Replacement Tweeters for 5Jr.s

Polkaguy58

Hi folks,

I just joined up today after lurking here for years.
I currently own 3 pairs of Monitor 5's, one pair of the first model in red oak, a second pair of 5B's and a recently purchased pair of 5Jr.s.
Yesterday, while I was contemplating ordering another pair of the new silk domes (I replaced the 2000's on my 5B's last year), I remembered that in my closet, I had some old Infinity Polycell tweeters.
These are one of my favorite sounding tweeters and I've used them in many projects. (there's no shortage of abandoned foam rotted Infinity speakers out there)
Being a tinkerer at heart, I decided to see if I could fit them into my Jr.s for ha ha's.
I went rummaging through the closet to see what material I could use for a faceplate and found an old 1960's fiberglass TV serving tray (with the swirly struesell designs)
I also had an old 2000 series tweeter that had been smooshed in, so that became my template.
What I ended up with is a pair of very cool, retro looking tweeters, that sound amazing !
I didn't have to alter anything and they bolted right in, so I can still get some silk domes in the future, but I don't think I will.
One of the reassons that I wanted to change out the Jr's tweeters in the first place, was that they were more shrill than my 5B's on my front channels and overshadowed them when run in tandem.
Hope I didn't offend anyone with my experiment........but that's what we tinkeres do.

xschop

Where's the pics? I'm about to drop in a set of SL5000 silks to a set of early 5jr's. I'm all about custom too.

Polkaguy58

The tweeter picture is my posting icon.
I don't do photobucket or any other picture host sites.
This was just a project to keep from getting bored inside this winter and seeing that nothing has been structurely modified, I figured, Why not ?
I'm new here and don't quite know how to post a pic onsite yet.

ken brydson

Polkaguy58 wrote: »

The tweeter picture is my posting icon.
I don't do photobucket or any other picture host sites.
This was just a project to keep from getting bored inside this winter and seeing that nothing has been structurely modified, I figured, Why not ?
I'm new here and don't quite know how to post a pic onsite yet.

Easy peasy. Just click on the black folded over paper icon above the post, find the pic on your computer and submit...

Polkaguy58

OK, let's try a pic of the tweets in the cabinets.

zappafan2

Cool looks good and you say they sound great and thats what matters.

Polkaguy58

I fell in love with Infinity's Polycell tweeters years ago, when I put a pair into a set of Radio Shack Optimus T-100's that I picked up cheap.
The original paper tweeters were pushed in and I had some Polycells that I had actually found on the side of the road while motorcycling one summer.
(it helps to always keep a tool pouch handy)
I yanked the xovers and tweeters and left the cabs behind.
Anyway, after bracing the T-100 cabs internaly and then adding a high end cap to the L-pad (T-100's have no x-overs), I mounted the Polycells and couldn't believe how great they made those speakers sound !
This last project was supposed to be temporary, until I could afford a set of RDO's, but they match up very well sonically with my other Monitor 5's, so I'll keep them in there for now.

xschop

Great job. It gave it a marbled look and the color matches your wall all stealth-like.

Polkaguy58

Oh yeah, and to la2vegas:

I prefer the name: "Polkenstein"

Polkaguy58

If I had a black fiberglass serving tray from the 60's in my closet that day, they would've been black. (heh heh)
I run my speakers with the covers on, because cat hair and sticky Polk drivers just seem to find eachother........then I'd catch hell for having Calico woofers.

Polkaguy58

OK, here's an update for you folk that might have been silently cursing me for tampering with my tweeters. (heh heh)
I got hold of a pair of used RDO-194's and swapped out the "Frankenpolk" tweeters that I made and I have to admit, though my home jobs sounded better(IMHO) than the stock 2000's, the RDO-194's sound even better !
In fact I just inquired about ordering a second pair, because you never know when another pair of Polks will show up on your doorstep.
I may sell off one off one set of my Monitor 5's and try and find another pair of Jrs.
I think 4 Jr's and a sub would go quite nicely !

Polkaguy58

I spent a good hour or so listening to those RDO194's in the 5Jrs and really like'em.
They have a not too laid back sound, with a quick attack to them.
I put the older Monitor 5's, with the Peerless tweeters back into the front mains to hear what an all silk tweeter array would sound like and was quite pleased to say the least.
My new RDO's should be on the way next week and I'm dying to hear the system with 4 RDO's happening.
I don't know if you guys know this or not............but this hobby can be addictive.

zappafan2

Gotta get some more Rdo's for my jrs, been doing some work on my music room so my jrs were on break for a few days. Today some furniture came and all put back together and we had some cocktails and streamed some jazz, man I love these speakers.

Polkaguy58

I have to admit, that the RDO194 is a very nice tweeter.
I'm running them front & rear as of tonight and the combination is very well balanced.
I'll have to find some other speaker project to use my Frankentweeters in now I guess.