Best-value / most-bang-for-the-buck Mods for Monitor 7's

SingleMaltKing
SingleMaltKing Posts: 19
edited May 2014 in Vintage Speakers
The prodigal son has returned to Polk-dom after decades of being away. Am returning slowly, with a pair of Monitor 7's a pair of 4's.

Question to this group about the Monitor 7's - what are the most value-oriented mods? Crossover upgrade? New tweeters? ...

All thoughts welcome.
Post edited by SingleMaltKing on
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited April 2014
    Crossovers and tweeters without question.
    The other upgrades will make a difference, to be sure. But none will have the impact or immediate gratification that the above 2 will have.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • SingleMaltKing
    SingleMaltKing Posts: 19
    edited April 2014
    Thanks, ZLT. And of the two, which should be done first (assuming can only do one right now)? If the tweeters, what is the recommended tweeter?
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited April 2014
    That depends on what type you have now...

    Can you post some pics, or do you know which model you have?
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • soundfreak1
    soundfreak1 Posts: 3,414
    edited April 2014
    Dynomate the drivers is a cheep way of tighting base.
    Main Rig:
    Krell KAV 250a biamped to mid/highs
    Parasound HCA1500A biamped to lows
    Nakamichi EC100 Active xover
    MIT exp 1 ic's
    Perreaux SA33 class A preamp
    AQ kingcobra ic's
    OPPO 83 CDP
    Lehmann audio black cube SE phono pre, Audioquest phono wire (ITA1/1)
    Denon DP-1200 TT. AToc9ML MC cart.
    Monster HTS 3600 power conditioner
    ADS L1590/2 Biamped
    MIT exps2 speaker cable
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,101
    edited May 2014
    soundfreak1 wrote: »
    Dynomate the drivers is a cheep way of tighting base.

    Is this with all Monitors? I have been searching for a thread with links to other threads with upgrades and pictures but have not found one. I've seen people say install hurricane nuts and Dynomate the drivers but would like to see what people are talking about.
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • gmjungbluth
    gmjungbluth Posts: 232
    edited May 2014
    I would say that the most value-oriented mod you can do is preventative maintenance.

    The mid-woofers on the Monitor series are prone to magnet shift due to the failure of the epoxy holding the magnet in place around the voice coil.

    Get some good aftermarket epoxy (I used JB Weld) to seal the magnets in place and prevent the loss of one of your drivers. This should cost you no more than a few dollars in epoxy costs.

    There are numerous posts on this forum outlining what to do if you have questions.

    Other mods I would recommend (in the order I would recommend them post-epoxy):

    1. Seal drivers to cabinet - use gasket foam.

    2. Replace crossover capacitors

    3. Replace crossover resistors

    4. replace tweeter (if SL200o or 2500 to RDO-194 or -198. Keep a Peerless if you have it)

    5. Dynomat or other sound-deadening materials on the baskets of the mid-woofer and passive radiator.

    6. Hurricane nuts, Larry's rings or other method of safely tighening seal between drivers and cabinet

    7. Improved sound deadening foam on sides of inside of cabinet

    8. Re-seal cabinet seams inside.

    And for aesthetics:

    9. Re-veneer cabinets

    10: Put in new binding posts and wire.

    I did most of this to my Monitor 7As. They turned out great. You can find my posts on my work here on the forum and on my blog: silverfacestereo.wordpress.com.

    Good luck!
    G
    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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  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    edited May 2014
    What model of 7's do you have? If they have the Peerless tweets, I wouldn't be pushing for new tweeters. If they have the 2000's, the RDO tweeter upgrades will provide instant value.
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited May 2014
    It's called DYNAMAT Extreme....geesh!
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    edited May 2014
    F1nut wrote: »
    It's called DYNAMAT Extreme....geesh!

    Geesh is right! Actually, it's called Dynamat XTREME! ; )

    The Wedge Pak (18" x 32") goes a looooonnnnnngggg way - had enough to do all midwoofers and passive radiators in my SDA-2Bs, Monitor 10Bs, Monitor 5jrs and Monitor 4s. Now, less that $25 on the 'bay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynamat-10425-18In-X-32In-Xtreme-Wedge-Pak-General-Application-W-Self-Adhesion-/231236999872?_trksid=p2054897.l4275
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,554
    edited May 2014
    teekay0007 wrote: »
    Geesh is right! Actually, it's called Dynamat XTREME! ; )

    LOL....got me. :redface:
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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