Monitor 5 & SDA 2 info

rockinrob

Hi all. I'm glad to be part of this forum,I've learned from it already. I recently picked up a pair of monitor 5 speakers in good condition and have replaced 1 driver from Polk,I also have replaced the caps in the xo's.I did use Dayton metal film caps and have had them playing for 3 days strait at this point,My questions are how long before these things calm down a bit and don't get me wrong the speakers do sound much better than before the new caps they are just coming and going as far as sound quality,also the 2.7 resistors in the xo's metered good should I replace anyway? The other ? about these is I have 1 sl 2000 silver coil tweeter in 1 speaker and a generic in the other,is it worth the 100 bucks to upgrade to the newer 194 I think that's the # on the tweeter I read about or just find another sl 2000 and call it a good day.I am also wondering about a set of SDA 2 speakers I have come across these speakers are completely original and in out of the box condition,are they worth 350.00?I have no clue about that.I do appreciate any info you folks may want to share and if I did something wrong feel free to enlighten me and I wont make the same mistake twice.Thanks to all and you folks have a good day.Rob.

PolkieMan

Yes always upgrade the tweeters sl2000 to RDO -194 (tell Helen you are a Club Polk member $48+tax each) this should remove the shrill sound from the tweeters and give you the quality sound your looking for.

If they are SDA 2B they are well worth it.

http://vr3mods.com/uploads/SDA_Handbook_2011_Rev2.pdf

rockinrob

I do appreciate the info and will look at the SDA set to see if they are 2b's.The speakers are beautiful and if the wife will not kill me when I get them here I will post pix of them and then find out if an upgrade is in order.Have a good day Bud.Rob.

NJPOLKER

Hey Rob and welcome.

Your speakers are worth a lot more than $350.00 for you will have a long journey to find a better sounding speaker any where close that that dollar amount.

Do the updates for sure starting with a pair of rdo's then the caps and resistors. That way its like getting a better pair of speakers each time you do the update. Well I guess I should have said you are getting a better pair each time and you'll really enjoy the time effort and huge increase in sound quality.

The folks around here are the best in the business. Also, do some thread searches and get your read on because they have tons of great info. and pictures of works in progress.

rockinrob

Hi Guy's. I apologize for disappearing on you,I had some business to attend to for a few days.I have let the Monitor 5s run for a good week and then took them to there new home,which would be the sound room and hooked them up to my vintage Denon PM-757 integratedamp and they came to life quickly.I'm impressed. Polkieman and NJPOLKER I do appreciate your input about the speakers.My M5s only have monitor 5 on the back nothing else,do you guys know if these are the first in the run or when they came into the pix?I'm still not sure about the 2.7 resistor in the X.O If I replace it I don't know what to replace it with.I have been looking at the Lit.and am not seeing this X.O.Any input would be greatly appreciated.As for the SDA 2s the fellow selling them had a brain melt down and changed his price to 750.00 from 350.00 and I got the look when I approached the much prettier half about that so I had to back away from that battle or very likely get hurt or something like that.I'm old and not really looking to get anything broken if I can help it. Again I appreciate any and all input you folks are willing to dish out.You Folks have a good Eve.Rob.

Hofy

Rob, sorry to hear about the SDA2 deal. The Monitor 5's are still some nice speakers especially if you have a smaller listening space like I do. (12'x10') You should be able to date yours by pulling the original 6 1/2" driver and looking at the date. Your crossovers and passive radiators should also be dated. Also, replace the resistor with a Mills 2.7Ohm non-inductive. You may also want to look into replacing your tweeters too. Until you can post dates and or pics we will not know what you have.

Faustin

Here are a couple of pictures of one of my 5a's c/o. They were dated 1982 and had the Peerless tweeter. Mine had a 2.5 and 2.7 resistor which I replaced and mounted on the bottom of the board to make room for the new caps. Also replaced the binding posts with gold plated.

rockinrob

Hi again guys,I will replace the resistor but can anyone tell me where to buy them from?I did a google search and found one place I believe was in Essex England and the web site could not find the resistors in question.As for the tweets the RDO-194s will be on the way soon.These monitor 5 speakers sound exceptional except for the miss matched tweets and the fact that I know that one of them is a generic,it just plain bothers me.But I can correct that problem.If I can figure out how to post pix on this site when I do get in to the speakers again I will put some pix up.I did pull the original driver and the dates are from 1985,the crossovers are dated the same.I appreciate the input about putting a date on them.I have to go away for now but you folks enjoy the rest of the weekend.Rob.

TennMan

How to post pictures here on the forum:

1. Click the button in the editor menu that looks like a picture of a tree. A box will popup that says "Select Image".
2. Click the button at the bottom of the box that says "Select Files".
3. Another box will popup that allows you to find files on your computer.
4. Navigate to your picture on your hard drive, click it once to select it, and click the "Open" button.
5. Click the "Upload Files" button.
6. In a few seconds the popup box will close and your photo will appear in your post.

Hope this helps.

Faustin

rockinrob wrote: »

Hi again guys,I will replace the resistor but can anyone tell me where to buy them from?I did a google search and found one place I believe was in Essex England and the web site could not find the resistors in question.As for the tweets the RDO-194s will be on the way soon.These monitor 5 speakers sound exceptional except for the miss matched tweets and the fact that I know that one of them is a generic,it just plain bothers me.But I can correct that problem.If I can figure out how to post pix on this site when I do get in to the speakers again I will put some pix up.I did pull the original driver and the dates are from 1985,the crossovers are dated the same.I appreciate the input about putting a date on them.I have to go away for now but you folks enjoy the rest of the weekend.Rob.

If you want to use Mills resistors you can get them from SoniCraft online.

rockinrob

I am sure the info about posting pix will be helpful,now I just have to find the time to to find the editor menu,but I will find it.I also will find the resistors now and Thank You for that info.I was looking at Tennman's reply and noticed a couple of things I'm not familiar with,what are erse inductors and what are h-nuts?Is this something I need to look into for my speakers.As always I do appreciate the info you folks share,it is very helpful.On another note here I read on a different post about gluing the magnets on the speakers.One of my drivers is the original and I would like to keep it that way.Can you guys tell me if this is something I should look into more and is this common to vintage polk drivers or maybe to just the monitor 5 driver or just what gives with that.This is something I know nothing about.Have a good day folks.Rob.

Faustin

Erse inductors are a brand of inductors that many of the club members use to replace the stock inductors on their Polk crossovers. H-nuts are hurricane nuts. You can find them at Parts Express. http://www.parts-express.com/Search.aspx?keyword=hurricane%20nuts&sitesearch=true. The 8/32 are used with a machine screw to eliminate the wood screws that hold the drivers and passive radiators to the cabinet. Don't have to worry about stripping the cabinet with the wood screws and you can snug the drivers up to achieve a air tight cabinet. One of the upgrades for the vintage Polks. What MWxxxx driver do you currently have? Glueing the older drivers is a good idea so the magnets do not shift and freeze up the driver.

rockinrob

I feel like I've gone back to school every time I open this page. Faustin I did run down the resistors and and they are on the way, now,as for the driver it is a 1985 MW6500.I do like the idea of this H-nuts setup I think I'll do that.All of you folks have been very helpful and it is very nice learning experience.I am starting to like Polk audio more and more,and they sound real good too.I'm not sure if this is a no no or not if so please correct me and I wont do it again,I have a line on a set of RT 10s for 20.00 bucks ea.seems like a good deal to me.Any thoughts on that would be helpful.Folks I must get off this computer for now but I do look forward to chatting with you guys again,Have a good weekend everyone.

rockinrob

Hi Folks,Well I have my new resistors in now and all seems to be working very good.These M5s seem to get better and better with play time.I am wondering if the resistors need burn in time as well as the new caps.I am still having a hard time with the editor menu and am trying to put some pix up so you guys can see what I'm doing,maybe it will happen this time around.I do appreciate all the info you folks have given me as my speakers do sound pretty good as a result.Everyone have a Happy Easter and I hope to chat with you all again.Rob.

Faustin

Glad to hear you have the 5's up and running again. Everything should burn in and settle down around 250 - 300 hours. With several of my rebuilds it was rather dramatic as the c/o's reached their burn in stage.

rockinrob

That's good to hear,I shall keep them playing for a few weeks and I think they will just get better.I swear I'm trying to put some pix of said speakers up but I don't think my brain is getting it.I will try again later.Thanks for the input Bud.Robert.