Polk 5Jr for music

Jimbo18

I tried to buy a local pair of Monitor 4s I was going to use as surrounds, but the seller decided to pull them off sale and I have now found a pair of Monitor 5JRs for $75. I haven't seen them in person yet, and the pictures don't show much other than the model and the front covers but they appear to be cosmetically okay.

Would they pair okay with a Pioneer VSX 821K for music in a fairly large bedroom? They would also be used for television, possibly with a small center channel like the CS175. Just from the look of them, they seem like they might be similar to the Monitor 7s. Right now I am just using RT35i with the Pioneer AVR and, based on the Monitor 7's, I think I would like the 5JRs better for music.

Mystery

They'll work fine.
Not a great price though.

soundfreak1

I use 5jr+'s for my broom sys, and they sound fantastic.

Jimbo18

Mystery wrote: »

They'll work fine.
Not a great price though.

I figured it might be a little high and they have been listed before, so he might come down a bit.

skrol

Do you know which version of 5Jr they be?


Monitor 5Jr (1984-1985)
Bass reflex (ported) design.
Midrange 1 - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm) drivers
MW6502
Tweeter 1 - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)
Polk SL2000 silver coil dome tweeter

Overall Frequency Response 30Hz - 26kHz
Crossover Frequency 3000Hz
Nominal Impedance 4 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power 10-100 w/channel
Efficiency 92 dB
Max Output Level 114 dB

Dimensions Cabinet Size 17" H x 9" W x 8.875" D
Weight 45. lbs./ pair

---

Monitor 5Jr+ (1986-1990)
Passive Radiator design

Had a 6.5" PR
SL-2000 tweeter
6.5" MW
Overall Frequency Response 30Hz - 26kHz (+/-3dB: 48Hz ? 20KHz)
Nominal Impedance 6 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power 20-125 w/channel
Efficiency 91 dB

---

Monitor 5Jr+ Series 2 (1990)
Passive Radiator design

PR - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm)
Mid/Woofer 1 - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm)
Tweeter 1 - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)
Polk SL2500 dome tweeter

Overall Frequency Response 30Hz - 25kHz
Lower -3dB Limit 48Hz
Upper -3dB Limit 23kHz
Nominal Impedance 8 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power 20-125 w/channel
Efficiency 90 dB

Dimensions Cabinet Size 19-1/2" H x 9" W x 10" D
(49.53cm H x 22.86cm W x 25.40cm D)


Notice that the first version was rated 4 ohm.

thsmith

WHich of the 3 is considered the best?

I agree $75 is on the high side but if in great shape I doubt you will find a better sounding new speaker for $75.

vstarkwell

skrol wrote: »

Do you know which version of 5Jr they be?

Monitor 5Jr+ Series 2 (1990)
Passive Radiator design

PR - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm)
Mid/Woofer 1 - 6-1/2" Diameter (16.51cm)
Tweeter 1 - 1" Diameter (2.54cm)
Polk SL2500 dome tweeter

Overall Frequency Response 30Hz - 25kHz
Lower -3dB Limit 48Hz
Upper -3dB Limit 23kHz
Nominal Impedance 8 ohms
Recommended Amplifier Power 20-125 w/channel
Efficiency 90 dB

Dimensions Cabinet Size 19-1/2" H x 9" W x 10" D
(49.53cm H x 22.86cm W x 25.40cm D)

I have these and like them a lot, they were my first pair of Polks purchased new. I think you'll be fine for bedroom speakers whichever version they happen to be.

vcwatkins

Don't know if you're ever in Wilmington, but.... this seller seems to be a good guy (according to two buyers) and usually has interesting used gear at reasonable prices from what I can tell. Here are his Jr's:

http://wilmington.craigslist.org/ele/3484050264.html

Craig

cnh

75 isn't terrible for those. But as far as music, I thought most people here were of the Monitor 7s as the best of the Monitors for that?

Not that juniors wouldn't be good. I suspect they might sound a little "thin" with that Pioneer receiver. I run my 5As off an old JVC receiver that just sounds perfect for them, even though on paper, it's less powerful than your 821K Pio. The JVC can legitimately drive a 4 ohm load which the Pioneer cannot!

Enjoy!

cnh

Jimbo18

After I started this thread, I saw that one of the various versions was 4 ohms and that does concern me with just the Pio to drive them. Here's the ad, which really doesn't give me much of a clue as to the version but I have asked for more pictures before we go any further with a sale. The label shows 5JR without a +. Does that mean they must be the 4 ohm version?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/ele/3482024617.html

I told the seller that I am only looking for the 8 ohm version. If I get the photos I requested, I will post them. There is a set of Monitor 7s for sale for the same price with another seller, and if this doesn't work out, I may go that way. The tweets won't match my 7c's with SL2500's but I didn't intend to use them together.

tophatjohnny

I heard a pair of the +'s and they sounded great for the size! 75 (if in great shape) will be hard to beat!

Oldfatdogs

Jim,I'm going to be the voice in your head. (Get the 7s)
Dan

vcwatkins

Oldfatdogs wrote: »

Jim,I'm going to be the voice in your head. (Get the 7s)
Dan

Yep, get the 7's.

EndersShadow

[video=youtube_share;sD8vwxhxKpA]http://youtu.be/sD8vwxhxKpA[/video]

PolkieMan

lucky 7's

Jimbo18

I am sensing a theme here. Sounds like the 7's are the way to go. Thanks for the advice.

Jimbo18

Here's the photos that I was sent for the 5JRs. They look like they are in nice shape. They do not have the ported design but do have the silver dome tweeter and the PR. Does that make them 5JR+ and therefore 6 ohms?

agfrost

You got it. The original 5jr+ with SL2000 tweeters.

TNHNDYMAN

Unless space constraints are the key issue, then go with the 7's for the same $ or we will make fun of you when you decide to find a pair of 7's in a couple of months

TNHNDYMAN

If you really want a pair of 7's, I have some with Peerless and Larry's rings that I would install and dynamat the drivers and passive for you for $150. I may be coming to the Charlotte area in a couple weeks or I have family that lives there in for Christmas right now that could deliver to you when they go back Thursday, but you'd have to install the rings yourself for $125.

Jimbo18

I turned down the 5JRs cuz I don't like being laughed at. But I let the seller know exactly what they are and suggested they add the new pics to the CL ad.

TNHNDYMAN, let me think about it over the holidays. We are heading to Miss. for Christmas and will be gone most of next week. I have a job interview next week and those 7s would be a nice present to myself if all goes well. I haven't heard Peerless tweets yet and would love to hear them versus the SL2500s in my 7Cs.

gmjungbluth

Good choice on the 7s! You will be happy. TNHNDYMAN's mods sound interesting - I've never heard of a rings upgrade for the monitor series. And how to you apply the dynamat?

I have a pair of Polk Mon 7As that sooner or later I would like to do a full resto on - caps, re-veneer the cabinets, etc. Who knows if I'll ever get around to it though!!

BYW - I have a 5jr+ that I'm currently using as a center channel in my all Polk Monitor HT setup (thanks TNHNDYMAN!). Sounds great. When I demoed it against my monitor 7s, the voicing is right there, but there is less bass. For a bedroom or TV setup I personally think you wouldn't be missing much vs the 7s that you wouldn't be gaining in size and packaging efficiency, especially if you really never crank the tunes in that room. That said, I had a pair of the Monitor 4s and was not as impressed....

Jimbo18

gmjungbluth wrote: »

Good choice on the 7s! You will be happy. TNHNDYMAN's mods sound interesting - I've never heard of a rings upgrade for the monitor series. And how to you apply the dynamat?

I have a pair of Polk Mon 7As that sooner or later I would like to do a full resto on - caps, re-veneer the cabinets, etc. Who knows if I'll ever get around to it though!!

BYW - I have a 5jr+ that I'm currently using as a center channel in my all Polk Monitor HT setup (thanks TNHNDYMAN!). Sounds great. When I demoed it against my monitor 7s, the voicing is right there, but there is less bass. For a bedroom or TV setup I personally think you wouldn't be missing much vs the 7s that you wouldn't be gaining in size and packaging efficiency, especially if you really never crank the tunes in that room. That said, I had a pair of the Monitor 4s and was not as impressed....

I had actually considered getting the 5JRs and using one for the center in my HT setup, but I feel like the speaker would be a bit large for that the way I am set up, and the ones for sale currently, won't timbre match with my 7Cs. If I go that route, I would either have to find ones with the SL2500 tweeters or head down that rabbit hole and upgrade them all, which is something I just can't do currently.

My other thought was to pick up the 5JRs to use as rear surrounds with my 7Cs. The timbre matching wouldn't matter much, if at all, as surrounds. My family room isn't currently set up well to use anything larger than the 5JRs as surrounds.

TNHNDYMAN

The 5Jr's would make nice surrounds I would think for a nice vintage HT setup. As to the 7's Jimbo just let me know. I have not installed the rings on the 7's yet but do have them available. There are several threads that speak to how to install them as well as the dynamat and JB welding the magnets on the midwoofers to keep the magnets from shifting during transport. I'm in the Tri Cities region of TN so I'm about 3 hrs from Charlotte. Feel free to PM for contact info and I'd be happy to discuss with you. Enjoy your Christmas break and there is no rush, just wanted to throw you an option out there. I really don't want to get rid of the 7's but some medical bills and other needs have changed some priorities for me for the time being.

Jimbo18

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

The 5Jr's would make nice surrounds I would think for a nice vintage HT setup. As to the 7's Jimbo just let me know. I have not installed the rings on the 7's yet but do have them available. There are several threads that speak to how to install them as well as the dynamat and JB welding the magnets on the midwoofers to keep the magnets from shifting during transport. I'm in the Tri Cities region of TN so I'm about 3 hrs from Charlotte. Feel free to PM for contact info and I'd be happy to discuss with you. Enjoy your Christmas break and there is no rush, just wanted to throw you an option out there. I really don't want to get rid of the 7's but some medical bills and other needs have changed some priorities for me for the time being.

PM sent.

cnh

gmjungbluth wrote: »

Good choice on the 7s! You will be happy. TNHNDYMAN's mods sound interesting - I've never heard of a rings upgrade for the monitor series. And how to you apply the dynamat?

I have a pair of Polk Mon 7As that sooner or later I would like to do a full resto on - caps, re-veneer the cabinets, etc. Who knows if I'll ever get around to it though!!

BYW - I have a 5jr+ that I'm currently using as a center channel in my all Polk Monitor HT setup (thanks TNHNDYMAN!). Sounds great. When I demoed it against my monitor 7s, the voicing is right there, but there is less bass. For a bedroom or TV setup I personally think you wouldn't be missing much vs the 7s that you wouldn't be gaining in size and packaging efficiency, especially if you really never crank the tunes in that room. That said, I had a pair of the Monitor 4s and was not as impressed....

You haven't been around long enough to see what these sleepless bastages dream up regarding "mods" to old Polks. Rings, Black hole 5, Cardas binding posts, JB weld, primo crossover upgrades, dynamat (just pull your drivers out and afix it to all the metal surface supports and maybe add some to your goatee so those hairs don't resonate when listening). Soon you'll be waking up at 3 AM and wondering "what else can I do to my Polk speakers". Then calling a fellow Polkie and having him scream: "Go to SLEEP, for God's sake! What the Fs the matter with you?"

cnh

gmjungbluth

LOL - great reply!

I'll put the dynamat driver and facial coating on the list for my 7s when I get around to them. I have done the JB Weld mod, after having to replace two drivers after they seized.

Funny, but I spend more time tinkering with speakers and stereos than I do listening to them. But I'm ok with that!

And so far no 3AM wake-ups thinking about the Polks - stays all in my dreams!

cnh wrote: »

You haven't been around long enough to see what these sleepless bastages dream up regarding "mods" to old Polks. Rings, Black hole 5, Cardas binding posts, JB weld, primo crossover upgrades, dynamat (just pull your drivers out and afix it to all the metal surface supports and maybe add some to your goatee so those hairs don't resonate when listening). Soon you'll be waking up at 3 AM and wondering "what else can I do to my Polk speakers". Then calling a fellow Polkie and having him scream: "Go to SLEEP, for God's sake! What the Fs the matter with you?"

cnh

Jimbo18

TNHNDYMAN wrote: »

The 5Jr's would make nice surrounds I would think for a nice vintage HT setup. As to the 7's Jimbo just let me know. I have not installed the rings on the 7's yet but do have them available. There are several threads that speak to how to install them as well as the dynamat and JB welding the magnets on the midwoofers to keep the magnets from shifting during transport. I'm in the Tri Cities region of TN so I'm about 3 hrs from Charlotte. Feel free to PM for contact info and I'd be happy to discuss with you. Enjoy your Christmas break and there is no rush, just wanted to throw you an option out there. I really don't want to get rid of the 7's but some medical bills and other needs have changed some priorities for me for the time being.

I sent a second PM but nothing shows in my Sent file. Did you get my message?

TNHNDYMAN

Sorry Jimbo- I got it. Been busy today and thought I had some company coming in tomorrow so I was trying to clean and pick up the house a bit. Send me some contact info and we can talk to discuss details. I've got family living in Charlotte so I don't need much of an excuse to come down that way.. lol

PolkMaster1

cnh wrote: »

Soon you'll be waking up at 3 AM and wondering "what else can I do to my Polk speakers". Then calling a fellow Polkie and having him scream: "Go to SLEEP, for God's sake! What the Fs the matter with you?"

cnh

This is what happens when you take 5 hour energy drinks at bed time.

Of course it did not help that someone mentioned to their fellow polkie member during that 3AM conversation - "Watson - I need you now!!!"