How cheap can you get? ~$60 assembled pair w/ bamboo enclosures - offer advice.

[geotone]

thumbs up for chicks! will go off and get my cutting done

[geotone]

anonymous,

have you done any further testing? I was thinking that maybe the different Fs is because one driver takes more of a bass load than the other - after all they apply all kinds of tricks to make those little things sound better. would be curious to know!


geotone

[chicks]

Scored a Klipsch Promedia 2.1, at least the amp and 6.5" sub, at the local Goodwill for $20. The sub's internal volume is ~ 12 liters. Also found a bamboo letter organizer on clearance at TJ Maxx. Its internal volume is ~ 13.8 liters. So, with some 3/8" or 1/2" MDF inside to beef up the sides, and maybe 3/4" MDF for the bottom, I should have a nice looking 12 liter enclosure for the Klipsch unit. Klipsch used 12mm MDF.

I could just add some bamboo sides to the sub enclosure, unfortunately they used the back for the plate amp, one side for the speaker, and the front for the port, making it difficult to skin. I'll try to make the speaker and port both down-firing in the new box.

The Klipsch plate amp uses a PS/2 connector (DIN?). I have figured out the L and R inputs, and can put hum through the satellite speakers no problem. There are also connections for master volume and sub volume controls, which would normally be on one of the satellite speakers. I expect that they just vary a DC voltage using linear pots for these controls, and several of the pins have 14VDC on them, just need to experiment.

Klipsch rates the plate amp @ 55Wpc for the satellites, and 50W for the sub, with internal crossover. I'll have to be careful not to blow the little Psyclone speakers!

[lincomatic]

Originally posted by geotone
anonymous,

have you done any further testing? I was thinking that maybe the different Fs is because one driver takes more of a bass load than the other - after all they apply all kinds of tricks to make those little things sound better. would be curious to know!


geotone

I haven't tested the Fs of my drivers yet, but when I first tested it, I noticed that there was considerably more bass excursion in one of the drivers. Unfortunately, I only tested on one track (and I forgot which one), so I'm not sure if it was just due to the particular track itself. One thing I know for sure, though, is that after bypassing the MZ01, the bass excursion is pretty much equal on the two channels.

I just did some A/B listening tests between my two Nodus' ... there is definitely more distortion @ high SPL w/ the MZ01 enabled. After bypassing, the bass is reduced significantly, but the clarity of the midrange and treble is moderately improved.

I like to listen mostly to acoustic jazz and vocals, and so far, I like the sound w/ the MZ01 disabled and the rear port open the best.
The unit w/ the MZ01 enabled w/ sock in the port has about the same amount of bass, but is a bit flabbier in sound. However, for bass-heavy music and movies, the unmodified, unplugged port is best.

When I get a chance, I'm going to plug the amp sans-MZ01 into my homebrew Dynaudios to see how good it really is.

BTW, my unit w/ the MZ01 disabled sometimes has trouble turning on.. don't know if it's a result of the modification or not.

[chicks]

OK, I was wrong about DC voltage controlling the volume. I added a 1/8" stereo jack to the plate amp, connected to the L and R amp inputs, and summed them through 10K resistors to the sub amp's input. Driven at max line level, it doesn't get really loud, but fills in the bass quite nicely, without getting boomy at all.

The mini DIN connector also has +14V and -14V pins, so I now believe that there are buffer amps in the missing satellite speaker, one with level control for the sub, and one for each of the satellites, with dual level control. The buffer amps clearly must have some voltage gain, because max line level into the unit isn't enough to get really loud.

Looks like I'll need to put together a buffer with a level control for the sub amp. Can put it inside the enclosure, on perf board. Where did I put those LM324's?

[AC439]

Hi, this discussion has definitely drawn my interest. I have a sonic T-amp (first gen) and love it. I just built a pair of sealed box speaker (see my other thread) and my Sonic works very well with them with very good volume. I have been thinking about building another T-Amp from 41hz.com. This thread has definitely changed my mind.

I would guess after the mod on bypassing the MZ01 (4 cuts and two jumper wires), the preamp is still functioning, correct? Also, I would guess the remote control circuit is on the preamp board too so I don't need to put a stereo pot after the mod ?

-AC

[chicks]

Well, I'm not sure how this amp compares with the 41Hz products, and I definitely don't have a "golden ear" - this one sounds to me exactly the same as my unmodified Sure Electronics amp, when driving the same speakers. I suppose there are lots of mods that could be done to this amp to improve its sound, but I doubt I'd notice much of a difference. I sure hate to think my playing has resulted in lost revenue for 41Hz.

I'm not using the preamp board at all, but yes, the remote control circuitry is on the preamp, and it should work just fine with the MZ01 chip (which is on the power amp board) bypassed.

A few things irritating about the preamp/control board:

1. It produces hiss in the speakers - a tiny amount, to be sure, but it's there when no music is playing. Bypassing it removes the hiss.

2. It puts the power amp in idle mode after about 10 minutes of no audio input, but it doesn't power the amp back up with the introduction of audio input. The only way to do that is by using the remote control or the power switch, very annoying, since there's no "on" indicator.

3. It doesn't remember the volume setting between power cycles, possibly the most annoying, so you are forced to change it with the remote, or with the volume buttons.

[AC439]

Thanks for the info about the preamp. I think I'm going to buy a couple of PSC99 and strip down everything only to keep the final Tripath amps. I don't think your research on the psc99 has caused any lost revenue for 41Hz. They have more variety of kits, some with much higher power. Just different customer base, IMHO.

-AC

[gtoomey]

Originally posted by sjetski71
Might be a good kit to mod, you can always plug the port, stuff the box, or replace the speaker. Not too sure about the included driver though, it seems to be the little-known Tang Band W3-832SE which the same seller has posted in other listings.

That store has some ridiculously cheap prices & it says free shipping from Tawian.
This must be the best deal.

http://stores.ebay.com/AudioTek-Shop...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

[quadtech]

Might be worth trying the 1.5L plastic bottle one for those drivers -

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...484#post877484