Mod kit for Monitor 10 on e-bay

average_guy
average_guy Posts: 236
edited April 2008 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
This mod kit is listed on e-bay for Monitor 10. I e-mailed the seller and he says he has mod kits for Monnitor 7 and Monitor 5Jr as well. Here is the link for the listing :http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260233573689&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

(there are pics of the mod hardware on the listing)

Does anyone know if this is a worthwhile investment?
Post edited by average_guy on

Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2008
    That kit is nothing special.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    Thanks for the posts.

    Lasareath: Where would I search for Sonicaps & Mills?

    Face: Do you think it is too highly priced or not worth the effort?

    Lastly, I'm wondering if it is worthwhile to even do any mod at all, at least for me. I am using a Sansui 7070 and listen to music, either vocal, instrumental, or vocal+instrumental. There is no TV or video system involved here. It is a small room (bedroom) with carpeted floors and bare walls for the most part. To be honest I have no complaints about the sound currently. I'm running a pair of Monitor 7s and am speaking with someone in my local area about adding a pair of Monitor 10s. The seller on e-bay says that in "stock" form the 10s are outperformed by 7s, which I find hard to imagine anyway. If you had a perfectly good stock Monitor series (either 7 like I have or 10 like I hope to get) would you mod them or not? (Yes, I know it is the mod thread, so maybe you're biased, but I'm asking anyway:D)

    Thanks again for the response.
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2008
    Sonic Caps and Mills are available from www.SonicCraft.com. I'm not sure if I would bother with the ebay kit because it doesn't appear to be of much higher quality than the parts that are currently in there.

    As for Monitor 7's vs. 10's, keep the 7's. Having owned both at the same time, IMO, 7's are a more balanced speaker.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2008
    For those of us that need a little more help than others - what do you recommend to upgrade the Monitor 10 series II. (I looked at the links above and could not find a direct replacement.)

    (Link for Monitor 10 above loads the schematic for the crossover.)

    Thanks for any help,

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited April 2008
    Monitor 10 Series II suggestions:
    Replace the SL2500 tweeter with the RDO and leave the perfectly good cross-over alone.
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2008
    rskarvan wrote: »
    Monitor 10 Series II suggestions:
    Replace the SL2500 tweeter with the RDO and leave the perfectly good cross-over alone.

    While there is a good chance I will leave the crossover alone - I actually like the SL2500. (enough to keep it anyway unless there are outside forces that require an upgrade - like voicematching to an LSiC or something....)
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2008
    Lasareath wrote: »
    I'd buy Sonicaps & Mills myself.

    yep +1
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2008
    McLoki wrote: »
    For those of us that need a little more help than others - what do you recommend to upgrade the Monitor 10 series II. (I looked at the links above and could not find a direct replacement.)

    (Link for Monitor 10 above loads the schematic for the crossover.)

    Thanks for any help,

    Michael

    You can call Sonic Craft and tell them what parts you need. If you still need help, they can hook you up with the owner of Sonic Craft(Jeff), he should be able to answer any questions you have.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited April 2008
    Of note is that Monitor 10 series 2 has a circuit-board-like cross-over. The setup is much different that the Monitor 10b's. I think replacing components on the Monitor 10 series 2 x-over won't be exceptionally easy (due to the differences).

    And, my SL2500's sounded like dirty sneakers. The RDO's are MUCH, MUCH better.
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    Face:

    Thanks for the link. I'll go there and bookmark it for future reference.

    I just got an e-mail from the seller of the Monitor 10s. He says this is the last day on the local craigslist for them and he is going to list them on e-bay tomorrow, and if I want them I have to pick them up today. He is asking $275 on CL ( http://columbus.craigslist.org/ele/656955601.html )and he says this is a firm price, and he does have the original boxes.

    I'm thinking that's not a bad price, but I was able to pick up the set of Monitor 7s for $80 from a craigslist seller, and that was in 2007. For $275 would they need to be perfect in every way, or is that too much?:confused:
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    Lasareath:

    Thanks for the links.

    Would I see a decline in the performance of the speaker which would indicate the need for the crossovers to have components replaced, or is this something that should be done when the speaker reaches a certain age? (The set of Monitor 7s I have has the date 1982 inside).

    I have seen crossovers on e-bay, and I have had the thought that it might be a good idea to get a set for backup, and replace them both at the same time if one goes bad.
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited April 2008
    My thoughts...

    For $300 from Polk... you can get four NEW replacement MW6503's and two RDO Tweeters.

    So, the most important consideration is the condition of the cabinets and the presence of the original tilted Polk stands. Everything else is plug-n-play.

    DEFINITELY GET THE TILTED POLK STANDS. VERY IMPORTANT!!!
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    Lasareath:

    I was thinking that might be too much. I had corresponded by e-mail with the seller and he seemed surprised that he had not had much interest in them. I'm not sure what he used to set his price point.

    If I could only find some SDA-2As close enough to go and pick up, that would be awesome. I've never heard them but I've heard about them.
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    rskarvan:

    No stands being offered with those Monitor 10s.

    I have my monitor 7s on small wooden end-tables which were handmade by my wife's uncle which are used exclusively for the speakers. They are not tilted like the Polk stands (at least not like the pics I have seen) and they are 23 inches from the surface of the table to the ground.

    I have wondered what the purpose of the tilted design is, and how tall the Polk stands are. Years back I had a set of Infinity Quantum series that had matching stands, but those kept the speaker pointed horizontally instead of tilted.

    Are you saying the stands should be used with Monitor 10s or with any of the Monitor series?

    Thanks!
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited April 2008
    I have a set of Monitor 10 series II with original Polk Stands.

    The stands help tremendously with projection. Without the stands, the sound stays at below-knee level. With stands, the sound fills the room fully.

    If you can't find a set of original stands (they are hard to find)... I could take a few digital photos and send them to you. The stands are important - is all I am saying. I'd highly suggest you make a set.
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    rskarvan:

    I agree that elevating the speakers makes a significant difference. I was wondering if the angle of the Polk stands was significantly important in the soundwave dispersal vis-a-vis the design of the specific speaker or if it is just because the stands are just high enough to get the speakers off of the ground but the angle is needed to direct the sound upward to the height of a seated listener.

    If you want to, I would like to have pics of the stands-this would be much appreciated. I might be able to copy the design or at least the general idea. At least it would give me an excuse to play in the workshop. :p

    I have my Monitor 7s on small flat end-tables that are 23 inches high, which puts the top of the speaker at about my armpit level. This seems to work for listening while seated and standing, as well as lying down (these are in a bedroom).

    I'm wondering if maybe there are diagrams for the stands somewhere on Club Polk, seeing as there are schematics for various speaker models posted.

    In any case, I appreciate the information.
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2008
    The 5 degree tilt (plus or minus a degree or so) was to time align the drivers so all the sound hits you at the same time. It was there on purpose....

    Do a search on monitor 10 stands and you should come up with some plans....

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited April 2008
    Average guy:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60514&highlight=monitor+stands

    Post #10 is what the original ones look like (except black).
  • honda cber
    honda cber Posts: 267
    edited April 2008
    The 5 degree tilt (plus or minus a degree or so) was to time align the drivers so all the sound hits you at the same time. It was there on purpose....
    thats the answer. and yes, it really does make a difference.

    here is what my aftermarket stands look like. oak, with sorbothane pads to keep them from sliding.
    yes, i guess i do need to sweep (this crappo SAMSUNG camera has about 2x too much flash for most applications--- friends dont let friends buy samsung cameras!).
    seems a pretty standard design (i have seen many versions similar to these), but they are not all created equally. the wood is nice (as opposed to MDF or particle board, like a lot of stuff ive seen), but i do wish there was a cavity to fill with sand--- they make the 10's ever so slightly top-heavy. kids and crazy dogs = try something else.
    STA73739.jpg

    a
    gear list:
    1 down, 4 up....
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    McLoki:

    Thanks. It looks like I got my link.

    Rskarvan:

    Thanks for the link!
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    honda cber:

    Nice pic, and thanks.

    Before I got married that's what my floors looked like AFTER I swept:eek:

    I imagine then that if they did tip it would tend to be backwards. Thanks for the heads-up!
  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited April 2008
    If you hit the link in Rskarvan's post above, you'll read a whole lot of entertaining debating going on. Much better than, for example, a presidential debate, and more relevant as well.:p