IMF owners thread!

[Yvan_donald]

Hi, here in the back cover I have replace the foam with the active carbon, you have seen in previous thread the foam do not let the light pass true,but the active carbon with is open cell do, so the active carbon raise the volume of the cover.Some pictures with modify cover of HF 1300 to change the reflection wave of the edge (try)

 

[Mart Mccall]

Those appear to be TLS50 mk. I, can you link to your other photo which shows the woofers, and can you pull the woofers to tell us which make and model (SP #) they are?

Don't really want to get a screwdriver out but here is a fairly clear picture of them:

 

[Yvan_donald]

hi,yes this is tls-50 mk I with like seems to be update imf tweeters.Very nice and very clean exemple of MK I

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi,here some pictures of the tweeter's I have on my first set of TLS-50 circa 1974-75 (sold to my brother) and another pair of Tls-50 I bought on ebay with a different original tweeter's, later version: Imf microphone unit on plate as STW not Coles 4001

 

[Mart Mccall]

hi,yes this is tls-50 mk I with like seems to be update imf tweeters.Very nice and very clean exemple of MK I

Yes they are Mk1 but the previous owner replaced the original tweeters with new models as they were both u/s when he acquired them. The midrange drivers were also replaced with some lightly used Coles drivers to bring them back to factory spec, there were some non-standard drivers in there before.

Far from the perfect loudspeaker but still very impressive all round speakers for less than $500 delivered. No way could you buy anything new at that price that would come remotely close to their quality of sound.

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi, your TLS 50 have all original units,only the peerless tweeter is change for a new, probably better version like the Tls 50 MK II serie,for sure they sound great,change the speaker posts with Cardas or WBT copper,put film caps specially the .22uf, 4uf ,6uf, bypast the big one with a silver Jensen .22uf or similar value,like I did on my prof., first you install the jensen on the X-over and connect the 60 uf,100 uf on each side of the jensen (soldering) you will see how better these IMF sound,change the wires (16 GA) between post and X-over,put bigger wires on woofer (16 GA),remove the foam in mid tube,install active carbon 1/2 " thick on the inside perimeter and bottom put back some foam (cut a bit of dimension on the roll of foam),all these add to the sound but keep the original tonal structure of the speaker.

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi,the Jensen I use it's a film capacitor,just as info.

 

[Mart Mccall]

it's a couple of decades since I last built any 'speakers; I'm not sure I would trust myself to carry out all that work without bodging it

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi,if I could do by myself,anybody can do it and for the love of listening great music and enjoying every moment of it, it's worth the time invest.

 

[Wilburchubs]

Slowly edging back into the whole hifi scene after a break (depression)
I had previously bought a set of IMF TLS50II and loved them,earlier this year I found a set of TLS80,original boxes,mint......300 miles+ away and approaching a months wages
After doing the whole journey,there and back in a day,and parting with the cash,did I regret it?
NOPE
Im running them with QUAD II amplifiers,fed from my Audiolab 8000c. Source is either Meridian 206/Linn LP12/Revox PR99
The sound puts a smile on my face every time (no easy task!)
Just ordered a re-cap kit from Falcon,cant wait to hear these really sing
I kept the TLS50IIs by the way

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi,yes they are great speakers,it is the Tls 80 Mk II,not to many Mk I around ?myself being in a bizarre mood these past year love my IMF,help past the bad time,music is a great healer

 

[Wilburchubs]

Hi,the TLS80 are mk1,really are some of the best speakers ive owned

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi.I have prof. MkIII improved (10hz. and up),who is the big brother of the Tls 80,myself prefer the Mk I serie to the Mk II,old school,for classical music hard to beat, but you know I didn't go with the usual electrolytic caps when I recap,instead with film caps and I never regret even if the price is much higher,give me greater pleasure,my Prof. sound more open and acurate,but opinion differ on the subject. With the Tls 80 you should isolate the Mid tube with 1/2" active carbon like I did, you will find it give you improvment in the mid detail and have put some pictures couple months ago,here some of them:

 

[redkiteart]

Alcap 50V Low Loss or Alcap 100V capacitors TLS 50 and TLS 80 both MK1

Hello All,

Commencing a first post from the UK.

I have acquired a pair of TLS 50 and TLS 80 for a quadraphonic project. Having checked both pairs with sound tests within my limited 25-15k hearing (above 15k the Jack Russell was required and verified nicely) all appears good. But music testing Joni Mitchell, John Martyn sound is a little muddled, so a recap required to correct. I am enthusiastic enough to tackle the project but am a complete novice, any advice would be appreciated.

What if any difference would be noticeable sound wise when comparing Alcap 50V Low Loss or Alcap 100V capacitors, why the difference in voltage, what is the purpose?

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi.big welcome usually not many members have the older IMF Mk I serie, happy I will feel less alone. Any voltage no difference, but dimension can be bigger with higher voltage cap,usually not the case with electrolytics but film caps is a big difference in size depending of voltage.The best place to get the original cap for you is Falcon acoustics, original IMF cap are + or -10% tolerance ,but new cap are 5% or even better 2% if you like.

 

[redkiteart]

Yvan

Thank you. I have ordered Capset-Alcap 100V P/E 2% for both sets. I have taken note of procedures very well laid out in this thread. Will post some photos as the work is undertaken.

 

[redkiteart]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-S...212266?hash=item3d0dd7336a:g:bt0AAOSwX~dWiqQ2
Classic Speakers IMF Domestic Monitors, TLS80

Starting bids at £100 no reserve, appear quite nice

 

[Yvan_donald]

Hi,I just read the seller commentary on the IMF, his Domestic Monitors use the Tweeter's and Super Tweeter's of the smaller TLS 50,the domestics was replace by the TLS 80,and use the Celestion HF 1300 and HF 2000.At the time they bought the domestic, smaller size, so the bass is more predominante compare to the Prof. model. More suit for rock musics, that is why the midranges tube have to be more isolate.They should sell fo $500.00 Nice speaker look very clean,I'm sure they sound great.

 

[canuckaudiog]

Hi,I just read the seller commentary on the IMF, his Domestic Monitors use the Tweeter's and Super Tweeter's of the smaller TLS 50,the domestics was replace by the TLS 80,and use the Celestion HF 1300 and HF 2000.At the time they bought the domestic, smaller size, so the bass is more predominante compare to the Prof. model. More suit for rock musics, that is why the midranges tube have to be more isolate.They should sell fo $500.00 Nice speaker look very clean,I'm sure they sound great.

Wow those are very rare! I've never seen one of those before. Knew of them, but never seen. Cool!

Also, although this happened a while ago, I decided to part ways with my RSPM Mk IVs. For a few reasons, but the main reason being that it was time to move them on. They were being used for TV duty quite a bit after my RWOFostex LS/3s (in my avatar) got up and running - they're a far better speaker (the Fostex), not to say the IMFs aren't good but it was just time to send them off to another owner.

Hopefully, I will get my hands on a set of TLS 50s again. The small footprint and lovely IMF sound are a delight in that model.

 

[c-atle-79bay]

Those domestic monitors remind me of The Studio.