Anyone have or heard any modded IRD Audio amps?

LordCloud · « **on:** 1 Jul 2003, 08:12 pm »

I have a pair and I love em' but before I think about upgrading I wonder how far I can take these amps (on a very modest budget) which I think sound very very good. Basically looking for a deeper sound stage, more image density, and more transparency. Thanks all.

jqp · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Jul 2003, 10:10 pm »

Sounds like you really want to tweak something!

Some have attempted but I am not sure if they perceived any benefits. On a modest budget it may be hard to do better than what is already there?

My gut feeling is that you would do better working with other links in the chain to really get what you are looking for. That is just MHO from what I have seen in discussions here and at HD.

I am sure we will see some suggestions, though

gonefishin · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Jul 2003, 10:28 pm »

I haven't tried any of the mods...If you do a search over at HD you'll find tons of information on this.

I've also got a pair of IRDmb100's...I'm using them in a bi-amp application...and I could really use something that has more power

MaxCast · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 01:47 am »

Hi Fish,
you need more power? More power than 4 MB-100's? You have a pair on subs orsomething?

lordcloud, I agree with jqp. Besides the cap bypass, I don't think there is much to do.

nathanm · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 02:31 am »

I can give you a MB-100 mod that will give you TONS of power! How about 40VDC straight to the speakers? Believe me, the transient response I got was amazing! If you've got a schematic I can show you exactly which copper traces to short together to make the magic happen!

jqp · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 03:24 am »

I must have missed that - do elaborate!

Jay S · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 06:46 am »

Do a search on www.harmonicdiscord.com. Wayne of Bolder Cables modded a Le Amp/MB100 to the max. There were several shootouts comparing various levels of mods as well as vs the Odyssey Stratos.

MaxCast · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 11:32 am »

Quote from: nathanm

I can give you a MB-100 mod that will give you TONS of power! How about 40VDC straight to the speakers? Believe me, the transient response I got was amazing! If you've got a schematic I can show you exactly which copper traces to short together to make the magic happen!

Ha, I just deleated your story in my PM's yesterday. Did you ever get that fixed?

gonefishin · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 01:23 pm »

nathanm

What the heck happened? ummm...I think I'll stay away from that one right now...but thanks anyway

I suppose I should have explained it better. I am bi-amping with the mb100's powering the woofer and an 8watt tube amp powering the mids/tweets. It's not that the mb100 isn't powering the woofer fine...but i've got to pad down the midrange/tweeter so darn much to match up with the woofer and mb100. I was hoping that having 100Watts on the woofer would get me a little closer to the mid/highs output than it did. In the future I'll probably end up replacing the IRD amp...but I've got two other projects to complete first (and money to save;) )

MaxCast · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 02:11 pm »

gonefishin, are you using a crossover with that setup? Could you elaborate a bit more on this speaker? I have a pair of Laamps and Wave-8's dying for me to give them a speaker to drive. I would like to play with a bi-amped speaker but don't know where to start with active crossovers and drivers.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 03:48 pm »

Listening to LeAmps

Here is the link to the posts Jason, Tyson and I made about the LeAmp mods.

You can get the LeAmps to sound different by changing parts. Is it worth it? IMHO NO.

Unless you are into DIY for its own sake, I do feel you would be better off buying a used Stratos or Van Alstine amp.

The LeAmp/ IRD MB-100 offer a very good value for the money. I feel that they are a better choice for an HT system than using the amp section of a receiver.

There are other amps out there, that to my ears sound better, with the speakers I use.

gonefishin,

There is a difference in the amount of gain the MB-100 has vs the tube amp. Unless you use an active crossover to balance the gain differences, you will continue to have the volume mismatch.

gonefishin · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 03:54 pm »

Quote from: MaxCast

gonefishin, are you using a crossover with that setup? Could you elaborate a bit more on this speaker? I have a pair of Laamps and Wave-8's dying for me to give them a speaker to drive. I would like to play with a bi-amped speaker but don't know where to start with active crossovers and drivers.

Max...yea, I'm using a passive crossover. The speaker has a horn mid (jbl2441 with 500Hz edgarhorn) and a Fane "horn" tweeter on top. This unit is driven by one amp...the cross over point for the midhorn is 800Hz...it then rolls off at 10K...where the tweeter comes in. Both crossovers are first order and use the natural roll off of the 2441/horn. I'm guessing the sens of this arrangement is around 112db or so(just guessing). The bass is taken care of by a tad 1601a woofer in a sealed cabinet...this is what I have the SS amp for. I'm guessing the sens of the woofer arrangement is around 93-94 db...but I'm not positive. The tops are attenuated to match the woofer/woofer amp combo...which is how the tops were level matched with the bass...it worked out pretty good actually...but, I've got to bring the tube amp down quite a bit to match up with the bass enclosure/100watt amp.

but the mb100 is a great value...just, do to the sensitivty of my mid/tweets...It would work better if I had a little more power on the bottoms.

what are you looking to build/buy?

nathanm · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Jul 2003, 09:06 pm »

My LeAmp catastrophe is explained in my Damage Inc. post if you haven't seen it already. I would agree with Wayne that it is not worth it to modify. It does the job well, I wouldn't mess with it unless you enjoy soldering more than music. Heh! Just keep the moths away from it!

Max - I happen to have a fleet 'o Waves myself. I might have to see if they work together with the LeAmps or not. I did hook a pair up to my Tannoys last night by themselves and they were pretty good. Seemed to be a bit mellower than the LeAmps, but that's a very casual obvservation. It would be cool if they did work in a biamp config, cause they just look so darn cute together. Like a brother and little brother! Awww...

Jay S · « **Reply #13 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 12:18 am »

The Le Amp/MB100 seems to respond well to a good power filter (based on listening to my Le Amps at Guan's place plugged into his DeZorel Audio Reference Senior). Rather than modding your amps, why not get a good power filter, then plug all your components into it so they all get cleaner power?

randytsuch · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Jul 2003, 06:14 pm »

Quote from: MaxCast

gonefishin, are you using a crossover with that setup? Could you elaborate a bit more on this speaker? I have a pair of Laamps and Wave-8's dying for me to give them a speaker to drive. I would like to play with a bi-amped speaker but don't know where to start with active crossovers and drivers.

Maxcast,
Heres a crossover option for you
http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex.cfm?id=DCX2496&lang=eng

I have no idea how it would sound, but the idea of doing the xover in the digital world seems cool to me. Gives you lots of options to try, maybe too many. If they combined this xover with their equilizer, I would have to get one to play with.

Randy