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Upgrade Kit for Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Amplifier; Options: Noctua Fan, 6.5 Refoam

$ 26.32

Availability: 28 in stock
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days
  • Model: ProMedia
  • System Configuration: 2.1 Channel
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Condition: New
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Connectivity: Does not apply
  • Type: Computer speakers
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • Brand: Stpeteshepherd (custom)
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • MPN: Does Not Apply
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back

    Description

    If you have the original version of Klipsch's ProMedia 2.1, you may know that none of the newer versions since 2012 has been able to match the performance of the original, including the subwoofer channel. I have original ProMedia 2.1 plate amplifiers in my ebay store with the same upgrades as in this listing, but this kit is available for those with good soldering skill.
    This is a 2021 revision of my ProMedia kit produced for the original (and beloved) version of Klipsch's ProMedia 2.1 computer speakers' amplifier.
    Four options are now available, including the option to add a Noctua cooling fan.
    I first created a cooling kit for the 2.1's big brother, the ProMedia 5.1 back in October 2005.
    Now for 2021, my kit for the ProMedia 2.1 has a new, improved  low frequency (LF, subwoofer) circuit board with 57 new components. Each board is tested after assembly. The new circuit board has 4 improvements:
    A) Better quality Japanese (Panasonic & Nichicon), U.S. and German (WIMA) low ESR capacitors.
    B) Revised circuit produces less heat for lower temperatures.
    C) Heat-producing power resistors are relocated to the back of the board, away from capacitors. The original design had resistors sometimes touching the capacitors, drying them out.
    D)  A pair of 1000 uF capacitors are ten times larger than Klipsch's undersized originals, to address a class D design weakness of bus pumping. (This also reduces harmonic distortion. I think I can hear the difference, but I look forward to hearing from others who use this kit.)
    There is a kit option to add a fifth improvement--a Noctua 40 mm cooling
    fan
    --to keep temperatures cooler by circulating air inside the sub enclosure, evening out temperature and helping the heat more efficiently be moved to the aluminum back panel, where the aluminum radiates the heat into the room.
    There is a kit option to also add a new
    rubber surround
    for the 6.5" subwoofer speaker to this kit. The original foam surrounds frequently dry out, become weak (causing distortion) and even crumble away after 15 or more years. Some Fix-All adhesive is included for mounting the surround. I have also used rubberized speaker glue, but I do not have containers to ship that type of adhesive.
    This kit is
    only
    for the ProMedia 2.1 version that has a
    power switch on the back of the amplifier
    . The newer ProMedia 2.1 versions that do
    not
    have a power switch do not need a cooling fan. Unfortunately, they also seem to lack some of the depth and power of this original version. The original version has components that normally reach over 200 degrees F. (Picture a well-done steak). That heat dries out capacitors, makes copper traces brittle, and dries out the gasket sealing the satellite speaker terminal and the gasket sealing the panel to the sub. This revised kit is designed to address all those issues, and prevent them from reoccurring. There is the option to add a new speaker terminal kit and gasket to seal the panel to the sub enclosure.
    Noctua is the best brand of fan that I have found for noise and reliability (150,000 hours; 6 year warranty). It is also the most expensive.
    This kit cannot be guaranteed to fix every problem with a ProMedia 2.1 amplifier, but it addresses the most common issues. I also do have some rebuilt satellite amplifier boards available (, with a core return value for a non-working board that can be rebuilt).
    Kit includes:
    New, improved LF (subwoofer) amplifier circuit board.  For the power supply board, six upgraded capacitors, a pair of upgraded resistors and a pair of wire jumpers to bypass brittle copper traces are also included.
    The plastic satellite speaker spring terminals also get brittle over the years, and/or the foam that seals the terminals to the aluminum panel becomes hard and shrinks, ruining the airtight seal and causing noise from air leakage and a loss of sub performance. (See photo of an example of dried, shrunk foam). A new pair of satellite speaker terminals can be included in the largest two kit options (the terminal kits otherwise sell separately for ).  A new adhesive gasket (4 segments) is included with the full kit for sealing the sub to the enclosure. Instead of providing a good acoustic seal, the old ones tend to compress flat, or bake so hard they must be scraped away with a knife.
    Basic Kit
    includes:
    New LF Circuit board with 57 new components.
    Your original threaded mount (soldered to your old LF board) is reused
    (see side-by-side photo of old and new LF boards).
    8 new components for the power supply board
    Kester solder
    Photos and instructions will be sent via ebay message system, (or to buyer's email, if requested).
    Kit with Relay
    includes the above and adds:
    a relay for the subwoofer output.
    Kit with Cooling
    includes the above, plus:
    1 Noctua 40 mm cooling fan with power supply and wiring harness
    2 Scotchlok connectors to connect to internal 120 VAC power.
    Mounting tape and adhesive.
    Satellite speaker replacement terminal kit
    adhesive 15mm x 1mm gasket (4 segments).
    Kit with Cooling and Rubber Surround for 6.5" Speaker
    Includes the above, plus:
    rubber speaker surround for subwoofer driver (6.5")
    clear adhesive to mount the rubber surround (Caution: it takes
    practice
    to become proficient at mounting a surround correctly). There are rubberized adhesives that work well, but I do not have containers to ship that.
    Installation Option:
    If you would like to have me install the kit for you, you may ship your amplifier to me (it can fit inside a usps medium flat rate box, but requires careful packing with firm packing material).  Installation of the first three kits costs plus return shipping ( to , depending on the shipping method and zip code). Installation costs for the kit with new rubber speaker surround for a speaker that buyer ships with amplifier panel.
    The 15 business days' shipping time is to reflect the time it takes to ship your amplifier panel to me and for me to repair it to ship it back to you. If you buy the kit and not installation, it only takes a day or two to get the kit shipped to you.
    There is good reason why so many owners of these original ProMedia systems refoam their 6.5" speakers (I also rebuild the original 6.5" speakers, and have new originals from Klipsch in my store) and rebuild these amplifiers. The power and sound quality of the original ProMedia 2.1 was hard to beat 10+ years ago, and is only harder to beat with current computer speaker systems!