Polk Audio Monitor 7's with Peerless Tweeters - 30 Years old

[AudiophileTubes]

I have a vintage pair of mint condition Polk Audio Monitor 10's (original owner; circa 1986? or so), and I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I have 'babied' them in a temp controlled, smoke free environment all these years, and cover them completely when not in use (you can see them in one of my videos here, powered by a Qinpu tubed integrated amp). I also have Magnepan speakers, and other high end brands over the years, but always come back to the vintage Polks! Was offered 2 grand for them!

[yourmomsstalk3r]

Nice speakers! My Monitor 7C have the SL2000 which can be a bit bright but still very listenable. Almost nothing beats Vintage Polk. One day I'll get my hands on a pair of SDA's.

[Lasareath]

Thanks. If you get a chance you should try out the new Lsi line.

The LsiM's. I listened to the 707's and they were amazing!!!

Sal

[806TO713]

Nice setup bud! Can't go wrong with Polk Audio, in my opinion its the absolute best speaker line for the money! I got a 5.1 Polk LSi set currently, but only a 3.1 running currently. Polk <3

[ThiagoPug]

Beauty tone!

What's this amp, n' what is the tubes (models/manufactures)?

[Lasareath]

@ThiagoPug It's a Fatman iTube ValveDock and it uses (2) 6N1(ECC85) & (1) 6E2(EM87)

[oerllikon2]

that looks like a great setup, but you dont want to play mp3 files. You should definitely try .flac, .wav (same quality as flac, just more space) or apple lossless at the very least. You will notice a difference on those speakers

[Lasareath]

Thanks, I've tried some flac files with my Western Digital TV Live HD media spooler

I mainly listen to tune on my main 2 channel system anyways

[oerllikon2]

Yeah, i just have an HK 460i and 2 monitor 40's. I love how they sound, but yours probably sound better

[jasonsr3]

simply brilliant I wish I had them, like fine wine they get better with age. unlike woman :)

[sophiegromit]

Very nice speakers that stand the test of time. I had a pair of Polk Audio 'Monitor 10B' speakers, and they were incredible! Back then, Polk Audio was a true high end speaker company before they went super commercial with their lesser quality lines.

Also, CD does sound better than MP3. Especially HDCD, XRCD, and SACD. Those formats provide some of the best audiophile sound capabilities available today.

[oerllikon2]

@sophiegromit

Agreed! i just have a panasonic system hooked up to my computer, and these even make mp3s sound flat

[Astrotheology]

Yes. There are lossless formats (Refer to my last post) There is lots on info on the web about this. One thing though is in addition to compression, MP3's literally have pieces of the original data not even there. With my limited knowledge of this process, many also claim that the mp3 compression process eliminates chunks of data from the poriginal file. Hence the term "lossy" you "lost" the data in effect. I have literally heard missing symbol sounds and vocal anomolies. Interesting.

[Lasareath]

My main system sounds so good that i hear the difference between so called lossless formats and CD's or SACD's

[Astrotheology]

Which lossless format specifically? Is your cd/sacd going through a dac that your lossless formats are not going through? You will hear the difference between cd's and computer generated formats based solely on the transport and dac's (Not to mention cabling)

[Lasareath]

I have a Denon 3910 and it has a very good DAC built in.

I've tried the following Lossless formats, all connected from my PC to my Adcom GFP-750

MP3

FLAC

ATRAC

HD-ACC

I use MIT cables.

If I had a Blind A/B test I could hear the difference every time between lossless and an original CD.

[Superperc]

Man! I'm so happy to find ANYTHING about those speakers. My father died in January 2008 and I found them in the very last corner of the very last room when I cleared his flat. I never heard of the brand Polk Audio before and I first thought the might have been manufactured in Poland ;-), but when I connected the speakers to my amplifier, my ears had the biggest joy ever enjoying this wonderful sound. Also the best speakers I ever had!

And you play Willie Colon's Che Che Colé, which is great!

[Lasareath]

Your Dad had Great taste! :)

[sophiegromit]

'Superperc', Polk Audio was one of the best American high end speaker companies back in the 70's and 80's. The Polk 'Monitor' or 'SDA' series are excellent high end speakers. Your father was onto something. Keep them and enjoy them! You might also write Polk Audio and see if you can buy a pair of their tweeters to match your particular model. That way, if the tweeters blow, you can screw in the new ones.

[JADJuanan]

Lasareath, I see in your video that the "Magic-Eye" ( the level meter of light) moves up and down the levels so much with the music. My level meters are there and moving but, with short movements and a very constant level. This is more frequently when the music is not turned loud, and even when is turned down to minimum volume, the level meters are there without any movement. Is it like yours too?

[Lasareath]

I think it moves based on the music playing.

[JADJuanan]

Lasareath, do you have the 25Wx2 or the 13Wx2 Fatman model?

[Lasareath]

This one is 13Wx2

[Lasareath]

These are the original tweeters. they are peerless tweeters.

[DATANK1436]

I have a pair of monitor 5jr's that i got for free from my dentist and they are probably the best speakers i have owned.

[Lasareath]

Congrats!!!

I love the 5jr's, they are a Great speaker!

[Yoni1200]

You are ruining the sound of those beautiful speakers and that tube amp with that garbage I-POD!!!

[Lasareath]

True Dat!, LOL

Usually I don't play it at all because I just turn up my main system and listen to it through the house.

I leave the ipod for the car or in the subway.

[Astrotheology]

Yoni, If you rip the cd's into a lossless format, like AIFF, you can enjoy the same pure sound as in a CD, and even better many claim. The only setback with this is that you are going to use up space significantly faster than a MP3 format, no matter what level of lossy quality. MP3's are fine for passive listening, however, if you want the best possible sound deal with the bigger files. Well worth it.

[dalodeper]

Does it get very loud?  It looks awesome!

[Lasareath]

Not really, that tube amp is only 7 watts per channel.

[JohnnyGrass]

Awesome speakers, I have a pair just like yours and a pair of 10's as well. I also power them with a tube amp. You can't beat those old Polk's.

[Lasareath]

Yeah, I love these speakers!

[sophiegromit]

Yes, the Polk 'Monitor 10' series are GEMS! Incredible, open, detailed, non-fatiguing sound.

[951258tike22]

dude! i got some monitor 10s from '88! i love these!

[Lasareath]

Hey tike,

I have a pair of Monitor 10's as well, I just liek the sound of the 7's better. These are 30 years old.

Are you a Club Polk Member?

Lasareath

[951258tike22]

no im not, i also love how the cones dont lose their shine =)

[Lasareath]

I love cones too! ;)

[jazzzco]

what can I use that's safe to re-gain my shine on my drivers that is?

[951258tike22]

i dont know

[Lasareath]

Any Polk Audio Drivers that have that tacky feel to them can be cleaned with a paper towel and windex.

Take one piece a of paper towel per driver. Squirt 8 or 9 squirts of windex on the paper towel and clean the butyl rubber surround, cone and dust cap.

Be extra careful with the dustcap (thing in the center).

I do this maybe twice per year.

[Skepdisc]

Bit of a warning though - harsher (ammonia, alcohol, vinegar) based cleaners can strip some of the cone's shiny coating off. I put some dull spots on one of my 7's before I discovered this. Take care of those babies! :)

[jazzzco]

I got the top of the line Polk Speakers from 1988 the very big ones..still working.I may need to replace the tweeters. How can I become a Club Polk Member?

[Lasareath]

Thanks, This a simple rig in my hallway, just another place to set up another rig ;)

Check out my other Polk Video, search here in youtube for: Lasareath Bjork

Las

[rdjguzman]

very nice setup, i like the simplicity and the sound commin' from the "tubeamp"...must be very pleasin' to the ears. i'm also a big fan of polk audio and planning to buy a pair of "monitors"