Monitor 5A passive radiator surrounds repair / replace question

pkquat

I have a pair of original Monitor 5A's in near excellent condition. I had been hearing a little random distortion that I thought was from the vintage receiver. It turns out one of the passive radiator surrounds is split.

What are your thoughts on:

1. Getting the surrounds replaced on the pair for ~$80
2. ebay used passive radiators for a similar price including shipping
3. Wait and keep searching asking CL for some donors.
4. Other options

I wonder if "similar" replacement surrounds will effect the sound or the drivers.
I vaguely remember hearing there were differences between the PR's between versions on the Monitor 5's. I don't know which if any are interchangeable or how to tell for an ebay purchase. AFAIK there are 5A's, 5B's, and 5 S2's. I thought there was a mass change somewhere in the line. I also worry that PA's from the same era might start to go bad as well.

They had been in storage for the past couple of years. About a year ago I pulled them out again for a living room stereo/HT setup. The digital bass in some movies does drive them hard some times, but I set it up to keep them at about 3/4 from a "clacking" level max. Most of the time they were played at lower volumes. They also get driven hard sometimes for music, but again about 3/4 from distortion levels max.

I missed out on some rough 5B's for under $100. There are also some 5 S2's for $200, but I like my rosewood finish better than the plan brown of the S2's and think people preferred the sound of the older models.

Idea's, thoughts, and opinions are greatly appreciated.

skrol

How bad is the split. I have been able to successfully repair some with a sparing amount of silicone adhesive. It bonds well and remains flexible. Remove the PR, glue the surround and let it fully dry before reassembling. The vapors that out-gas from some of these adhesives can be corrosive to metals.

Many years ago I repaired a Polk Audio car speaker (MM65xx) from 1990 that is very similar to the MW6500 series used in these vintage speakers and it is still good today.

pkquat

The split is fairly large. I gave it a shot, but air is still leaking and the glued area start to split already. Any ones experiences with replacing surrounds or any information on the PR's for the different models of 5 series speakers would be greatly appreciated. Can I mix passive radiators from different models? If not, is there a way to verify the correct PR on ebay?

TIA

soundfreak1

The passive should be marked as to model, if not post detailed picts of the speakers and someone here can ID them for you.

HTguru1982

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polk-Audio-Monitor-5-5A-8-Passive-Radiator-/221477131373?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item339110d46d

zane77

That looks like a pretty inexpensive way to go

westmassguy

HTguru1982 wrote: »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polk-Audio-Monitor-5-5A-8-Passive-Radiator-/221477131373?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item339110d46d

I'd buy them both, and keep one as a spare.

pkquat

HTguru1982 wrote: »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polk-Audio-Monitor-5-5A-8-Passive-Radiator-/221477131373?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item339110d46d

Sorry for the delay. I had password issues.

Thank you for the find. I hadn't seen those when I searched. I did buy both of them. I they appear to be of the same era. Mine are dated 83, but the ebay ones have none. Both have the same initials.

The rubber type glue I had tried didn't work. I was able to peel it off. Since I am getting replacements, I tried brush on crazy glue. So far it is working. I applied it passed the rip, so I hope it stops it.

The rubber near the tears was harder. I think it might have got sun or something. This surround also seamed to vary in stifness all around. The other pr apears fine, and so does the rubber for both speakers. Just FYI.

Thank you all for the help.

pkquat

Is there a list of what Monitor 5 PA's match with what drivers? My replacements have the silver baskets. I think they are from original 5's. The sound is pretty close, but seams a little more bass shy. I've been looking for another back up set just in case because the replacements are even older.

Is there a date range for 5A's that are compatible or are they all. What about the 5B's? I think some or all of the B's used the same or similar midrange/bass driver. Would Series 2 Monitor 5 PR's work too? I think those had a different midrange/bass driver, and were only paired with the SL2500 tweeter, but I could be mistaken. Any help would be appreciated.

skrol

These may not have the exact compliance but might be worth a try...
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/rubber-speaker-repair-edge-kits.html

Nightfall

Here is the info that Ken Swauger had

Monitor 5 series 2 uses the SW83 (has the round BE0500-B crossover)
Monitor 5 series 2 uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-C crossover)
Monitor 5B uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-A crossover)
Monitor 5A uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-A crossover)
Monitor 5 uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-A crossover)
Monitor 5 Jr series 2 uses the SW6528 (has the BE5500-B crossover)
Monitor 5jr+ uses the SW6528 (has the BE5500-A crossover)

There was also an SW80 that was used in some version or other of the Monitor 5 but I could not find which exactly and neither could Ken or his contact Chet.

Hope this helps.

Nightfall

Here is a little reading for you too.

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/169506/need-help-regarding-monitor-5-prs

Nightfall

If you're still around @pkquat

@rooftop59 has Monitor 5 PRs for sale

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/169028/peerless-tweets-for-sale#latest

rooftop59

Yep love to see someone put them to use. I love those 5s with the peerless tweets, both they were just too big for a desk and the cabs were damaged so I've parted them out. PRs and crossovers left.

pkquat

Nightfall, thanks for all the info. Mine don't have any info on them, only the date, '83. I could have sworn I read about a change in the PR somewhere, but maybe that was the SW80. There is also the flat PR for the early 5Jrs, but those are obvious. PM sent on the Monitor 5 PRs.

skrol. Thanks for the info as well. I originally looked at new surrounds, but I did not find any recommendations for an exact replacement. It seams used is still the preference.

pkquat

Nightfall wrote: »

Here is the info that Ken Swauger had

Monitor 5 series 2 uses the SW83 (has the round BE0500-B crossover)
Monitor 5 series 2 uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-C crossover)
Monitor 5B uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-A crossover)
Monitor 5A uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-A crossover)
Monitor 5 uses the SW83 (has the BE0500-A crossover)
Monitor 5 Jr series 2 uses the SW6528 (has the BE5500-B crossover)
Monitor 5jr+ uses the SW6528 (has the BE5500-A crossover)

There was also an SW80 that was used in some version or other of the Monitor 5 but I could not find which exactly and neither could Ken or his contact Chet.

Hope this helps.

I think the above list needs some corrections.

Monitor 5A uses the SW80-Black Basket (has the XX crossover)
Monitor 5 uses the SW80-Silver Basket (has the XX crossover)

I've been doing some more digging, and am by no means an expert, but my monitor 5A's have the SW80, and I am pretty sure the crossovers for the peerless tweeters is different. I did not find a schematic for the 5A crossovers in the "POLK AUDIO - Speaker Wiring Schematics & More - ALL MODELS except SDA thread.

forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/38755/polk-audio-speaker-wiring-schematics-more-all-models-except-sda#latest

From what I have gathered:

Monitor 5 used the following:
Tweeter: Denmark Peerless 7514...,
Driver: MW6500
Passive Radiator:SW80 - Silver Basket
Crossover: - Unknown

Monitor 5A used the following:
Tweeter: USA Peerless 5514...,
Driver: MW6500
Passive Radiator:SW80 - Black Basket
Crossover: - Unknown

Some later 5A's I believe used the SL1000 tweeter, and I think the same crossover, driver and PR as the USA peerless version, but I could be mistaken. I gathered from this forum and elsewhere there was also some mixing of components as the the lines changed from the 5 to the 5A.

pkquat

More info.

There may also be an intermediate basket or PR on the 5A's. I don't know what ir if there were any differences.

Silver basket with JB written on it. 1978-1980 or 81?

Black basket with JB written on it. 1980, 81 - 82

Black basket with JB and a date written on it. 1983

Black basket with JB and a date written on it and I think sometimes the model number. 1985-1988 (1986 seams to be the most common.

Black basket with a date written on it and the model number. I don't remember if JB was still written on it. 1990-1992