Garage Sell Find - worth it or not

[thsmith]

I found these locally at a grarage sell, are they worth $30, I have not bought them but may recommend a to a friend for garage or man cave.

[leroyjr1]

Yes get them. The Peerless tweeter is worth that by itself. They normally sell for about $200.

[agfrost]

Them be some RTA 12's of some variety, with the desirable Peerless tweets. If operational ( or even just for parts) that's a pretty smoking deal IMO.

[dane_peterson]

Jump on those and never look back!

[Toolfan66]

Dude you need to pick them up. $3O IS A STEAL

[Ender]

Wow... Can I have them?

[nadams]

They could top $200 here or on eBay. You'd be stupid not to get them. In fact, you're stupid to have not bought them on the spot!

[dpowell]

Aren't garage sales the bomb!? You can strike out a lot but then something like this comes along.....:D

[ben62670]

Well I hope he is running back to get those.

[leroyjr1]

Aren't garage sales the bomb!? You can strike out a lot but then something like this comes along.....:D

I usually strike out.

[thsmith]

I have seen them other than pics but he will hold them for me.

SO I guess I will get them, do nnot want to appear to be stupid;)

[BIZILL]

too late. you're still sittin' on your bum and twiddlin' your thumbs...

[Ron Temple]

Those RTA 12s look funky. I've seen several pair sometimes with crushed socks go on the local CL from $75-$250 asking price. I know they are supposed to be excellent speakers, just can't get away from the naked dust catcher on top.

[George Grand]

too late. you're still sittin' on your bum and twiddlin' your thumbs...

Amen brother. The things you read on this forum.

[thsmith]

I will be picking them up Saturday with the friend that wants them.

Thanks for all the information.

[cnh]

30 dollars!! You can barely get a dinner at a good restaurant for that price!

A no brainer...

Good choice.

cnh

[Ron Temple]

30 dollars!! You can barely get a dinner at a good restaurant for that price!

A no brainer...

Good choice.

cnhYou must be single.

[cnh]

No I'm married, but I spent 10 years in NYC before I moved north. Even in the 80s you could spend more than that in NY....or a lot LESS if you took advantage of Chinatown and Little India, little Korea, or Greek-town in Astoria.

cnh

[thsmith]

I picked up the RTA 12s today. They are in excellent shape except being dusty and having dog hair on them.

Spent about an hour cleaning them. I get what all the fiuss is about for the Peerless tweet.

I think these speakers would benifit from being raise off the floor a bit but overall very impressive sound.

WHat ohm rating are these speakers ?

I want to make sure my friend uses the right amp with these babies.

[cnh]

I'm pretty sure those are 4 ohm speakers....but I'd wait for the BOYS to confirm that.

cnh

[BottomFeeder]

Yeah, those are the original RTA 12's, just w/the tweeter mounted sideways as they sometimes were. & You're right, they WILL sound better when lifted off the ground a bit. My dad had a pair that came w/some stands that de-coupled them from the floor. Later versions came w/an extra 5 inches or so of wood on the bottom that accomplished the same thing.

Nice find & congratulations. Your friend will love them. I miss mine.

[thsmith]

I'm pretty sure those are 4 ohm speakers....but I'd wait for the BOYS to confirm that.

cnh

Thanks CNH, anyone that can confirm ohm rating for these ?

[jimbo1421]

Would someone explain to me the concept behind mounting the tweeters outside the box?

[Ron Temple]

Thanks CNH, anyone that can confirm ohm rating for these ?I can't confirm or deny, but my guess is 4, 5 or 6 ohm. In any case, he'll need something that can handle low impedence. That really helps, huh :p?

[seeclear]

on PolkSDA.com, the RTA8 and RTA11 are shown as 6 ohm, FWIW

But those were manufactured later than the RTA12, so I'm not sure it means much.

[Big Dawg]

Would someone explain to me the concept behind mounting the tweeters outside the box?

My understanding is that it has less to do with being outside the cabinet as it does with putting the tweeter into proper phase, much like the angle on the Monitor 10 stands were supposed to do.

[Lasareath]

Did they come with the Top Covers?

Like shown below right:

http://www.soundadviceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/heritage2.jpg

[cnh]

It may be a bit retro...but that looks 'cool'....

cnh

[Lasareath]

I love that Look!

I like the wood on the left one.

I'm pretty sure that is the Hallway at Polk Headquarters. Matt Polk told me that those were made out of real Maple or Mahogany. I can't remember which.

[thsmith]

Here is a couple of pics. cabinets, grills and hats are in great shape.

[BIZILL]

how do they sound?

[thsmith]

Now that they are off the floor the sound stage is much taller. The Highs are clean and detailed. Mid bass is smooth and tight.

They do not have the bass punch the 1Cs have but in a smaller room the RTAs would have more than enough bass.

Definately a nice speaker. The friend they are going to has a early 80s Yamaha amp and pre-amp.

[Lasareath]

Is that a Gold Acoustic Panel ?

[Deadof_knight]

garage sale find oh my god !!!!! Im green with envy !!!

I think I would give another 30 to make me feel a little better about steaing them !!!!

[gdb]

Sure do make "fiddling" around with the crossovers easier!!:D

[thsmith]

Is that a Gold Acoustic Panel ?

OC 705 with a cover my wife made.

[hearingimpared]

Here is a couple of pics. cabinets, grills and hats are in great shape.

They look awesome Tracey.

[thsmith]

Thanks Hearing, kind of a karma for my friend. He likes the way my system sounds and would like to get on the same path. The rta12s should be a good starting point.

[Ron Temple]

Thanks Hearing, kind of a karma for my friend. He likes the way my system sounds and would like to get on the same path. The rta12s should be a good starting point.It's funny how that happens. I'm sure the RTA 12s will get him well on the way. Several Polkies have told me they are perhaps the best Polk they've heard baring SDAs...haven't had a chance yet.

[Toolfan66]

It's funny how that happens. I'm sure the RTA 12s will get him well on the way. Several Polkies have told me they are perhaps the best Polk they've heard baring SDAs...haven't had a chance yet.

The A9's might be in that mix as well. I would like to hear the 12's next to the A9's.

[leroyjr1]

The A9's might be in that mix as well. I would like to hear the 12's next to the A9's.

Totally different speaker IMO. The only negative thing I can say about the RTA 12's is that they lack in the bass department.

[MNmike]

I love RTA-12's.

Those look like the first series of 12's design that did'nt have the extended bottom on the cabinets.

They are particular to placement to get the right sound and bass from them.

I have a nice set like that with the orig polk stands for my mains.

I'll give ya $60.:p

[GV#27]

Nice find,I wish I could find garage sales like that.

My understanding is that it has less to do with being outside the cabinet as it does with putting the tweeter into proper phase, much like the angle on the Monitor 10 stands were supposed to do.Yes physically mounting the tweeter behind the woofers adds time delay to the tweeters acoustic output so that in theory its wavefront and that of the woofers will arrive at the listeners ear at precisely the same time and in phase.

[thsmith]

I don't think my friend will let them go for nearly any price;)

[inspiredsports]

Thanks Hearing, kind of a karma for my friend. He likes the way my system sounds and would like to get on the same path. The rta12s should be a good starting point.

You did well my friend. That karma thing . . . isn't it great being in the right place at the right time!

[thsmith]

You did well my friend. That karma thing . . . isn't it great being in the right place at the right time!

Yep, now if I could just fiind me an Adcom GFP-750 pre;)

[thsmith]

Well, looks like get these back from my friend who never used them.

I have not even touched the CRS+s yet and now these.

So many vintage polks and so little time.

[leroyjr1]

And I'm in desperate need of some vintage Polks. I have none at the moment and nothings popping up by me.

[thsmith]

yep, when it rains it pours otherwise it is a drought.

[Tony M]

I hope you gave him 40 or 50. just for good karma's sake.:tongue:

Man those are georgous!!

Great buy.:wink:


Sometimes you get hit head on in the face with a killer deal, like the objects' destiny is to land in your lap!! Unbelievable deals sometimes freak me out.

Or to find throw away gear and stuff on the side of the road or gear seen and recovered from dumpsters.It happens all the time..:biggrin:


Enjoy your greatly priced 12's there