IMF owners thread!
- Thread starter canuckaudiog
- Start date
It's the same for me. The speakers got even better after changing most of the capasitors in the x-over. Used Alu in oil capasitors, and changed all the resistors to Kiwami-brand. Speakers were more dynamic, soundstage much deeper, more air, and the bass seemed to go deeper. I'm very pleesed with the result
Best regards
Best regards
c-atle-79bay
Super Member
I made a comment about the super compacts awhile ago, here is what I have, would someone kindly confirm the version for me.
ive been swapping out lots of speakers lately, Sony ssm7, Chapman T6 and these at the moment, and I gotta say they really get mid range and details right and bass is good too. As I a/b it’s seems like these just have so much sound between the speakers so to speak, it’s full lush and detailed. There is a reason I can’t get rid of them. I still kick myself for letting go of the studio but these have that same signature and also work great for movies with pinpoint placement.
I guess the SC next to model is a pretty good indicator as too the model.
ive been swapping out lots of speakers lately, Sony ssm7, Chapman T6 and these at the moment, and I gotta say they really get mid range and details right and bass is good too. As I a/b it’s seems like these just have so much sound between the speakers so to speak, it’s full lush and detailed. There is a reason I can’t get rid of them. I still kick myself for letting go of the studio but these have that same signature and also work great for movies with pinpoint placement.
I guess the SC next to model is a pretty good indicator as too the model.
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@c-atle-79bay
The surrounds on mine are different and I’m sure they are original. The grills are held on with pins and the front panel is the same teak as the rest.
Serial number S93102 on the back with the designation Super Compact ll.
The paperwork with them dates them after 1980.
Interesting tidbit from the set-up instructions FYI
“These loudspeakers are supplied in matched ‘mirror image’ pairs. To obtain the pre-determined dispersion characteristics they should be positioned so that the badges on the grill fronts are both inwards, away from the walls”
The photo of mine is the left speaker. Also the id tag is marked S93202L
Happy listening!
The surrounds on mine are different and I’m sure they are original. The grills are held on with pins and the front panel is the same teak as the rest.
Serial number S93102 on the back with the designation Super Compact ll.
The paperwork with them dates them after 1980.
Interesting tidbit from the set-up instructions FYI
“These loudspeakers are supplied in matched ‘mirror image’ pairs. To obtain the pre-determined dispersion characteristics they should be positioned so that the badges on the grill fronts are both inwards, away from the walls”
The photo of mine is the left speaker. Also the id tag is marked S93202L
Happy listening!
c-atle-79bay
Super Member
I’ve never bother with specific version but I think I’d like to recap these as it seems to freshen them up per a lot of posts here. There is a high likely chance I’ll move to Germany and these are the most likely pair to follow me. Full size speakers that dig to 26hz are just not apartment friendly.
I recapped my 2 way version of the Super Compacts, they sound very nice.
But I need to replace the foam at the bottom opening.
Currently its black .
Any one have any suggestions for what type of foam to use?
Its the yellow foam in the picture of the three way SC's posted above , just added pic below.
But I need to replace the foam at the bottom opening.
Currently its black .
Any one have any suggestions for what type of foam to use?
Its the yellow foam in the picture of the three way SC's posted above , just added pic below.
I recapped my 2 way version of the Super Compacts, they sound very nice.
But I need to replace the foam at the bottom opening.
Currently its black .
Any one have any suggestions for what type of foam to use?
Its the yellow foam in the picture of the three way SC's posted above , just added pic below.
The foam in mine is small cell and very dense. Also, considering its’ age is very fragile.
Here is a photo of how the foam is laid out.
IMF_Pioneer
Super Member
What you have is the original first issue of the SC which uses different drivers to the Mk II variant that has totally revised drivers and Crossover network.
Have to admit that the Mk II variant is such a cleaner looking package as a whole opposed to the black baffle board and doped midrange, but with the cloth grille attached you don't see the difference do you ? On the outside there no real changes apart from the slight change in timber species used
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c-atle-79bay
Super Member
Thanks that really does clear things up for me. I’ll make sure to mention that if I order parts for a rebuild
mccarty350
Super Member
These things are getting rarer and rarer, I haven't seen any on any online marketplace in an age. Now that I've moved into nearfield listening I've started to keep half an eye out for a pair.
Hi all,
I am relatively new to Audiokarma and chose this thread to ask about how to start a new discussion topic. Can anyone help point me in the right direction of the tab or button to do that?
I do in fact have some IMF speakers: TLS 80 Mk2s. They are rather special as they were built for a hifi reviewer, Gordon King, who died back in 2010. His widow gave/sold them back to the original IMF agent in Devon, whose own widow subsequently sold them to a friend. He in turn recently moved to a smaller house and had to offload a mass of old hifi stuff and I picked these up together with a Luxman set comprising the M-4000 and C-1000, as well as some LRS units. I believe that the Luxman amps were quietly designed around the specs of the TLS 80 and that they were often demo'd at shows with the IMFs.
Anyway - I am really delighted with the sound. I am using the 80s with a Revox B250S and 226S at the moment as the Lux needs to be re-capped. I have just bought a Marantz UD7007, and Bluray/SACD discs sound simply amazing. I have friends who rather mock the concept of vintage hifi but who are stopped in their tracks when they hear that set-up.
I am relatively new to Audiokarma and chose this thread to ask about how to start a new discussion topic. Can anyone help point me in the right direction of the tab or button to do that?
I do in fact have some IMF speakers: TLS 80 Mk2s. They are rather special as they were built for a hifi reviewer, Gordon King, who died back in 2010. His widow gave/sold them back to the original IMF agent in Devon, whose own widow subsequently sold them to a friend. He in turn recently moved to a smaller house and had to offload a mass of old hifi stuff and I picked these up together with a Luxman set comprising the M-4000 and C-1000, as well as some LRS units. I believe that the Luxman amps were quietly designed around the specs of the TLS 80 and that they were often demo'd at shows with the IMFs.
Anyway - I am really delighted with the sound. I am using the 80s with a Revox B250S and 226S at the moment as the Lux needs to be re-capped. I have just bought a Marantz UD7007, and Bluray/SACD discs sound simply amazing. I have friends who rather mock the concept of vintage hifi but who are stopped in their tracks when they hear that set-up.
IMF_Pioneer
Super Member
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that speakers haven't really changed all that much in 40 or so years, some sound really bad while others sound really and I mean really good. IMF's fall into the category of really really GOOD and with 40 years passing by and all the technology in the world moving forward it's nice to see that most of the IMF's made can still keep up if not even better what's being produced today.
mccarty350
Super Member
I've owned a lot of speakers, modern, vintage, DIY, and at the end of the road what I own now is what I just can't bring myself to get rid of and my IMF's are one of those last remaining survivors. They are stellar regardless of age of manufacture, old or modern. I still consider them to be some of the best I've ever heard or owned.
IMF_Pioneer
Super Member
The MCR2A's were IMF's attempt to try out the LS3/5a market, which was basically a failure and thus not many of these were made, also these were introduced right at the tail end of IMF's lifespan.
IMF were always best at their bigger speaker variants but towards their end the fashion of smaller speakers became the norm and big speakers were no longer in favour, especially with the women of the house. In saying the above IMF were well known for their "Super Compact" variants but will always be more fondly remembered for their Transmission Line format speakers which they built their reputation on.
One major point, I very much loved the styling of the last couple of years of IMF speaker building and finishing. Their styling and timber choice just looked cleaner and better than any of their competitors.
Regardless, those Micro's of yours Tor are a really nice example. Basically what you have in those photos is their largest and smallest variants both in the one shot.
IMF were always best at their bigger speaker variants but towards their end the fashion of smaller speakers became the norm and big speakers were no longer in favour, especially with the women of the house. In saying the above IMF were well known for their "Super Compact" variants but will always be more fondly remembered for their Transmission Line format speakers which they built their reputation on.
One major point, I very much loved the styling of the last couple of years of IMF speaker building and finishing. Their styling and timber choice just looked cleaner and better than any of their competitors.
Regardless, those Micro's of yours Tor are a really nice example. Basically what you have in those photos is their largest and smallest variants both in the one shot.
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Tor-S
Member
I do agree with you. The LS3/5A is playing nicer than the MCR2A. But maybe with premium components in crossover they will play more how i like it.
The LS3/5A is a bit too laid back, but amazingly good on woman voices.
I do also like the latest versions of IMF speakers, they look really good. And as you say, the big speakers sounds remarkable good!
But, the oldest pro monitors with racetrack bass looks good as well.
Here are my MCR2A together with Audiomaster LS3/5a 15ohm:
The LS3/5A is a bit too laid back, but amazingly good on woman voices.
I do also like the latest versions of IMF speakers, they look really good. And as you say, the big speakers sounds remarkable good!
But, the oldest pro monitors with racetrack bass looks good as well.
Here are my MCR2A together with Audiomaster LS3/5a 15ohm:
I run a pair of 80 Mk 2s as mentioned in an earlier post. These were specially made for the leading Hifi reviewer, technical boffin and critic of the time - so they are a particularly interesting and good pair pair of speakers, and in excellent condition.
My reason for this post is to ask whether they are well matched to the Kenwood Trio L-07 mono-bloc power amp as I have just picked up a pair of those. Am currently running them via a Luxman 5C50 Laboratory Reference Series control-amp and the sound seems quite lovely. However, some experienced listener might well recommend a different set of vintage speakers, or another power-amp set-up that does markedly better. I use the word "markedly" as I recognize that so much of this game is subjective and mainly about what an individual likes. That said, it might be that there are compelling reasons to go for a different combination based upon sound technical data, of which I am totally unaware.
Any ideas or suggestions?
My reason for this post is to ask whether they are well matched to the Kenwood Trio L-07 mono-bloc power amp as I have just picked up a pair of those. Am currently running them via a Luxman 5C50 Laboratory Reference Series control-amp and the sound seems quite lovely. However, some experienced listener might well recommend a different set of vintage speakers, or another power-amp set-up that does markedly better. I use the word "markedly" as I recognize that so much of this game is subjective and mainly about what an individual likes. That said, it might be that there are compelling reasons to go for a different combination based upon sound technical data, of which I am totally unaware.
Any ideas or suggestions?
IMF_Pioneer
Super Member
My suggestion is to let your own ears decide, no one can make these sort of decisions for you. What might sound wonderful to one person sounds awful to another. That's why we have so many different manufacturers that all do different things. There is no right or wrong in HiFi. It's all personal taste.
I bet you don't like the band Slade do you ?................my point exactly.
I bet you don't like the band Slade do you ?................my point exactly.