)

Polk Audio Monitors (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230322042003&category=3276&_trksid=p3907.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D 15%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D54)

[Shintsu]

Great! Good to know with solid fact that's what they are. Indeed, they throw around Monitor too much! Thanks for those specs Russman!

I planned to look at these today but we had a damn ice storm and that ruined it. But at least the university called off class today :D. Thanks again for all the help guys!