Monitor 5B Impedance

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monitor5b
monitor5b Posts: 2
edited January 2005 in Vintage Speakers
I have a pair of Monitor 5Bs that I purchased new in late 1989. I just noticed that the owner's manual states the nominal impedance as 4 ohms. This seems really low for a $225 speaker. The same manual shows all of the smaller Monitors as well as the 7C also at 4 ohms. The 10B and 11 have 6 ohm ratings. Is this correct? If it is, there's some pretty expensive (to me) equipment out there that can't drive these things.:confused:
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited January 2005
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    The monitor 5's on polks website shows as 8 ohms. Actually, most of the smaller Monitor's were 8 ohm. Even the monitor 10's and 12's are 8. You'd think that the manual would be accurate, though.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2005
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    There are a number of inconsistancies between the vintage website and owner manual info... and not just in the Monitor line. Trust the manual...

    My original 10's are nominal 6-ohm per the manual. 6-ohm is not that difficult of a load to drive.

    A 4-ohm load is tough, but Mon 5's are not meant to be driven to concert hall levels (neither are the 7's for that matter). You must be aware of this since you aren't mentioning a problem and have owned the 5B's for 15+ years...

    If drive them you must, there's a great deal of inexpensive (to me) amps out there on the used market that can handle them... Carver for one with several models under $300.

    Welcome to the Club...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • waylyn5945
    waylyn5945 Posts: 18
    edited January 2005
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    Originally posted by nadams
    The monitor 5's on polks website shows as 8 ohms. Actually, most of the smaller Monitor's were 8 ohm. Even the monitor 10's and 12's are 8. You'd think that the manual would be accurate, though.

    My Monitor 10s actually measure 5.2 ohms with a Fluke 87 III. And I drive them with a 1976 hk-430 rated at 25 wpc with no problem.
    Wayno
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited January 2005
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    Put your multimeter on the posts.

    If you get around 3.2 ohm, they are 4ohm nominal. If you get around 5.8-6.3 ohm, they are 8ohm nominal.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited January 2005
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    Good info Russ...

    So waylyn's 5.2 reading would correspond to the 6-ohm nominal... Yes? (ah, the wonders of interpolation...)
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • monitor5b
    monitor5b Posts: 2
    edited January 2005
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    4.2 ohms on both. How'd you know I had a multimeter?
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