Optimus amps - Increasing output

[DCJuicer]

This is my first thread and I would like to say hello to all. I have an Optimus sound system in my car that consists of 8 amps. I have had these amps for many years and are all of the same style and have required very little in the way of repaires. This system sounds good but I would like to increase the output. I first want to beef-up the power supply by either replacing the fets or the op-amp that controlles them. I have read on another thread that the switching pulse width is fixed??? I would like to hear your comments and/or recommendations. These amps have plenty of board space and although considered mediocre, I have found them to good amps.
Thanks for reading.

[DCJuicer]

The more I read on related threads, the more I realize that I am better off not tampering with the amps. Increasing the voltage output on the PS will create problems in the amplifier circuit. If anyone knows how to do this please let me know.

[1moreamp]

Hi If you increase the DC voltage on the rails of any amp you now have increased the amount of heat the outputs must load thru the sink. You will end up baking the amp to death.
My reasoning is that whom ever designed these for RS also did the math to spec the Aluminum sink to the power band these were built for.

So increasing any power output < Boosting> Is not recommended, and based on my personal knowledge of the guys here and their experience with these devices I am sure that is why your not getting the answers your looking for.

Anything is possible, but some designs are more marginal then others.

Now if you want to make a MS-2250 out of a MS-2125 then your doing something achievable, as thats what PG did when they built that monster. they took the MS-2125 and boosted the internals supply to get the MS-2250. they doubled the output by increasing the rails from 42 volts to 63 volts.


If you want or need more power, please buy it already designed and marketed in a amplifier that has the robustness designed in from the beginning. It will last longer, and give less PITA over its lifetime of use.

"Boosting" and or "hot rodding" of amplifiers in not for the new or inexperienced at this area of Engineering. You might just turn the back of your car into a BBQ pit by accident. I did a few back when i did not know any better, more of a alpha male thing back when that was my brain on stupid.
It took many hours and lots of parts, and I could have just bought what i was looking for and been done with it and moved on to better things.

Today car amplifiers are so cheaply made overseas that if you shop wisely you will find all the power you want for cheap and save your time for more important things in life like having fun.

[DCJuicer]

Thanks for your response. I have already decided to leave them as they are after reading several threads on the subject. All 8 amps are of the same design and I do not wish to replace them. I am happy with their sound and thought that a simple change-out of the output transistors would yield more power...thats not the case and I'm not going to tamper with them. It's a case of 'too much is not enough' . I will play with speaker types and locations to improve the sound instead of more power...I'm already at 1370 watts in a small mustang with 30 speakers (I refuse to grow up!!!). Again, thanks for your response.

[EnvisionAudio]

Heh. The Optimus amps are circa 1994 Pyramid Super Blue (not the new ones). Do yours have bass and treble controls? Then they are the same. I will third that opinion - those things are running on empty as it is. You're borrowing borrowed time, if you get my drift.

[ppia600]

The RS optimus actually aren't bad amps. They weren't assembeled with much care, but the circuit design is nice. As long as you check and make sure all of the solder joints are solid and all of the transistors have adequate grease, they should last for years. I'm not promoting them but many people make them out to be worse than they are. Like everyone's said though, trying to mod them wouldn't be worth the time or the money. It's not hard to find a lot of power for a good price these days. By the way, which model number are they? I read you said you had 8..

[CBRworm]

I had really good luck with one of them (340 watts?) running a set of IDQ 12's many years ago.

The amp never failed, I replaced it with an Alpine so that I would have a better brand amp. The alpine cooked it's outputs so I went back to the Optimus. It has been sitting in my garage now for a number of years, but still works AFAIK.

I always laughed about it. My friends made fun of me, but for such an inexpensive amp, it performed admirably. Not only that, but I had it bolted to the sub enclosure, so the amp was vibrated it's whole life.

[DCJuicer]

Sorry for the long delay in response. I have one 340, four 170's, two 100's, & one 150. The 340 and 150 are 4-channel. Some I purchased new many moons ago and some I picked up on E-bay for a song-and-dance. I currently have a pickup and all the amps are boxed up in the garage until the bug hits me again. I was also using 2 Optimus crossovers (3-way), an Optimus passive EQ. I liked having all the equipment match (same brand). I also have a Coustic system with 380's and 190's but I got tired of replacing output transistors. They are also sitting in garage. I also have Pioneer and Jensen amps which have held up very well over the years.

[jol50]

I would say bridge or run them at 2 ohms, put a fan on them, and try to run more efficient speaker setups with them. Also try to supply full voltage to them for most output. Standard stuff but it works. Or if you can find larger sizes of them to swap in if you want to run that type of amp. I've had some cheaper amps that worked great, some better ones I was not impressed with....you never know and it depends on the install/application.

[Clipped]

if you want to get better performance invest in a good 1/2...1/3 octave eq....the only ones i know of that can reach down to 21.5 hz is audiocontrol.