Monitor 5jr+ not working correctly

akajimmy
akajimmy Posts: 50
edited August 2008 in Vintage Speakers
This is my first post here.:D

I have a pair of Monitor 5jr+ bookshelf speakers. I purchased these in the mid 80's. I used them for a while, then discontinued using them when they started interfering with my tv. Now I have a suround receiver Onkyo txsr505 and wanted to use these as the fronts. I hooked em up and it sounds like only the tweeters are working:confused: I hook up a pair of RM101s that I was going to use as the surrounds and they have a lot more bass the the jr's. I guess I am going ot have to crack these things open as they were sitting in my basement for about 6-7 years. What should I look for. What is the best way to open these up? Any help would be appreciated.
Post edited by akajimmy on
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2008
    I think that I'd check to see if the mid/drivers are good, you can gently push on em',,if they "scrape" when you push in--bad sign,, check the connections,,amp/speaker etc both going bad at the same time ,,odds are it's something else,,IIRC the jr's did not have fuses,(tweeter protection),let us know what you find.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,204
    edited August 2008
    Make sure they are hooked up with the correct polarity. Positive to positive and negative to negative from speaker to receiver. Also check all your receiver settings. It happens all the time that the settings are incorrect.

    Are they both bass shy? It would be odd that both drivers would be inoperable.

    Not to take this in the direction of the "mandatory" x-over refresh, but I had similar issues with my 5B's until I rebuilt the x-overs, FWIW. No bass at all until I added new caps and resistors. It's just something to think about, but I'd investigate other things first.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • akajimmy
    akajimmy Posts: 50
    edited August 2008
    george daniel wrote: »
    I think that I'd check to see if the mid/drivers are good, you can gently push on em',,if they "scrape" when you push in--bad sign,, check the connections,,amp/speaker etc both going bad at the same time ,,odds are it's something else,,IIRC the jr's did not have fuses,(tweeter protection),let us know what you find.

    This is a brand new receiver.
    I tried gently pushing on them. The mids were sticky but could not really push on them.
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  • akajimmy
    akajimmy Posts: 50
    edited August 2008
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Make sure they are hooked up with the correct polarity. Positive to positive and negative to negative from speaker to receiver. Also check all your receiver settings. It happens all the time that the settings are incorrect.

    Are they both bass shy? It would be odd that both drivers would be inoperable.

    Not to take this in the direction of the "mandatory" x-over refresh, but I had similar issues with my 5B's until I rebuilt the x-overs, FWIW. No bass at all until I added new caps and resistors. It's just something to think about, but I'd investigate other things first.

    H9
    They are both bass shy.

    I triple checked the polarity of the cables.

    I tried several different crossover settings, to no avail.

    I need to open up the speakers, which I was hoping not to do. ANy advise?
    Where could I get new caps and resistors. Anything I should overbuild on this, since I am opening them up?
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2008
    I would just unscrew and pull out the mid and see if it is still connected. You should be able to do an easy visual check and see if anything is out of place. If that doesn't fix anything, then go from there.
    Jake
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  • hypertone
    hypertone Posts: 150
    edited August 2008
    If the mids don't push in they are seized and you need new drivers.
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  • akajimmy
    akajimmy Posts: 50
    edited August 2008
    hypertone wrote: »
    If the mids don't push in they are seized and you need new drivers.


    This is probably what happened. As I opened on up last night. Everything was connected. The mids, I cannot push on. They really don't move. Can i still get parts for these.?
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,664
    edited August 2008
    That means the mids is bad. I have had about 2 or 3 go bad because the speaker were manhandle (shipping, knocked over by members in the home, and other thing) in some way. Those mids can handle it.

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2008
    take one of the mid drivers out and on the back of it will be the model number it will look something like MW6501 or similar.

    Polk Audio still carries some of the replacement drivers.. call them and see if they still carry yours. and if they do.. order two of them. and tell them you are a club Polk member for a discount on the drivers.

    good luck. :)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • akajimmy
    akajimmy Posts: 50
    edited August 2008
    Thank you everyone for your help. I think I can bring my beloved Polks back to life.:D
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2008
    That's what I like to here!
    Jake
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  • akajimmy
    akajimmy Posts: 50
    edited August 2008
    I emailed Polk this morning and they responded right away. I am astounded:eek:

    They told me they have the parts in stock. I just have to call em, tell em I them I am a Club Polk member to get the discount. Woohoo!

    I will have like new speakers soon.

    My cabinets are in bad shape, Thats my next project:rolleyes:
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  • akajimmy
    akajimmy Posts: 50
    edited August 2008
    I have the new mid woofers installed and they sound like new.

    I put in the Dark side of the Moon, it was spectacular. My kids think I'm a little crazy.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2008
    That's what I like to hear! :D
    Jake
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited August 2008
    akajimmy wrote: »
    I have the new mid woofers installed and they sound like new.

    I put in the Dark side of the Moon, it was spectacular. My kids think I'm a little crazy.

    I think that is a requirement of the Polk Family:D

    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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