Are Monitor 50's not up to it?

twinsen

I have had my Monitor 50's for just under a year. I don't play music loud at all, in fact compared to how my mates abuse their Polks, I am using them like headphones!

Now one of the tweeters has gone soft on me, not open circuit, just soft, so I suspect some of the coils have shorted inside (0.6ohm vs 3.6ohm)

For the price the local agent wants for a replacement (since they of course claim I cooked them due to playing them at ear bleed levels) I seriously wonder if its worth it.

Have I got a dud or do these tweets have known issues? I'm not replacing it only to find out I loose another one.

danger boy

one thing to look at is what are you powering your speakers with? is it an amp or receiver? but yeah.. that is odd if you weren't playing them that loud. Is it possible that someone else played them really loud without your knowledge?

ShinAce

Are you sure it's the tweeter and not the crossover?

tcrossma

I had a tweeter that needed replacement on my Monitor 60's and the replacement I bought from Polk was quite inexpensive. I'd talk to Polk directly if I were you and see what they can do for you.

twinsen

Wow - thanks for the quick responses.

I drive them with a receiver - Yamaha RX-V559
Without my knowledge - possible, but the maid never touches my things, but that is a possibility.
Its definitely the tweeter - I checked by swopping the two.

tcrossma - that was going to be my next port of call. I have a few friends coming over to the States in the next few weeks for holidays and business. Maybe I should just try get them to bring me over a replacement. Even with the exchange rate as bad as it is, I cannot believe it will be as high as I was quoted here, because at that price I could rather put it towards something else.

Kex

Receivers such as yours are the most common cause of tweeter failure: if the sound gets turned up close to maximum on the dial, too little reliable power (not too much, which is a common misconception) causes distortion which causes excessive stress on the tweeter followed by failure of the component. Most receivers certainly play loud enough for the vast majority under normal conditions, but trying to push a speaker too loud (at parties for instance) with a receiver, which cannot handle the demand placed on it, would lead to problems.

A replacement from Polk, shipped within the U.S., should not be prohibitive though. Certainly cheaper than new speakers.

zombiemusic

I just replace my tweeter on the Monitor 50's. A vintage pre amp malfunction was to blame. I only cost $34. Call Polk and make sure to tell them that you are forum member you will get a discount. At least I did.

Cardinals-1

I agree with the dirty power comment. When i had a cheap receiver I could blow a tweeter without trying. I went to separates and never again.