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Oh no, not another Minimus 7 post!

50.46.225.114
Posted on September 17, 2016 at 15:57:58
electrovice
 I recently purchased a pair of rare variations of the Minimus 7 called the Minimus 22. These are taller, wider but shallower. They are roughly 7" X 10.5" X 3.25". They can be placed on a shelf or can be wall hung. I could only find them listed in the 1983 catalog.

I have them hooked up to a Rotel RA-870BX amp and am listening to them nearfield. They definitely have that Minimus 7 sound. Low frequencies are pretty much MIA which is to be expected with a 4 inch woofer. A modest sub woofer could certainly help the low frequency issue.

They are nice little speakers. They will not replace my ADS that I usually use at my computer. I wonder why Radio Shack only carried then for one year.

John



 

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RE: Oh no, not another Minimus 7 post!, posted on September 17, 2016 at 23:13:39
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 John
Change the cap in the crossover to a poly film and you will be rockin.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: Oh no, not another Minimus 7 post!, posted on September 18, 2016 at 10:01:22
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi, although the Minimus 7 has been around me my whole life I just got a pair in play because of a new cat in my life. The metal screens cured the claw fear factor for hifi's. There are 3 mod articles I have from Speaker Builder magizine but am curious what you do with the new cap. Mike Samra?
This test was by accident to prove the cost, effectiveness, sound quality and durability of the Shacks Minimus 7.
I was lying down on my futon in front of the TV reading the latest review in Stereophile of the Crystal Cable Arabesque Minissimo Diamond stand mounted monitor. It was only 19,995 bucks before taxes! Even John Atkinson gave it a ho-hum review if you read between the lines. I then looked at my new used Minimus 7's with nary a scratch for 30 bucks on Ebay that with a Parts Express sub sound fabulous!
Then it came on TV. The St. Jude hospital ad and the Shriner ad. These will tear your heart apart. At that moment I began to appreciate simpler things and cherished my good fortune for things that really matter.
The Stereophile hit the floor.
Mike, I do believe my hobby is to get the best sound I can so I'd like to replace that cap....can you recall the value.....thanks. Mark K.

 

"The Mouse That Roared", posted on September 18, 2016 at 11:37:35
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6599
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 John, your post reminded me of my Minimus 1 speakers, and so I Googled them to find the enclosed link.

As mentioned there, I visited the Dynaco Factory in Philly in the late '60s and was impressed by a system playing in their lobby which included some attractive, tiny speakers. They were Radio Shack Minimus 1s. I bought a pair which I still have, including the original cartons. Reading the link site I can now understand why I was impressed, alnico drivers and all.

Years later I owned Minimus 7s but that was so long ago I couldn't comment on a comparison. The Minimus 1s have been boxed up and in a closet for years but somehow I just can't bring myself to get rid of them.

And yes, the Subject quote was the RS slogan for those speakers.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

I had a pair of those, posted on September 18, 2016 at 18:14:30
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I don't even remember how I came upon them but I did have a pair. For small speakers they were NICE!

Until on day the tweeter gave out and that was that. Then I used them as test speakers on my projects until finally something else gave out. It broke my heart to just chuck them in the trash. A solid metal case - dang!

 

RE: Oh no, not another Minimus 7 post!, posted on September 18, 2016 at 18:55:15
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005



Mark,you just need to change the NP electrolytics to film caps..The red Audiophilers that come form AES or the Daytons from parts express work very well.Get a 4.7uf and a 2uf poly in both cases and you are good to go.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: Oh no, not another Minimus 7 post!, posted on September 19, 2016 at 06:56:32
BillH
Audiophile

Posts: 3913
Location: Baton Rouge
Joined: December 23, 1999
 What's the PE sub you are using?

 

They can sound better, posted on September 19, 2016 at 12:53:39
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 With an improved crossover.


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: They can sound better, posted on September 19, 2016 at 15:07:57
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Electro, nice post!
Mike Samra, thanks for the info. I'll order those poly caps tonight from Parts Express. Mike, as I said I have 3 different mod articles from Speaker Builder magizine. 2 of the modders got together to combine ideas and the third had 2 Minimus 7's on a rack with 1 upside down on top of the other to make the D'Apollotto effect....can't spell that but the tweeters are in the middle and the woofers are top and bottom. Better imaging and such.
Bill H., a few years ago I bought a Parts Express pre built sub cabinet for a 12 inch woofer. The build quality is A plus with a massive brace built in and sprayed with a textured black. I bought the first generation 12 inch Titantic subwoofer driver and it reeks Scanspeak or Seas quality. The sub amp is their BASH from Canada. So far mine has worked like a champ but Parts Express prints all reviews, even if there bad. You should read them. Someone told me Klipsch uses this amp in their sub, 300 watts class D. It has all the controls to make the Minimus 7's vanish and discover that the E. Power Biggs was able to play the organ in my small to medium sized cave.
Parts Express has other sub kits but I built mine first like J. Cash, one piece at a time....Mark.

 

Be aware, posted on September 20, 2016 at 18:08:48
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 That the crossover schematic Mike posted is for a modified crossover.

If you want to keep your crossover stock (other than changing the electrolytic cap to film), all you'll need is two 4.7 µF caps, one for each speaker.

No sense buying the two 2 µF caps if you're not going to need them.

 

RE: Be aware, posted on September 20, 2016 at 22:39:53
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi Shovel, thanks, good eye!
Mike was looking at the mods schematic of which I think there are probably a few. I have the original schematic, stock, and the new one for which Bill Hoffman in 1988 penned down. I wish I had my old scanner so I could send you both the article.
The stock crossover does have the 4.7uF NP electrolytic cap and also a 0.4 mH coil.
Hoffmans mod has also the 2uF cap Mike mentioned,a 3.9uF cap, a 82ohm 1 watt resistor and a 3.5mHy coil. It also has a drawing of the new crossover for slower guys like me to double check.
Mike Samra is always the first to help, a Hifi guru to me, and the smartest guy I know about this stuff. He's always a step ahead so with me you have to start from ground zero and go slow. I haven't even taken the grills off yet.
So Shovel and Mike thanks! I'm going to order what you said Mike and also what Bill Hoffman recommended. Hoffmans last graph on the Minimus 7 showed a very flat response line and claimed +or- 4db from 85Hz to 17kHz....thanks Mark.

 

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