Fix Monitor 5JR+ or new Tsi200's?

timk65
timk65 Posts: 40
edited June 2013 in Speakers
I have a pair of Monitor 5JR+ I've had since the late eighties (IIRC) which I'm sort of attached to, but one of them has both woofers blown (well, they make no sound). You can still buy parts for them on eBay and I could probably get them like new for around $150. There's probably more wrong with them, I abused the hell out of them when I was younger.

Would it just be better to buy a new pair, say, of Tsi200's? It's been so long since my 5JR's sounded good I've forgotten what they're supposed to sound like. They're currently the "B" speakers in a system I generally use for movies along with a pair of inexpensive Sony floorstanding speakers. Considering pairing them (or something else) with my Tsi500's on another system.
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  • gmjungbluth
    gmjungbluth Posts: 232
    edited June 2013
    I've never heard the Tsi200s, but the 5JRs can play very well. Each one has one active midbass woofer and one passive radiator, as well as a tweeter. If there is absolutely no sound coming out of one of the speakers from either the tweeter or the woofer, I would suspect a bad wire somewhere inside the crossover - maybe one of the binding posts broke? It could be an easy fix, but it will take some tinkering. If you can solder and aren't afraid of opening them up you could save a lot of money over the Tsi200s. Another alternative if you aren't interested in fixing would be to find an unmolested pair on CL or eBay - I think you could get a pair for much less than $150.


    timk65 wrote: »
    I have a pair of Monitor 5JR+ I've had since the late eighties (IIRC) which I'm sort of attached to, but one of them has both woofers blown (well, they make no sound). You can still buy parts for them on eBay and I could probably get them like new for around $150. There's probably more wrong with them, I abused the hell out of them when I was younger.

    Would it just be better to buy a new pair, say, of Tsi200's? It's been so long since my 5JR's sounded good I've forgotten what they're supposed to sound like. They're currently the "B" speakers in a system I generally use for movies along with a pair of inexpensive Sony floorstanding speakers. Considering pairing them (or something else) with my Tsi500's on another system.
    HT System:
    Marantz NR-1403
    Front: Klipsch CF-4
    Rear: Paradigm Atom V3
    Center: Boston Acoustic VR12
    Sub: Bowers & Wilkins ASW600

    2Ch:
    Restored Fisher 500C
    Yamaha P-500 Turntable

    Living Room:
    Harman Kardon 3380
    Restored Polk Monitor 7B

    Bedroom:
    Harman Kardon VR-3750
    Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble
    Polk PSW10

    In and out of rotation:
    KLH Model 6,
    Polk LSI7
    NAD 7100
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    WELCOME Tim....i saw a pair recently on Clist for 50.00 here in Maine. You should be able to find a driver for 20-40.00 or go to POLK AUDIO and buy new driver.. If that is what your problem is. I would do as others have asked first so you know for sure what it is..but 150.00 would buy you a mint pair for sure. They are a great speaker (as i have them too) but for the buck i would go another direction IMO i would repair first. Good luck & WELCOME to Polk
    ..
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited June 2013
    Welcome Tim, I have a pair too. Really enjoy them. I agree, you should fully diagnose the problem before you make any decisions. Where are you located?
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    I'm new to this ... should the passive radiators be making any sound at all?
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  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,536
    edited June 2013
    Think of the passive as a big port. If the woofer is not working, there is no pressure to move the passive. Can you push on the woofer & make it move? Do you hear any scraping sounds when you do this? If it moves with no odd noises, the next step is to pull the woofer out, disconnect the wires(take note which wire went where) & hook it straight to the amp. Then you'll know if its the woofer or the crossover that's the problem.
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    Thanks DaveHo. On one, the woofer makes a very low volume tinny sound, but it does produce sound. If I push on it, I feel my fingers would go through the cone before it moved.

    The other has a tweeter that makes no noise at all.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    The top one is the tweeter..... In the middle you have the driver(woofer) that is the one you should lightly push in. The bottom is a passive woofer
    ..
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    Attachment not found.
    ..
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    Yours should look like mine..the driver is in middle. It goes in n out and produces pressure to your passive on bottom which in turn produces bass.
    ..
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    Sounds like you may have some bad drivers.or other internal problems
    ..
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    Thanks - yeah I know which is the woofer and which is the tweeter. The woofer on one is normal and on the other I can't push it in at all. I'm thinking the driver's busted.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    Its probably froze up.MAGNET SHIFT. That has happened to me in shipping. They can be replaced fairly cheap. I guess they can be repaired but i havent done one....Ebay has them often. It should be a MW6502 i do believe. If you pull the driver it should say on the backside of the driver. It may say the year it was made too..you can look on classified here also. They can be purchased through Polk Audio also. Youll get a discount too. Tell them your a member on the forum. They real are great people there also. Good luck
    ..
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    Does anyone see a problem replacing the SL 2000 tweeters in these with SL2500's?
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  • Jimbo18
    Jimbo18 Posts: 2,337
    edited June 2013
    timk65 wrote: »
    Does anyone see a problem replacing the SL 2000 tweeters in these with SL2500's?

    I think there is an issue with the crossover being different between the two. The better upgrade would be a new RDO 194.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2013
    timk65 wrote: »
    Would it just be better to buy a new pair, say, of Tsi200's?

    Nope. I like the Monitor 5Jr+ and it's a great sounding speaker for the size and price.
    Jake
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    Timk65 if you notice mine were missing some pins that hold the grills on. I bought them that way. They were shipped to me. When i got them the driver on one was froze up tight..all it takes is one bump and the magnet will shift. There are precautions you can take to help CURE this with JB WELD. It is explained here on the forum how to do this.. I ended up buying another pair for parts for 40.00 local. I replaced the driver and i have spare parts. I am very happy with these little guys. They do the job well for what they are..keep your eyes open a driver will pop up..well worth keeping IMO on a vintage speaker
    ..
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    Jimbo18 wrote: »
    I think there is an issue with the crossover being different between the two. The better upgrade would be a new RDO 194.

    Damnit I just ordered them. I hope that's not true since they say they're rated for 5JR (mine are 5JR, not 5JR+ as I previously thought)
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    boston1450 wrote: »
    Timk65 if you notice mine were missing some pins that hold the grills on. I bought them that way. They were shipped to me. When i got them the driver on one was froze up tight..all it takes is one bump and the magnet will shift. There are precautions you can take to help CURE this with JB WELD. It is explained here on the forum how to do this.. I ended up buying another pair for parts for 40.00 local. I replaced the driver and i have spare parts. I am very happy with these little guys. They do the job well for what they are..keep your eyes open a driver will pop up..well worth keeping IMO on a vintage speaker

    I think that's what was wrong with the tweeter as well. I removed it and noticed the entire assembly was sideways and stuck to the plate by the magnet, as if it were totally knocked loose. It looks fine from the outside. I "righted" it but it still produces no sound. I ordered replacements.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    Not sure where you live. But your welcome to have parts free. Ive got just about everything.....if your near Maine
    ..
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    I see you put New Orleans up. Sorry i couldnt be of any help....randy
    ..
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    Damnit, the woofer I bought has the same problem as the one I'm trying to replace. Hardly worth returning ... just a waste.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    Where did you get it ? Ship/Return it-or have them ship you a good one. That SVCKS
    ..
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    Where does one buy an RDO 194? How much are they?
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  • Jimbo18
    Jimbo18 Posts: 2,337
    edited June 2013
    timk65 wrote: »
    Where does one buy an RDO 194? How much are they?

    You can call Polk Customer Service and order them direct. Last thing I read was that they are $48 each and free shipping if you mention you are a Club Polk member. The number is at the top of this page.
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited June 2013
    You can use sl2500 or rdo198 with slight crossover mod. Also, yours are jr+, as the 5jr has a port rather than a passive.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    My 5jr's have passive. No port ? My 4's has a port. Maybe im reading this wrong ?
    ..
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    Big Dawg wrote: »
    You can use sl2500 or rdo198 with slight crossover mod. Also, yours are jr+, as the 5jr has a port rather than a passive.

    Are you sure - the back says "Monitor 5JR." I thought the 5JR+ used SL 2500's? Mine have SL 2000's. I bought them in the late 80's; I think the 5JR+ came out around 1992, right?
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    The picture above in thread is a sl2500 i do believe--unless i am wrong ?
    ..
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  • timk65
    timk65 Posts: 40
    edited June 2013
    boston1450 wrote: »
    The picture above in thread is a sl2500 i do believe--unless i am wrong ?

    SL 2500's have a black dome, I know I accidentally bought two (and they don't really work in this speaker) ... those are SL 2000's I'm sure ...
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,668
    edited June 2013
    I will research some
    ..
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