Unusual Small Polk Monitors from 1978 - What are these?

DKnott

Anybody have an idea what model #, or what these speakers are? Each cabinet houses a 4.5" woofer (the label is wrong, they are not MW6500 drivers). The cabinets are not rectangular. There seems to be a left and right speaker as each one has a "R" or an "L" on the back. Woofers are dated 1978. I have new surrounds for the woofers but would like to know more about these systems before investing time on the workbench.

I've searched and searched but can't find anything. Anyone have a thought???

mhardy6647

Those are the Polk Minimonitors; just the thing for your "sin bin" Chevy van. If this van's rockin', don't bother knockin'.

The original Minimonitors had trapezoidal boxes (as do yours) - later ones had more ordinary rectangular enclosures. I liked them, very much... and I'd love to have a pair. They're not terribly common, though.

I imagine the woofers were made by CTS (like the main drivers in the earlier Polk Audio Monitor Series Model Nine)- the tweeter, of course, is the venerable Peerless silk dome used in the Monitor Series speakers of the same era.

TNHNDYMAN

DKnott-
I have a pair of these but the latter version w/ the regular rectangular box. I'd be interested in where you got the woofer surrounds from since mine have rotted as well and need to be refoamed. Definately worth redoing. I hooked mine up with the drivers surrounds toasted and they still sound pretty decent. Love the peerless tweeter and the little passive is pretty cool as well.

DKnott

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

DKnott-
I have a pair of these but the latter version w/ the regular rectangular box. I'd be interested in where you got the woofer surrounds from since mine have rotted as well and need to be refoamed. Definately worth redoing. I hooked mine up with the drivers surrounds toasted and they still sound pretty decent. Love the peerless tweeter and the little passive is pretty cool as well.

These surrounds fit nicely and are on E-bay. Takes about 2 weeks to receive them from China.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270604949024

TNHNDYMAN

Thanks for the info I'll pick a few pair of these up.

Inspector 24

If I may ask, what makes these little guys worth the effort compared to any of polk's newer speakers?

And should we be concerned that you took pics of them on your table saw? :razz:

mhardy6647

well... let's see. They've got spirit and soul; they were designed by young guys (mostly if not exclusively guys in those days) with a passion for sound reproduction... and they've got the nifty Peerless KO10DT silk dome tweeter and the sweet sounding CTS 4" midrange (extended range) driver. Plus, for us old geezers, they hearken back to another time (that of the aforementioned Chevy Vans, shag carpeting, and polyester doubleknit).

:-)

Malbec

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?105527-Pic-Test

DKnott,

They are well worth the time and effort to bring back to life. Introduced in 1976, they were marketed for mobile applications. Mine are the earlier versions with a different passive radiator and the tweeter mounted in the middle.
Polk switched to the weighted PR like yours in '78 due to overexcursion problems if memory serves me correct.
Mine were replaced just before the change due to that problem. I'll see if I have any info on them this weekend.

Good luck!

mhardy6647

Malbec wrote: »

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?105527-Pic-Test

DKnott,

They are well worth the time and effort to bring back to life. Introduced in 1976, they were marketed for mobile applications. Mine are the earlier versions with a different passive radiator and the tweeter mounted in the middle.
Polk switched to the weighted PR like yours in '78 due to overexcursion problems if memory serves me correct.
Mine were replaced just before the change due to that problem. I'll see if I have any info on them this weekend.

Good luck!

That's right - I forgot that was the original configuration. The old Polk brochure I have (1976) doesn't have the Minimonitors in it; if you have - and can post a scan - it would be a tremendous service to mankind :-)

George Grand

mhardy6647 wrote: »

well... let's see. They've got spirit and soul; they were designed by young guys (mostly if not exclusively guys in those days) with a passion for sound reproduction... and they've got the nifty Peerless KO10DT silk dome tweeter and the sweet sounding CTS 4" midrange (extended range) driver. Plus, for us old geezers, they hearken back to another time (that of the aforementioned Chevy Vans, shag carpeting, and polyester doubleknit).

:-)

Yes, all that and they still sound pretty bad , which makes for a rare Polk bird indeed.

mhardy6647

Y'know... I just don't remember them sounding bad... maybe it's the misty gauze of memory. As I recall, they were well in the Visonik David camp for small loudspeaker performance and great for the aforementioned Chevy Van...

Toolfan66

For me I wouldn't waste my time and money, I wouldn't get rid of them but I wouldn't put money into them..

Just me, either way projects are fun and that's what it's about.. So enjoy if you take on the project and please post picks...

mhardy6647

So - any of you guys who don't want yours... let me know, 'K?

Stew

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Those are the Polk Minimonitors; just the thing for your "sin bin" Chevy van. If this van's rockin', don't bother knockin'.

The original Minimonitors had trapezoidal boxes (as do yours) - later ones had more ordinary rectangular enclosures. I liked them, very much... and I'd love to have a pair. They're not terribly common, though.

I imagine the woofers were made by CTS (like the main drivers in the earlier Polk Audio Monitor Series Model Nine)- the tweeter, of course, is the venerable Peerless silk dome used in the Monitor Series speakers of the same era.

... or for your Chevy Nova if you build a bracket behind the seat. Mine were rectangular boxes from the early 80's. imho, Polks didn't sound this good again until the TL tweeters came out.

TNHNDYMAN

Nice ride Stew. Was that a 74'? I had a 78' but it was a 3sp on columne 305 sm blk so not nearly as much fun. I'd love to find a pic of my old JVC boombox duct taped to the front bench seat. Dark gray metallic paint w/ peeling vinyl top and sun roasted maroon interior that had changed to a weird pink purplish hue. If only I could be so cool again. It was a beater, but I wish I still had it.

Inspector 24

Got it, kind of a nostalgia thing. I can relate.

One of these days I'm going to pick up some speakers with the Peerless tweeter so I can finally see what the rage is.

mhardy6647

The Peerless is just a sweet, smooth and well-behaved driver - it doesn't call attention to itself.

I've been resisting the temptation to link to this wonderful :-P 70s anthem... but the temptation is just too great...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiEIToOWr64

TennMan

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

... I'd love to find a pic of my old JVC boombox duct taped to the front bench seat.

haha. Careful tnhandyman, you don't want to hurt Tennessee's image. City slickers already think we all go barefoot, are toothless and have mullet hair cuts... but you and I know it's not true. This photo if me holding a broom straw between my teeth will prove I've got teeth! lol :cheesygrin:

Stew

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

Nice ride Stew. Was that a 74'? I had a 78' but it was a 3sp on columne 305 sm blk so not nearly as much fun. I'd love to find a pic of my old JVC boombox duct taped to the front bench seat. Dark gray metallic paint w/ peeling vinyl top and sun roasted maroon interior that had changed to a weird pink purplish hue. If only I could be so cool again. It was a beater, but I wish I still had it.

It was a '73 with the 350 4bbl 4sp, headers, traction bars, etc. Stereo was Pioneer with two separate amps, co-ax speakers in the doors and Polk mini monitors in the rear. Lots of good times!

inspiredsports

Inspector 24 wrote: »

. . . what makes these little guys worth the effort . . .

They are Polks.

Malbec

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mhardy6647

very cool; thanks!

TNHNDYMAN

Thanks for the literature Malbec.

Mr. H- I'd like to get these refoamed this spring and may try them as surrounds for the heck of it in my home theater, but if I decide to let them go I'll give you first dibs if you're interested. Just PM contact info.
Travis

mhardy6647

I'll PM ye indeed; thanks!

[Deleted User]

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Those are the Polk Minimonitors; just the thing for your "sin bin" Chevy van. If this van's rockin', don't bother knockin'.

The original Minimonitors had trapezoidal boxes (as do yours) - later ones had more ordinary rectangular enclosures. I liked them, very much... and I'd love to have a pair. They're not terribly common, though.

You are correct sir. They were marketed with that thought or possibly being used on a rear deck (package tray). The problem was as an automotive speaker, no one considered the heat involved in the interior. A lot of these were returned because the hot melt used to glue the cabinets "loosened" in this environment. Unintented consequences, that sort of thing. HTH. Cheers. :cool:

skrol

Where there any issues with magnets shifting?

I had a pair of the old MM-65xx that shifted after going over a big bump. It also bent the rim and rear trailing arm in my Dodge Daytona.