Polk Audio Monitor 5 JR's - blown driver questions

Marc Wishner
Marc Wishner Posts: 3
edited January 2013 in Vintage Speakers
Hi All, new to the forum and appreciate some advice. I have an awesome pair of monitor 5 JR's I bought new in college days and wife (soon to be X) blew out the drivers I think. They now have a loud bass popping sound when turned up ( high end silver domes seem OK ) and I am thinking if I replace the drivers they will be back to perfection. Polk has suggested they will sell me the mw6502 driver and I wonder if this will solve the popping bass ( do the passive bass speakers blow out too ? ) and are they easy to replace ( looks like 4 screws but I have not pulled them apart to see if there are some funky electric connections etc. Any advice greatly appreciated ! I love my POLKS !
Post edited by Marc Wishner on
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,658
    edited January 2013
    Hi Marc,
    Welcome to the forum, the Monitor 5 series are favorites. In all likelihood replacing the damaged 6.5" will solve the problem, as long as there aren't any tears or punctures on the passive radiators you'll be fine. Be sure to mention your CP membership when you order replacements.
    Regards, Ken
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  • Marc Wishner
    Marc Wishner Posts: 3
    edited January 2013
    Thanks Kenneth, appreciate the thoughts....are there crossovers or any other electronics I would need to deal with ?
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited January 2013
    An air leak can also lead to popping. Do the leak test. Gently press the passive radiator in and hold. While doing so, the mid-woofer should move outward and very slowly retract. It usually takes a few seconds to retract (3-5 sec). If it doesn't move or moves back immediately, then you have a leak. Sources for the leak could be, as mentioned above, a tear or puncture in a passive radiator cone or surround, same for the mid-woofer, a crack in a cabinet (check the seams), or the gaskets around the drivers or terminal cup.

    Keep us posted.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited January 2013
    Marc Wishner wrote: »
    Hi All, new to the forum and appreciate some advice. I have an awesome pair of monitor 5 JR's I bought new in college days and wife (soon to be X) blew out the drivers I think.
    Hope wife is not X over blown drivers.

    Do both speaker have same issue?
    I've seen few polk drivers that popped and found that the spider was completely unglued from the basket and was flapping against the basket on louder volume.
    Also, do the mids move freely when pushed on the cones?

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • Marc Wishner
    Marc Wishner Posts: 3
    edited January 2013
    drivers definitely move when I push on the passives......
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited January 2013
    Marc Wishner wrote: »
    drivers definitely move when I push on the passives......
    Take the drivers out and visually inspect spiders/basket etc...
    Also, inspect crossover for any abnormalities.

    Then hook up receiver/amp directly to the drivers at low volume and test if they work.
    If they still pop, then time for new drivers.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,375
    edited January 2013
    I have seen this too on some Polk Mobile Monitors (MM65xx) from the 90's. Same design as the MS65xx. I was able to epoxy the spyder to the basket and all was good.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • canadianicon25
    canadianicon25 Posts: 200
    edited January 2013
    are there crossovers or any other electronics I would need to deal with ?


    Not for replacing the damaged driver. If your speakers are original replacing the x-over components with new ones will make them sound really good. The monitor 5's and monitor 5 jr's use simple x-over's that are easy to work on. If you go that route consider replacing with either Sonicap or Claritycap film capacitors and Mills brand resistors.
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