Ready for some working subs again..

[dane]

Quick back-story. I've had dual UFW-10's for a handful of years running well. Finally, eventually, one of the amps started humming. The other one hasn't (yet), but since I had them running as a pair a dialed in through a Behringer DSP1124 EQ, running one by itself just doesn't do very much (and I'm not in the mood to re-EQ, knowing there are significant problems enough with my room with two subs to fill the void, much less all the room modes with just one). So I've had them both off for most of 2012.. :(

The UFW-10's are Ebony, as are the rest of my speakers, match the room well, and fit nicely underneath the two end-tables that flank the main couch in the family room. I really like their enclosures, and would really like to keep them. I've talked with Kevin over the years about the UFW-10HR that was originally planned but never got enough traction to take off. No problem, I was one of the ones not quite interested enough because my amps were still going strong (at the time) .. Now I am, but it's likely "too late." :doh! 1:

I am looking to remove the plate-amp and closing it up with two nice speaker binding posts and running an outboard amp.. To me *right now* this seems like the better approach because I get to keep the aesthetics in-place while at least restoring (if not enhancing) the performance with outboard amplification.

I am also willing to consider replacing them outright, though as mentioned, the current aesthetics will likely be hard to beat. But I've been out of this market for a few years now, and am willing to take a fresh look at things.

thanks all,
..dane

[boober]

:pics:

[Sandbagger]

Dane

Now that I have a reliable driver manufacturer....
And the fact that I would love to have some woffffffff in the living room for 2ch.....

This project is going to gain some traction now that I have the Turbos all worked out again and shipping(next week for real)

[dane]

I realize now that the reason I may not have gotten much traction on my thread is because I never actually asked any questions.. :eek:

Does anyone have any suggested woof's to look at in case the ufw-10's just can't be brought back to life?

Now that I have a reliable driver manufacturer....
And the fact that I would love to have some woffffffff in the living room for 2ch.....

This project is going to gain some traction now that I have the Turbos all worked out again and shipping(next week for real)

That sounds great, Kevin. Where can I get (lots) more information? I'd like to know things like expected performance (preferably in terms of "against the first, early, original ufw-10 amps" :) ), cost, and availability.. Also are we still looking at an outboard amp or are you now looking at an amp to once again fit the old ufw-10 enclosure? I am perfectly fine now with an outboard amp (previously, I was hesitant), it can go under my couch or in my equipment rack, either one is fine.. An enclosed amp is fine too. Just looking to get these things going again..

Also, I am totally cool with just getting two drivers from you and working out the passive plate and an outboard amp myself, if that is simpler for everyone. If you definitely have plans for the whole shebang, great. If your plans are only for the driver, that's perfectly acceptable as well.

FYI, I have a working relationship with a metal shop a couple blocks away that also can do powder-coating if you would like some assistance with simple black passive fill-plates/covers with a couple binding post holes. Might be able to silk-screens something on there as well, though I'm not sure if they do that or not (but I know they have their own powder-coat and oven, been there, toured that). They can of course do a lot more than that (laser etch, stamp, etc), but as you know every cut and bend adds dollars, and the best way to keep costs down is to keep it simple. :)

Looking forward to your reply.. :)
..dane

[tthurman]

Are the drop in amps from parts express that work with the ULW's not an option here?

After playing around with lesser powered subs, I'm not sure the UFW amps, original or the presumed beast, were ever anything other than just a bunch of hot air.

[Sandbagger]

The PE amp is a drop in for size, and if you use the one with boost, will get you close for a response curve.

What is the presumed beast?

Dane

The project completely fell off the table when I couldnt get drivers and had little faith in getting anything from the supplier. Now that I have a new supplier for custom drivers and can actually deliver, I am going to start work soon on this. This is something I will be using in my 2ch set up so expect something cool. Plan on it using the same outboard amp as the Turbos and will run DUAL UFW/ULW-10s

Are the drop in amps from parts express that work with the ULW's not an option here?

After playing around with lesser powered subs, I'm not sure the UFW amps, original or the presumed beast, were ever anything other than just a bunch of hot air.

[tthurman]

What is the presumed beast?

That would be the "great" amps that were supposed to fill the void for all the UFW/ULW ones that died prematurely under warranty, that in turn never materialized. Instead everyone got shipments for replacements or limited second runs of a few ULW/UFW's that had grey market parts that did about everything but deliver good sub performance. I got one that whistles, and one that so far is still okay. Others had ones that farted and burped or did some funky cone movement! I'm sure you remember, this was near "the end", but when they worked, they were good little subs considering the footprint. My rosewood UFW-10 with the original amp is much like Dane's second one that is still working, and I still like it.

Geesh, it all brings back bad memories, I remember this incredibly expensive transformer that was going to be used because it was "the right thing to do", only to be replaced with who knows what.

[rsa]

<knocks on wood>

My BF UFW-10 = 5x5. :)

[dane]

tthurman- The PE amps are an option, but are half the power (that's debatable too I suppose), and have a huge heatsink sticking out the back. Neither are complete game-stoppers, but if I can get better performance out of the enclosure with a better driver and amp, I'm interested. As I said, I love the form-factor, and the veneer. The veneer itself can start quite an argument, but the early stuff out of PRC doesn't seem to have the same problems as those out of columbia. But anyway, regardless of the company that made them, the enclosure is a very nice one, and as I said- if I can keep it but replace its "moving parts" and get better performance, then I'd like to do that.

rsa- sorry, I have no idea what that means.. :o but if it has to do with yours still working, then that's awesome! One of my duals still works fine, the other one hums only when hooked to the source (but not standalone). It's really odd. And the two use the same source (y-split). Swapping Y-outputs doesn't help either. I tried replacing caps in the power supply but no luck. still hummed upon connection to the source. I can't even remember now if I tried lifting the ground prong with no improvement either.

Kevin- I've got a trip planned to colorado the 3rd week of September (18-20th).. We're flying into and out of Denver, then will be driving around to a few different cities to meet with some customers as well as attend an FPGA conference. Got any time that week?

EDIT-- Duuuuuhhhh... I just realized I'm going to DENVER, not DETROIT. man, I need to go to bed.

..dane

[dane]

BTW--

Plan on it using the same outboard amp as the Turbos and will run DUAL UFW/ULW-10s

Is this a rack-mountable amp, or some other form factor? What kind of airflow requirements are there?

thanks,
..dane

[boober]

:pics:

[Sandbagger]

Dane

Yes it is rack mountable, comes with ears. It is passive cooling, no fan, I wouldn't put in on carpet and under a couch.... but hardwood floor with a couch that is open on he bottom, you could probably get away with that as long as you don't run it at 11 all the time. It doesn't get that warm under moderate usage on the Turbo driver.

BTW--



Is this a rack-mountable amp, or some other form factor? What kind of airflow requirements are there?

thanks,
..dane

[dane]

:pics:

Hmm... exactly what are you wanting pictures of? A sub not working? :confused:

Dane

Yes it is rack mountable, comes with ears. It is passive cooling, no fan, I wouldn't put in on carpet and under a couch.... but hardwood floor with a couch that is open on he bottom, you could probably get away with that as long as you don't run it at 11 all the time. It doesn't get that warm under moderate usage on the Turbo driver.

Good deal.. :salute:

..dane

ps.- Why not just make 10 louder? ;)

[dane]

...but when they worked, they were good little subs considering the footprint. My rosewood UFW-10 with the original amp is much like Dane's second one that is still working, and I still like it.

Geesh, it all brings back bad memories, ...

Most people do (remember bad memories).. It's a real shame all that happened, and how it happened, and who it happened to. And I know that many people are ("were", hopefully) upset with me for being so stubborn (or pick your own word) as well. :(

But as you said-- when they worked, they were good little subs. All my Rockets are running on 8yrs old at this point, and one plate amp finally died. I got lucky. Overall I'm very pleased with their performance and aesthetics, and would like to do what I can to ensure they last at least 8yr more..

I know most folks here at CHT are looking for a LOT more power or a LOT deeper performance, and for that I strongly agree that CHT solutions are very-high-bang-per-buck ratio solutions. For me however, good tight music bass with decent movie low-end support, in a tiny and attractive form factor is exactly what I want..

cheers,
..dane

[boober]

Hmm... exactly what are you wanting pictures of? A sub not working? :confused:

Pics of your set up! :D

In your first post you described how great your subs look in your room and all that and you described it so well, that I wanna see some pics damnit!!! :)

Thanks!!!

:pics: :pics: