Monitor 7 Refresh

So I bought a pair of Monitor 7’s in an alley for $20 the other day. One cabinet had blown drivers. Have been wanting to do a rework project, so I dove in. Ordered a pair of 6502’s on eBay that had already been powergrabbed and dynamatted. Picked up a pair of RD0-194’s from Polk and went to town. Stripped the old damaged vinyl with a heat gun. Veneered the cabinets with Ash. Stained with Old Masters Spanish Oak, topped with 4 coats of polyurethane. Built some stands out of scrap. Really fun project. They sound and look great now! Maybe do the crossovers next...


iyquyesme8ch.jpg
jej8i9dsitti.jpg
2wb6d76amvyb.jpg
7egpdvsysage.jpg
kj84efijfk4y.jpg

Stripped, ready for veneer...
kzdchcp18c36.jpg
twoekddfkk1j.jpg
kvodzlao5r19.jpg

Staining...
bi7az3zggace.jpg
vcuezvgoz73a.jpg

Finished cabinets :smile:
2raat0jnjzvi.jpg
9kbpxclzk8x3.jpg
rhou5ne02rkz.jpg
Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (3x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.

Comments

  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,638
    Beautiful work sir...
  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,116
    Great work, look awesome.
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    Wow, that stain really makes the grain pop! Looks great.
  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    Excellent work! Enjoy
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
  • msg
    msg Posts: 9,308
    Wow! Definitely inspiring!
    I disabled signatures.
  • TCK
    TCK Posts: 231
    Nice. Those are worth bragging up. I love it when the monitors get a facelift. They deserve to look like they sound.
    - SDA 2B (1989, Oak Tops, 194s, Spikes)
    - Monitor 7B (1982 Peerless, Sonicaps, Mills, Dynamated, JB Welded, Binding Posts)
    - SVS SB12-NSD (2 in Flat Black)
    - SVS SB 3000 (Gloss Black)
    - Pioneer SC-1222K AVR
    - Marantz MM 7055 (5 Ch Amp)
    - Pioneer PD-D6 SACD Player
    - Marantz NR1403 AVR
    - Sony UBP-X800M2 (4k Blu-ray)
    - Sony UBP-X1100ES (4K Blu-ray)
    - Adcom GFA 555
    - Monitor 5 (194s, Side Surrounds)
    - Monitor 5Jr+ (194s)
    - LG OLED65CXPUA (4K OLED TV)
    - LG 55UN7300PUF (4K HD TV)
    - RT35i (Cherry)
    - CS400 (Center)
    - CS350 (Center)
    - F/Xi A4 (Rear Surrounds)
    - RT25 (Rear Surrounds)
    - Audioquest Cables



    " But boy do I remember the strain of her refrain " LG
  • Faustin
    Faustin Posts: 1,149
  • BuddTX
    BuddTX Posts: 11
    THANK YOU! I am going to do this to my 5jr+! Awesome Job!
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 434
    edited January 2018
    So I rebuilt the crossovers this weekend. (2) 12uf and (2) 34uf caps and (2) 2.5ohm Mills resistors. Kinda pricey those Sonicaps! Pretty impressed so far with the sound... :) Fun little project. Way too much money in these lil ol boxes... don’t tell my wife!!
    Thanks for the insights @westmassguy!

    jfyyxx4rogsz.jpeg
    odmnd1m50jdi.jpeg
    qlxt4p2gdeu5.jpeg
    gkpoik222jbk.jpeg
    fn2sqbg9s2qp.jpeg
    suoqummrt3mp.jpeg
    hicmkjd5c81c.jpeg
    2zixkz9f66yb.jpeg
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (3x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 434
    edited January 2018
    Posted this earlier but the post disappeared for some reason.
    Redid the crossovers this weekend. (2) 12uF, (2) 34uF Sonicaps, and (2) 2.5ohm Mills resistors weren’t cheap. But thus far, I’m pretty happy, marked difference in top end clarity and detail! Fun project. Pretty spendy, got way too much $$ in these ol boxes. Don’t tell my wife...

    916c7mf831gy.jpeg
    fczdo6c8ft8e.jpeg
    vhepv01lstrz.jpeg
    h7sh9nb9jw7d.jpeg
    klnjimusq5tf.jpeg
    muaf24cqt0x6.jpeg
    hacuzlt77aw5.jpeg


    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (3x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,420
    Nice job! Too bad the planer marks weren't able to be sanded out. Maple and ash can be bad that way. Certainly better looking than stock though.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)


    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 434
    audioluvr wrote: »
    Nice job! Too bad the planer marks weren't able to be sanded out. Maple and ash can be bad that way. Certainly better looking than stock though.
    I was concerned about sanding much due to how thin the veneer was. But overall I was pretty happy with the results.
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (3x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.
  • BEAUTIFUL resto!!! Thank you SO MUCH for posting this thread!! Now I know EXACTLY how to redo my 7C XOs!! Your pics are VERY helpful!! If you don't mind me asking.....do you remember how long the bolts were that you used for the standoff posts for the top cap plate? Thanks again!!
  • JayMX
    JayMX Posts: 434
    edited March 2020
    I think they were about 2”. 8/32’s, maybe 6’s, I don’t remember. I used nylock nuts to hold the upper “platform” in place. Used a dab of hot glue on each to ensure they didn’t vibrate loose. Made the platform out of thin MDF.
    Post edited by JayMX on
    Current Collection: Monitor 4a (Peerless), Monitor 5B (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7b (Peerless), RTA15TL (SL3000), SDA CRS+ (194’s), SDA SRS 2.3TL, R100's, R200’s, R300 🤩
    Pairs that have passed through: Monitor 4b (Peerless), Monitor 5a (Peerless), Monitor 5b (SL1000), Monitor 5b (SL2000) (3x pair), Monitor 7b (Peerless), Modified Monitor 7c’s (194’s), Monitor 10a (Peerless), Monitor 10b (5x pair), RTA8, RTA8TL, RTA 11T, RTA12c (194's), SDA CRS, SDA 2 (2x pair), SDA 2a, SDA 2b, SDA 1b, SDA 1c, SDA SRS 2 (2x pair), SDA SRS 3.1TL (198’s) (2x pair)...and more to come, it’s a sickness.