AV123 MFW-15 Driver Swap Out

[shanehylton]

I have two AV123 MFW-15 subs that I love, but the first amp just burnt up last night (I know that they are problematic and I expect the second one isn't far behind). I have decided to take the plate amps off both of them and power them with a rack amp (Behringer EP4000). I am also going to replace the drivers with TC Sounds Axis 15Q1, I was wanting to know if this combination would work and would out perform the Turbo kit for these subs? I think I can get this done for about $1300 (is this wise or is there better performance for less money)? I don't stay up with this stuff, but with my little research I am leaning toward this option. Give me your opinions. Thanks

 

[fuzz092888]

Simply swapping out drivers isn't necessarily a good idea. You would need to get the port length and area, and box volume and then have someone model the TC drivers in that box in order to see if it is a good fit. If the drivers are still good, why not just seal up the plate amp hole, add binding posts and go with the external amp?

 

[shanehylton]

That was what I was going to do (go with a Dayton SA1000), but then I figured if I was going to work on my theater I might as well go ahead and upgrade it a little. The TC subs recomended ported box demensions are just about exact to the configuration of my boxes so I figured it would be a good match.

 

[fuzz092888]

What are the interior dimensions of the box? What are W X H X L of the vent? Without this information it's tough to know if the box will work or not. Also, just because the interior volume (minus bracing and port) doesn't meant the port is right for the drivers. If you give me those dimensions I can figure out what you'd be looking into getting out of that box with those drivers.

 

[ImcLoud]

Just pick a new pair of subs and build them yourself new_knock_down_subwoofer_cabinets - Parts Express Ships Fast and Ships Free then you can sell you current pair...

 

[theJman]

Simply swapping out drivers isn't necessarily a good idea. You would need to get the port length and area, and box volume and then have someone model the TC drivers in that box in order to see if it is a good fit. If the drivers are still good, why not just seal up the plate amp hole, add binding posts and go with the external amp?

+1

That's a huge part of the value in the Turbo kit; the heavy lifting has been done by people well versed in the process (like Mark Seaton). I have an MFW Turbo that I'll be reviewing in the not too distant future, so I have first hand experience with one. I can attest to the fact that the driver is an absolute beast, weighing in at 43 pounds. The whole kit went together easily, and appears to have been well thought out, so it does seem like a nice upgrade to current MFW owners.

 

[shanehylton]

I just purchased a Dayton SA1000, figured I can run both of the subs in series and not overpower them to bad (8 ohm little less than 500 watts). I have the diagram of the box, I will try and upload it tonight and see if it looks like it will work with the setup on the original post. Figured I will get both of them running again and if I decide to go with the upgrade I will have an amp to play around with.

 

[theJman]

I just purchased a Dayton SA1000, figured I can run both of the subs in series and not overpower them to bad (8 ohm little less than 500 watts). I have the diagram of the box, I will try and upload it tonight and see if it looks like it will work with the setup on the original post. Figured I will get both of them running again and if I decide to go with the upgrade I will have an amp to play around with.

Assuming 'them' means the aforementioned TC Sounds Axis 15Q1... the driver appears to have a 4 ohm impedance and around 87dB sensitivity rating. Couple that with a 1000 watt RMS and I think they'll be underpowered with just 500 watts at 8 ohms.

 

[shanehylton]

I am going to run the stock drivers with the amp I purchased. If I decide to upgrade to the Axis 15Q1 I planning on pushing with a Behringer EP4000 and wiring the speakers to either a 2.4 or 4.8 ohms.

 

[Mark Seaton]

I have two AV123 MFW-15 subs that I love, but the first amp just burnt up last night (I know that they are problematic and I expect the second one isn't far behind). I have decided to take the plate amps off both of them and power them with a rack amp (Behringer EP4000). I am also going to replace the drivers with TC Sounds Axis 15Q1, I was wanting to know if this combination would work and would out perform the Turbo kit for these subs? I think I can get this done for about $1300 (is this wise or is there better performance for less money)? I don't stay up with this stuff, but with my little research I am leaning toward this option. Give me your opinions. Thanks

The Axis 15Q1 will certainly take a bunch of power and allow more output than the original drivers with a big amp, but the drivers will produce a very peaky response in-box. It could be a workable solution when combined with something like a MiniDSP, and EP4000 (assuming the fan noise isn't an issue for you). You would want to be able to take some measurements to smooth the upper bass. If you wanted to use the EP4000 to save some money, I'd select a different driver.

Unless you have significantly more power and EQ with a high pass, you are unlikely to exceed what the Turbo kit will provide, but certainly exceed the original. If you have the SA-1000 you can certainly drive the two original drivers in series without issue. If in parallel it's likely the amp would cut out during heavy bass scenes. If you want to later go with a Turbo you can work out details/price with Kevin to send your SA-1000 for the modifications and get the matched driver and all the related parts. Kevin also has the correctly sized block off plates and wiring if you want to pull the amp out and power them externally.

If you are handy with a soldering iron you can remove the connector from back side of the amplifier's binding posts (originally for speaker level input) and then solder the speaker wires directly to the plate amp's binding posts using them for external amp connection.

 

[shanehylton]

Thanks Mark, this is the information that I was needing. I am going to push the two original driver with the SA-1000 until I can save some green and then go with the Turbo kits. If I run the SA-1000 in series 8ohm load giving each driver 250 watts do you think that they will perform as well as they did with their original plate amps? Thanks Again

 

[Mark Seaton]

Thanks Mark, this is the information that I was needing. I am going to push the two original driver with the SA-1000 until I can save some green and then go with the Turbo kits. If I run the SA-1000 in series 8ohm load giving each driver 250 watts do you think that they will perform as well as they did with their original plate amps? Thanks Again

The SA 1000 will function fine. You do need to make sure you have the high pass filter switch on the back set to ON, and you will probably want the bass boost in the amp engaged. It will be a little different in performance and response, but will work fine and more reliably. Note that even one Turbo will out perform and sound better than the pair powered by the SA-1000, and you don't need to upgrade them both at the same time if it's easier to split the upgrade cost over time.

 

[shanehylton]

Thanks again Mark your advice is much appreciated. I am going to get through this month and then try to go a head and upgrade both of them.

 

[Yeaham]

The SA 1000 will function fine. You do need to make sure you have the high pass filter switch on the back set to ON, and you will probably want the bass boost in the amp engaged. It will be a little different in performance and response, but will work fine and more reliably. Note that even one Turbo will out perform and sound better than the pair powered by the SA-1000, and you don't need to upgrade them both at the same time if it's easier to split the upgrade cost over time.

Is the Turbo kit for the MFW-15 still available? If so where can one be purchased?

 

[theJman]

Is the Turbo kit for the MFW-15 still available? If so where can one be purchased?

You can reach Kevin here.