Velodyne DD15 - worth repairing the plate amp?

@kraftwerkturbo ,

If you are ready to buy a new sub then No, it makes no sense to repair the old one unless you think you can sell it for more than $500. 

The Velodyn is old Tech as are all the SVS and Rel subs. The very best designs use two drivers at opposite ends of the enclosure running in phase. Both cones move out at same time and in at the same time thus their Newtonian forces cancel helping to control resonance. These subs have much less distortion. This is called Balanced Force Design. KEF, Magico, and Martin Logan make balanced force subs. The best unit to replace your Velodyn is the Martin Logan Balance Force 212.

mijostyn interesting but irrelevant in this context. Push pull has been around long before the term balanced force has been coined. 

I have a Velodyne SPL 1000 that I purchased new in 2000 for $800, on sale from 1K. It has been in constant, moderate use all of those years in both 2 channel and HT applications. I know this sub was a step down from the DD series of the day, but it makes wonderful thump from a small footprint. If and when this sub poops out, I would first pull the amp and look for blown fuses or loose connections. If the amp is truly shot, I would buy a new plate amp from Parts Express or Madisound. The quality of the the driver and the build quality of the enclosure are both worth the addition of new amp. Note: I wouldn't spend more than $200 - $300 on the amp.

motown-l there is only one decent sub pate amp out there that is suitable to drive a large sub: Dayton Audio SPA1000 (1000W with DSP?. This is $600 (shipped/tax). I am not sure how much the ’smart’ electronics of the DD-15 amp contribute (and the microphone/measuring setup that came with) which I would loose going to a simple amp. Even the (too weak IMO) SPA500 costs $400 (lowest on ebay, same as DD-15 repair), but don’t know how it compares with Velodyne amp and if it has ’software’, feedback control, etc. It has DSP.

I have owned Velodyne HGS as well as the DD series. I also currently own SVS (1x SB 2000 Pro - 1x SB4000 - 2x SB 16 Ultras).

I run a 2 channel system now. The Velodyne is a much better sub than the 2000 - no question. Is it ‘Better’ than the SB16 Ultras? Sort of, and sort of not. They are a bit different.

That said, if you are using the DSP on the Velo, you should stop. I could only get that sub to sound right the old fashioned manual way.

Most others are correct. The plate amps on every single Velo I have had fried. Cost me $208 back then to repair from Velodyne. No clue what they charge now.

BTW - SB16’s are a lot more spendy then amp fix. They are very close in terms of SQ. Output though, the SB16’s kill it. They go about their business very different.

SQ on the DD series is excellent and integrate very well with higher end speakers.

IMO the only thing new that compares to the Velodyne’s would be Rythmik. They are also Servo Subs and have to be set up manually without DSP. Although I did eventually go with the SB 16’s for ease of use and there was only about a 1-2% difference in SQ - to my ears.

I vote repair as the DD is still a very, very good sub. They are also making subs again. May want to give them a ring.