Monitor 7 vs rtia 5 in system?

Eugene_biker

Hi gang,

I just scored a pair a original Monitor 7s with peerless tweets ($25 :-0!!)

They sound great, but I knew from the get go that I was going to mod these. Have the caps (Clarity) on order. New resistors, dynamat and hurricane nuts on their way too.

I currently have A5s and and A6 in my system. I am probably 80/20 with HT being the 80. I don't listen to as much music as I used to and I think it may be because of the A5 tweeters and a not liking issue.

I know some of you have used a cs350ls with a new capacitor for your center channel.

So the question. If I use mod'd 7 & 350, will it do ok for HT compared to the A5/A6?

I know I will be switching to the Monitor 7's for Music. Am I just kidding myself that the 7s can also do HT as well as doing music?

Enquiring minds want to know....

Thanks all.

westmassguy

The Monitor 7s are arguably the best sounding, and most balanced of all the vintage Monitors. They will do quite well as dual use, Music/Home Theater. The Center is the problem. If your woodworking skills are sufficient, you can roll your own center, that will match the 7s timbre exactly. It's what I did to match my SDA-2ATLs.

Eugene_biker

Hey Westmassguy,

So, maybe something like gutting a Monitor 10 for the crossover and the drivers? Then maybe the passives from a 5jr in a box?

I remember someone else doing that on here.

They never really said how it sounded.

westmassguy

That would be me, check my signature for the link

Eugene_biker

That's the one.

I would love to do a copy of your center. I have been watching for a good crossover and drivers to become available.

Woodworking is fine on my end.

Replacing caps and resistors is my current limit.

In your project you made changes to the crossover values such as the inductor and resistor values. That is where I am lost and wouldn't know where to start.

Need more research on my end before I take on building my own.

Eugene_biker

Question for you westmassguy,

If you hadn't used the 4 ohm 6502s and had used drivers from a Monitor 10 (don't know the number off hand), would you have had to make as many changes to the crossover.

Did you use the 6502s because it was what you had, or was there a reason to use them over the drivers from a sacrificial Monitor 10?

Thanks

gmjungbluth

Restored Polk Monitor 7s with Peerless will be excellent all-purpose HT and music speakers. I just did a full resto on my pair (Larry's rings, dynamat, new caps and resistors, acoustic foam, as well as veneer) and I am very happy. I chronicled the build on this forum and on my blog - http://silverfacestereo.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/how-far-can-you-go-polk-monitor-7b-rebuild/

I'm currently running them with a Boston Acoustic VR12 Center channel. I am very satisfied with the setup, however I need to get them all dialed in - I think the center channel is a little more forward than the Monitors. Since I'm currently not running my rear surrounds I haven't bothered to re-IQ the system.

I think a CS350 would be a good match as a center channel. You could also try your A6 and see what you think before investing further.

Before my VR12 I had a recapped Polk Monitor 5JR Series 2 which was great. It matched very well. That could be a cost-effective alternative to a dedicated center channel. I found my single orphan 5JR for very cheap and I was happy with it. In fact, I still have it if you're interested (PM me). It needs a little TLC however.

Good luck!

G

westmassguy

Eugene_biker wrote: »

Question for you westmassguy,

If you hadn't used the 4 ohm 6502s and had used drivers from a Monitor 10 (don't know the number off hand), would you have had to make as many changes to the crossover.

Did you use the 6502s because it was what you had, or was there a reason to use them over the drivers from a sacrificial Monitor 10?

Thanks

As I explained in the write-up, the typical 8 ohm drivers from any monitor 10, would far exceed the optimum internal volume of the cabinet I chose. The VAS, or amount of air displaced by the moving cones for the two 8 ohm drivers is double the mw6502s. I could have tuned the enclosure with ports, but my bass cutoff would have been in the 70Hz + region. The 6502s where a perfect match for the cabinet, and the PRs.

Eugene_biker

Hey wmg,

Sorry, sometimes the dyslexia hits me this early in the morning on the west coast. You did talk about why you used the 6502s in your original post. :-)

westmassguy

No worries

Eugene_biker

Hey gmj,

Thanks for the response.

I love your site. Have been there before.

I have a lepai 2020 out on my patio and love it.

I have a line on some 5jrs here in Eugene. If those fall through, I may take you up on your single.

Eugene_biker

Have either of you heard a modified Monitor system like we are talking about vs. and RTIa system? Like at a polkfest.

westmassguy

Modified Monitor? Explain....
I'm a Vintage guy, so can't comment on the RTIa vs Vintage Monitors

Eugene_biker

Sorry, I am calling a Monitor 7 that has new caps, resistors, etc. modified.

westmassguy

Eugene_biker wrote: »

Sorry, I am calling a Monitor 7 that has new caps, resistors, etc. modified.

I think upgraded would be a better way of describing a Re-Cap

Eugene_biker

Sounds good

gmjungbluth

Good luck with the 5JRS!

I love[d] my Lepai too - but I think I just grenaded it - check out the latest post on my blog to find out more. Time to get a new one

G

Eugene_biker wrote: »

Hey gmj,

Thanks for the response.

I love your site. Have been there before.

I have a lepai 2020 out on my patio and love it.

I have a line on some 5jrs here in Eugene. If those fall through, I may take you up on your single.

Eugene_biker

For $25, I don't cry too much over the lepai's. It's a killer deal.

Eugene_biker

Hey Westmassguy,

I have decided to make a center using your design.

I have all the drivers on the way.

I have a question. Should the tweeter be 4 ohm or 8 ohm?

I have the 6502s and passives on the way from another polkie

Thank you for any help you can give.

westmassguy

Eugene_biker wrote: »

Hey Westmassguy,

I have decided to make a center using your design.

I have all the drivers on the way.

I have a question. Should the tweeter be 4 ohm or 8 ohm?

I have the 6502s and passives on the way from another polkie

Thank you for any help you can give.

8 ohm, the Monitor 10 crossover is designed for 8ohm tweeter. It's the lo-pass that has to be reconfigured for two 4 ohm woofers in series vs two 8 ohm woofers in parallel