How much is to be gained by replacing Monitor x-overs, etc?

jbarbier
jbarbier Posts: 9
edited November 2009 in Vintage Speakers
Hi guys!

I have a very modest system (as a college student) consisting of a pair of 1986 Monitor 5B speakers, an NAD 3020 integrated, Harmon Kardon CD player and a Pro-ject Debut turntable. I upgraded to my Polk speakers from an early 1970s pair of Bose 301s and really started to enjoy music.

My 5Bs sound immensely better than the Bose speakers and I'm very, very happy with the way they sound right now. However, I keep reading about upgrading the crossovers with new components, and even swapping the tweeters to RDO194. If if decide to go through with the upgrades, how much of a difference do you think it would make?

I ask because I am in NO way unhappy with the way my speakers sound, but if they could sound even better, I'll do it. :p

Also, if I'm replacing the components in the crossover anyway, would it be better to opt for the RDO198 tweeters?

Thanks. Justin
Post edited by jbarbier on
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Comments

  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited November 2009
    I don't think you'd be able to use the RD0198's without doing some fairly extensive modifications to the crossovers.

    The 194's are some nice sounding tweeters. FWIW, I'd do the tweeters before the XO's.
    The nirvana inducer-
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  • jbarbier
    jbarbier Posts: 9
    edited November 2009
    comfortablycurt wrote: »
    I don't think you'd be able to use the RD0198's without doing some fairly extensive modifications to the crossovers.

    The 194's are some nice sounding tweeters. FWIW, I'd do the tweeters before the XO's.

    Wow, that was fast. But that's interesting, because it seems like almost everyone I talk to seems to claim that the caps will go bad after a couple decades.

    I'm pretty comfortable with refurbishing electronics (sometimes just for fun.) I'll usually go around to garage sales and buy vintage equipment and fix them up.

    My ear, however, isn't that great. I've been playing drums for about 15 years now so my hearing isn't the best as far as picking up inaccuracies or "weak" spots in music.

    I do have a good ear for discerning what sounds good and what sounds bad, though.
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited November 2009
    I have heard apair of 5's with the upgraded cap and tweeters and I have to say they where very detailed, say a 200% improvement, sounded amazing.
    As far as the tweeter change, I am considering that on mine and to me, it does not seem that much work. Just look to the Mon 5 series II with the SL3000 wiring diagram in the Vintage speaker section.
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18767&d=1155784608
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  • jbarbier
    jbarbier Posts: 9
    edited November 2009
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    I have heard apair of 5's with the upgraded cap and tweeters and I have to say they where very detailed, say a 200% improvement, sounded amazing.
    As far as the tweeter change, I am considering that on mine and to me, it does not seem that much work. Just look to the Mon 5 series II with the SL3000 wiring diagram in the Vintage speaker section.
    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18767&d=1155784608

    Wow. I know things like this are subjective, but if it is that much of an improvement for about $150, I think I might just go ahead and do it. I also thought about building new enclosures (or modifying the originals.) Love these speakers!
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited November 2009
    Just re-build them and thank us later. Do a few searches and see some of the work done by fellow members on their 5's. As I remember one of the fellow members show exactly what and how to that x-over.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,216
    edited November 2009
    Just do it. You can use Clarity Caps "PX" series which are an excellent sounding budget capacitor. And get the RD0194-1, you can't use the RD0198-1. For less than $150 and little of your time you will be amazed at the improvement.

    The avg life expectancy of an electrolytic cap is about 12 years give or take and based on use. So, yes the caps are at the end of their useful lifecycle.

    here you go:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51420&highlight=upgrade

    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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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited November 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Just do it. You can use Clarity Caps "PX" series which are an excellent sounding budget capacitor. And get the RD0194-1, you can't use the RD0198-1. For less than $150 and little of your time you will be amazed at the improvement.

    The avg life expectancy of an electolytic cap is about 12 years give or take and based on use. So, yes the caps are at the end of their useful lifecycle.

    here you go:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51420&highlight=upgrade

    H9

    You sure make it easy for them!!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    Depending on the parts used and the associated gear, it can be a night and day difference.
    "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
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited November 2009
    jbarbier wrote: »
    Wow. I know things like this are subjective, but if it is that much of an improvement for about $150, I think I might just go ahead and do it. I also thought about building new enclosures (or modifying the originals.) Love these speakers!

    As addition to the x-over, the ones I heard also had additional internal damping, Mortite and some internal dowels added for support. Geoff (in SEA) did them. I "think" there was a thread about them here. I'll look later if you can't find it.
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited November 2009
    Just remember too much additional support/bracing is not good.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    NJPOLKER wrote: »
    Just remember too much additional support/bracing is not good.
    I don't believe that to be true. An enclosure should not resonate with drivers, it adds coloration and takes away from imaging.
    "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
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited November 2009
    Face wrote: »
    I don't believe that to be true. An enclosure should not resonate with drivers, it adds coloration and takes away from imaging.

    I think you are wrong. Do you want to take one guess as to how I know your wrong?





    Nope






    Jesse said so :)
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