Monitor 7 - which version do I have? What is best bang-for-the $ mod?

SingleMaltKing
SingleMaltKing Posts: 19
edited May 2014 in Vintage Speakers
(Same question, new thread with pics.)

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.

Version - what version of the 7 do I have?

Mods - what are the most value-oriented mods? Crossover upgrade? New tweeters? ...


All thoughts welcome.
Post edited by SingleMaltKing on
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2014
    Looks like 7C. I have the same one but haven't opened the drivers to check.

    Most bang: Crossover upgrade.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2014
    Silver dome SL2000 tweeters are the give away there.

    How do you like their sound? Because if they sound a little bright to you. I'd replace those with the RD-0194s first. And then do the crossovers. If they don't bother you that much, go crossover first!

    Enjoy!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • SingleMaltKing
    SingleMaltKing Posts: 19
    edited April 2014
    Mystery wrote: »
    Looks like 7C. I have the same one but haven't opened the drivers to check.

    Most bang: Crossover upgrade.

    Would your recommendation change if I've never done soldering?
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2014
    It's pretty simple crossover so you can do it.
    Just watch some YouTube videos on how to solder.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • SingleMaltKing
    SingleMaltKing Posts: 19
    edited April 2014
    Just ordered Sonicaps and Mills, to replace what's there and and to replace polyswitch with a .33. Hopefully I won't burn the garage down during the soldering.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited April 2014
    cnh wrote: »
    Silver dome SL2000 tweeters are the give away there.

    How do you like their sound? Because if they sound a little bright to you. I'd replace those with the RD-0194s first. And then do the crossovers. If they don't bother you that much, go crossover first!

    Enjoy!

    cnh
    thats what id do. But i dont mind the stock tweets in my 7's.... Good luck on your crossover upgrades
    ..
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2014
    boston1450 wrote: »
    thats what id do. But i dont mind the stock tweets in my 7's.... Good luck on your crossover upgrades

    I'm with you there. I've noticed that I mind the SL2000 less and they don't sound that bad as I age. Probably can't hear the hump that well. Although my top end hearing is still around 15Khz. Maybe it's less sensitive up there?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited April 2014
    cnh wrote: »
    I'm with you there. I've noticed that I mind the SL2000 less and they don't sound that bad as I age. Probably can't hear the hump that well. Although my top end hearing is still around 15Khz. Maybe it's less sensitive up there?

    cnh
    I don't mind SL2000 either.

    It also depends upon how long you listen at a time.
    I never listen more than an hour sitting at a place, usually it's around 6 songs, 1/2 hour.
    While the music is always being played, I don't think that hump matters when you are away or doing other things around the house.
    May be those who listen critically for hours get annoyed by that hump thingy more as the time goes by.

    I even like Forte with those two big horns but a friend of mine who also has Forte says, they kinda start poking with those horns after a while. :lol:

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited April 2014
    Ive listened to my 7's for 4+ hours without fatigue to my ears. The tweets dont sound as pleasing as the Peerless tweeters & ive never heard the RDO's but hope to change them out in the near future. If the dust ever settles here :smile:
    ..
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  • SingleMaltKing
    SingleMaltKing Posts: 19
    edited May 2014
    After having them for a while, I can see why some people feel the high end is 'too much'. Will see the impact of the cap & resistor changes; if still too brilliant, may then consider the 194's.
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  • StantonZ
    StantonZ Posts: 444
    edited May 2014
    SingleMaltKing wrote: »
    After having them for a while, I can see why some people feel the high end is 'too much'. Will see the impact of the cap & resistor changes; if still too brilliant, may then consider the 194's.

    The resister value you replace that polyswitch with will have an impact on your high end; I replaced mine with a 0.5 Ohm resister and am very happy (the PS measured out at >1 Ohm after I pulled it--but it was >20 years old). One thing is for sure: get rid of the PS!
    Yamaha RX-A2050 AVR (5.0.2); LG OLED77C2 4K TV
    (4) Polk Monitor 10B's w/SoniCaps, Mills, and RDO-194 tweets (R/L F/R)
    (2) Polk RC80i (Top Middle)
    Polk CS300 center channel
    Analog: B&O TX2 Turntable, Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1
    Digital: Pioneer CLD-99 Elite LD, Panasonic DMP-UB900 UHD Blu-Ray
    Bedroom: Arylic Up2Stream AMPv3 driving Polk Monitor 4's w/peerless tweets
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  • SingleMaltKing
    SingleMaltKing Posts: 19
    edited May 2014
    StantonZ wrote: »
    The resister value you replace that polyswitch with will have an impact on your high end; I replaced mine with a 0.5 Ohm resister and am very happy (the PS measured out at >1 Ohm after I pulled it--but it was >20 years old). One thing is for sure: get rid of the PS!

    StantonZ, thanks. I followed the threads and opinions of what to replace with (and yes, I had concluded that the PS had to be replaced). Replacing with a .25 ohm, rather than a .5 and rather than a jumper. I am doing the replacements one part at a time, and will provide thoughts at each step.
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