IMF owners thread!

[Yvan_donald]

Hi, Know I've been new on this tread, but many AK's have newer and older Preamp -amp, receiver to drive the IMF, for shure with the bigger model you need amp with good damping factor,with a turntables need to be well insulated from the bass frequency,with Cd's less critical or DVD's.These Quad when have been made? Yvan

 

[Yvan_donald]

HI,on Kijiji some quad405 and 405/2 for sale, Now I just saw the model and read some info,it seems many follower love this amp and good review too,did someone mix it with tube preamp?The price of this amp is very affordable,Quad alway's made good sounding equipment.They come from a generation real music lover's .Critic's say a bit limited an the bass region, so probably better with speaker's easy to drive.Yvan

 

[luvmusik]

Hi, Know I've been new on this tread, but many AK's have newer and older Preamp -amp, receiver to drive the IMF, for shure with the bigger model you need amp with good damping factor,with a turntables need to be well insulated from the bass frequency,with Cd's less critical or DVD's.These Quad when have been made? Yvan

This link shows the dates Quad made each model -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quad_Electroacoustics

A good idea is to google as many reviews as possible for each model preamp & amp, even if review must be translated to English. Professional published reviews are better, but consumer reviews sometimes shed light on some good points to be careful of, in narrowing the selection out of the Quad line-up for your likes on any models. Reviews may help point out things to steer away from, and point into a direction to pursue with listening as the determining factor.

Recommended also, are amps and preamps from James Bongiorno, brands are GAS, plus Sumo and SAE, if seeking vintage, as these pair well with IMF. There are many other vintage brands, both solid-state or tubes, that should also match well that others may have heard with IMF. We usually say to get a high-damping amplifier for good control of the bass frequencies and protect the woofers.

A google search of forums - here on AK, pinkfish, audiogon, audio asylum, etc for something like "amp/preamp for IMF loudspeakers", may produce some hits on what many others had great luck with matching up. It takes some time and research; many of those will say what did not work well for them & what did pair well out of their various tries in matching to where they liked the final match. Some liked various combinations & needed to use the gear on another system, so they may say a few combinations worked well.

To get the full range response of large IMF, an amp that has proven well in the bass region will achieve the intended IMF sound at it's best.

Possibly of some help.

 

[c-atle-79bay]

Found very much info on these drivers' specifics.

IMF Compact Monitor III (? or IIIa ?) mids Elac 4/200.
IMF Compact Monitor III (? or IIIa ?) tweeters Audax HD 12 X 8 (or X 9) D 25 SP, or IMF-branded TW1500 = a rework of Peerless DT 10 HFC.
IMF Compact Monitor III (? or IIIa ?) woofers either IMF-branded KEF B200, or Dalesford or IMF-branded Elac.
.

luvmusik, here is my post #375, some images of the CM III The woofer was not a kef, labled 8/30 which means nothing to me . Wanting to pull these back out soon, anything I can still check for you?

Have a chance for a set of CM 3 for cheap. Can't determine if they are a tline and what drivers they are? Any thoughts?

Found it. The listing on the IMF electronics site shows the cm2 size info and not the cm3. But here they Re, rough to be sure the mids have been "reconed" or refoamed at some point. Different sound yet again with these but very clear and detailed, less bass than I was expecting.


Here is a shot of the bass driver, note when reinstalling don't push the bolts, have to disassemble and reset the threaded insert. So certainly not a tline, and not a kef driver either.

 

[SimplySound]

luvmusik, here is my post #375, some images of the CM III The woofer was not a kef, labled 8/30 which means nothing to me . Wanting to pull these back out soon, anything I can still check for you?

If I'm a betting man those look like "IMF-branded Elac" Drivers. :scratch2:

 

[mech986]

luvmusik, here is my post #375, some images of the CM III The woofer was not a kef, labled 8/30 which means nothing to me . Wanting to pull these back out soon, anything I can still check for you?

If I'm a betting man those look like "IMF-branded Elac" Drivers. :scratch2:

From Falcon Acoustics, a listing with some T/S values of ELAC drivers, many of which IMF used in later models after discontinuing use of KEF and other drivers.

http://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/downloads/Elacimftdl.pdf

 

[Yvan_donald]

HI,I have 2 like that + 2 128/... And other IMF so if someone need just PM me, I don't think I'm gonna use these, indeed look like The Elac replacement of Kef 1014 small magnet,Yvan.

 

[luvmusik]

Thanks c-atle-79bay, If in process of opening up the CM III, and if backs of components are within sight without too much trouble -let us know what markings you see on any other drivers & the crossover board. From the post #375 nice fotos we can see this woofer markings now, and the general crossover view in that post. Nice fotos. Maybe some AKers here may have interest in some other aspects if you are embarking on pulling them open.

Nice Falcon chart Mech, that's a real keeper ! Thank goodness no one threw these back in the pond, and we have wonderful archives now-a-days !

 

[c-atle-79bay]

Thanks c-atle-79bay, If in process of opening up the CM III, and if backs of components are within sight without too much trouble -let us know what markings you see on any other drivers & the crossover board. From the post #375 nice fotos we can see this woofer markings now, and the general crossover view in that post. Nice fotos. Maybe some AKers here may have interest in some other aspects if you are embarking on pulling them open.

Nice Falcon chart Mech, that's a real keeper ! Thank goodness no one threw these back in the pond, and we have wonderful archives now-a-days !

Will do.

 

[surv1v0r]

<snip>

Did this driver not have any sort of gasket / sealing strip?

 

[c-atle-79bay]

Did this driver not have any sort of gasket / sealing strip?

That thin bubbly stuff on the rim is the gasket IIRC.

 

[c-atle-79bay]

I had a short, but satisfying experience with a PS Audio GCC 250 (Icepower 500a based amp) this weekend. All I can say is WOW. The amount of control this amp exhibited on the IMFs was scary good. Layered and very detailed. Bass was fantastic.

 

[canuckaudiog]

I had a short, but satisfying experience with a PS Audio GCC 250 (Icepower 500a based amp) this weekend. All I can say is WOW. The amount of control this amp exhibited on the IMFs was scary good. Layered and very detailed. Bass was fantastic.

Thanks for the info - might have to keep an eye out for an amp like that one. You said it was short - was it a friend that brought it over or is this an amplifier you're considering purchasing?

 

[c-atle-79bay]

Thanks for the info - might have to keep an eye out for an amp like that one. You said it was short - was it a friend that brought it over or is this an amplifier you're considering purchasing?

Potential purchase, neighbor's amp, but one of the channels is a bit quieter than the other and that's got me a bit cautious for now.

But it has shown me the light of big class D amplification, particularly the Icepower versions of them, and their are quite a few it seems.

Wyred 4 sound has current production units, almost clones for that matter, for a good price.

Thinking I'm going to try a behringer a500 soon, $200 @ $300/wpc wiht a 220 dampening factor as well as being reviewed by "the audio critic" aka the guy who says all amps sound the same, continues that statement with this amp.

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi, for the SC to see if it's the original Peerless,please take one out an look if the cutting hole in the baffle follow the angle of the tweeter or if the cutting hole is really center it means probably they have been change and should have Peerless with little foam surrounding the dome with the wires show inf on top of the plate. But my first generation pair of tls50 have the Peerless with foam and wires outsides, bought a pair tls 50, 2years ago and the came with angle Peerless with angle cutting in the baffle, but the angle one should be better, all look original the mid is the EMI like in all Mk I except the one with Peerless have sort of square paper board arround the rubber or foam? suspension,but this one is a EMI,best regards, Yvan

 

[Yvan_donald]

hi,it is very quiet,winter is long here in Quebec,I can't wait to go to the next highend audio show in Montreal. I like to start a project using a B200 sp1039 or peerless big magnet from Als 40, B110 sp1003,celestion hf1300,hf2000 like in the prof. but in smaller version size cabinet with the x-over of MkIII,I really think it can make a very good speaker less imposing.

 

[luvmusik]

Cool idea.

Winter is just hanging on here in mid-Atlantic/Northeast States - we all welcome the 1st day of Spring on Friday. It has warmed up these last 2 weeks -finally, after a very cold winter, but snow is yet possible in the Weather prediction for Friday !

That quiet winter may soon be filled with spring music there as your project progresses !

 

[canuckaudiog]

hi,it is very quiet,winter is long here in Quebec,I can't wait to go to the next highend audio show in Montreal. I like to start a project using a B200 sp1039 or peerless big magnet from Als 40, B110 sp1003,celestion hf1300,hf2000 like in the prof. but in smaller version size cabinet with the x-over of MkIII,I really think it can make a very good speaker less imposing.

Interesting idea. I'm not sure if the crossover from the Mk III would be a good choice, as the crossover was designed with the distance and placement of the drivers in mind.. but it could work if you retain that but maybe change the bass loading as long as it was suitable to the T/S parameters of the B139.

I have a pair of empty ALS40II cabinets that I need to do something with. Strongly considering just tossing them, I am missing mids and tweeters and the mid-bass drivers. I haven't found replacement drivers so, I think I might just toss them as much as I hate to do that.

 

[Yvan_donald]

hi, yes the distance center mid to center woofer should be the same,will make the speaker wider to get the right position and the speaker deaper for the mid enclosure,but the transmission dimension like the tls 50,will have to put double panel on the side and double backing with only the mid enclosure will extend behind the transmission line enclosure. but because the B139 have 2inch. coil, the peerless have 1 1/2 inch coil but big magnet like kef sp1039 more similar size 1 inch. coil,the peerless is more suitable.I have to use the x-over of a prof. or even tls 80 will do the job. What you think, I believe it should do.

 

[rogermatthew]

New to the forum!

Hi Guys, I've only just discovered this fascinating thread, hope you don't mind another post from little ole UK - home of the IMF speaker!

I've owned IMFs for the past 40 years, won't be without them (only true horns can beat them in my view), I've had my current IMF TLS50 IIs for the past 25 years.

What drew me to the site was when I explored the need for replacing the capacitors. Thanks to previous posts it seems pretty clear that it would be advisable, but I've no real experience with electronics. I can use a soldering iron though, and do my own household electrics (have rewired houses) so I'm not frightened at the task. Am I right in thinking that the capacitors lie behind EACH drive unit, hence I have to remove those, AND behind the speaker connections? Is there anything else I should be aware of before taking everything to bits?

I'd really appreciate any advice. For information, the speakers are driven by two Hitachi HMA8500II 100w stereo power amps, each bridged for mono, thus each speaker can call upon 200watts. Pre-amp is a Sony ES TA000, and the speakers are the front items in a 5.1 Dolby surround set-up - no need for a sub-woofer of course!

Now to continue reading all these fascinating posts

Thanks

Roger