Velodyne DD15 - worth repairing the plate amp?


The amp in my 2008 Velodyne DD15 is dead as a door nail. 

How good is this old marvel compared to today's offerings?

Worth investing another $500 (to have amp repaired, incl roundtrip shipping, tax, etc)? Or just use as passive sub?

How does it compete to modern subs, for example SBS SB-2000 or SB-3000 (both under $1k pre owned)?

kraftwerkturbo

If you used your Velodyne DD Auto EQ or manually adjusted any of its parameters than no, I don't believe there's a modern equivalent of that level of processing except for the completely redesigned 2011 DD Plus now from Velodyne Acoustics GmbH (Audio Reference) at nearly double their 2011 introductory prices. 

Playing the Sweep Tone CD through the sub and the speakers simultaneously as the DD digitally adjusts nine subwoofer based parameters within the eight discrete frequency bands. The results closely match the speakers analog low frequency output and the rooms monitored individual characteristics is quite unique. 

Velodyne California finally adopted the 'Subwoofer Crawl' with the Plus to locate the sub room position prior to running its setup features.

kraftworkturbo

 

If you are using this Sub(DD 15)  in a H/T set-up, yes repair it. Otherwise move on to a REL for a Stereo system set-up.

 

Happy Listening!

I vote with Erik_S on doing some careful surgery....bypass the original dead amp, add a companion plate that could be housed separately....

That, of course, if you liked the Velo in the 1st place....?

Instead of boxing hassle + shipping costs + new plate + time involved, you could be good to go with a D mono sub amp......sooner...

Minimum moola, min mess, max magic mutant marvels....;)

Resale with no repair would be disappointing, esp. with that driver leaving your hands, and the replacement(s) an unknown ducats dent....

Your call, and good luck *S*

....you could look into having Velo just sending a replacement plate and DIY the swap-out....  Screws 'n plugs 'n cables, oh my....glue for remount of woof, maybe...

It's def out of warranty.....and less overall hassle-factor...👍

Price of plate?  Maintains originality, but.....🤷‍♂️

Push a pencil or the pad, and see the figures.. ;)

Every Velodyne sub of that Era will fail.   I sent my Dad's plate Amp on his HGS 10 to EBC in NJ about 5 years ago and it's been great since.   

My HGS died,....   my brother has an HGS 15 that was never used before he got i5 and it works but it's just a matter of time. 

They are good subs and it's a reasonable cost to repair