Velodyne DD15 - worth repairing the plate amp?

@emailists  Are you saying there is new firmware for the DDplus series?  Can you elaborate?

I don't know. My DD Plus are 2.2.3. You might try an email to Velodyne Acoustics GmbH.

I fixed a remote control by removing the batteries, carefully opening the case and cleaning the wire board with alcohol and compressed air.

Thanks, I need to read the manual (already downlaoded a while ago).

I believe the DD manual discusses sub positioning on an earlier page. This "TIP" on page 23 is incredibly important. It provides for the optimum sub to room interface which results in the least amount of amplifier power, guided by the software is used to Optimize and correct an improperly located sub. 

(Page 23 DD User Manual)   TIP: Here’s an easy way to find the optimal position for the subwoofer without moving it to multiple positions in the room. Start by setting the subwoofer up in your listening position. now, move the microphone around the room and observe the response graphs for different room positions. The best position has the fewest valleys and the overall smoothest response.

Since the DD manuals publication rather than using the microphone along with the Sweep Tones the later DD Plus manual suggests using the Subwoofer Crawl (walk) method during the Sweep Tones and listening for and mapping the rooms standing wave bass modes for the optimum sub positions. There are various Youtubes demonstrating the Crawl. Good luck with it. 

@jomolu Something simple to try would be to rotate the driver 180 degrees, mindful of over tightening the fasteners. Even with no improvement it can hurt.

If you used your Velodyne DD Auto EQ or manually adjusted any of its parameters than no, I don't believe there's a modern equivalent of that level of processing except for the completely redesigned 2011 DD Plus now from Velodyne Acoustics GmbH (Audio Reference) at nearly double their 2011 introductory prices. 

Playing the Sweep Tone CD through the sub and the speakers simultaneously as the DD digitally adjusts nine subwoofer based parameters within the eight discrete frequency bands. The results closely match the speakers analog low frequency output and the rooms monitored individual characteristics is quite unique. 

Velodyne California finally adopted the 'Subwoofer Crawl' with the Plus to locate the sub room position prior to running its setup features.

@oddiofyl   Every Velodyne sub of that Era will fail.   I sent my Dad's plate Amp on his HGS 10 to EBC in NJ about 5 years ago and it's been great since.   

If this were the case I would expect far more original owner failure conformation. I replaced an M&K Volkswoofer with a Velodyne ULD-18 in 1983 followed by their F-1800 in 1995, HGS in 1998, DD in 2003 and two DD-12 Plus in 2011 still in service. My only service issue, Velodyne replaced $32 infrared receiver in my second owner out of warrantee Plus, minus the labor and threw in a new remote control for free.

@gotolondon2 ...if you are using the DSP on the Velo, you should stop. I could only get that sub to sound right the old fashioned manual way.

What did your dealer say about remedying this issue?

@kraftwerkturbo  FYI, REL are -6dB Sub-Bass Systems. They're extra low frequency output is rolled off to a point so as not to excite a rooms standing wave bass modes. 

DSP implementation varies greatly. 

@gotolondon2 What did your dealer say about remedying this issue?

I did resell all my Velodyne subwoofers with the introduction of each new model which would explain, as you say, ’just because.’ On the other hand my current Plus 12’s and the 10 Plus are over 22 years old.

I believe JL Audio has honored its warranty commitments and is said to have improved its failure rate.

@jon_5912 Velodyne selling 10 inch, sealed subs that play flat to 20 hz is inherently problematic.

The Velodyne DD-10 Plus in my home studio has had its presets set between +1 - +5dB between 38Hz - 15Hz for the past 22 years. The majority of my recording of Bass and Drum tracks using uncompressed assorted plugins and instrumental octave effects constantly being played back at monitoring levels, I must have become a fan boy.

Which model Velodyne failed on you? Was it beyond its warrantee?

CORRECTION: My Velodyne Plus subwoofers have been in my service for 12 years, not 22. Velodyne CA. Digital Drive Optimization technology may be over 20 years old beginning with the SMS-1. My apologies.

["On the other hand my current Plus 12’s and the 10 Plus are over 22 years old."  "set between +1 - +5dB between 38Hz - 15Hz for the past 22 years."] 

@rwwear     [Velodyne Acoustics GmbH | Alsterkrugchaussee 435 | 22335 Hamburg | GERMANY Tel.: 0049 - (0)40 - 238 307 880 | Fax: 0049 - (0)40 - 533 204 59.}

Terrific first hand information.  Your's is the first I've heard from anyone who has dealt with Velodyne GmbH directly. Interesting to have idea about shipping cost. Thanks for posting.

Did the plate they provided appear to be new old stock or repaired? 

Since my two DD-12 Plus are working fine I haven't visited Velodyne Acoustics GmbH in a while.

Early on they had links to internationally located service providers who seemed to have changed over time. It appears they're now using the RMA form method to begin service concerns.

@rwwear  You have to make sure the amp is for your model because they have to be programmed for different DD subs. The DD-15 and DD-18 use the same amp but different programming. And they all look alike. 

The fellow who helped me during my visit to Morgan Hill mentioned something about different model programing within the same series. 

To my knowledge DD Plus is the only processing were its Sweep Tones are played through both the main speakers and the sub/s as Auto EQ develops the subwoofers digital parameters to support the main speakers analog timbre and low frequency output all within the room. Afterwords the user can make further presets adjustments to taste.  

@rwwear No the DD series has automatic room and main speaker EQ if you run the output into your preamp. But I never use the electronic xover in the sub for the main speakers. I want my mains to run full range without any other electronics to distort the signal.

You weren't alone and may have been the impetus for the now twelve year old Velodyne Plus software redesign. The Plus Auto EQ now produces an improved and stunningly unnoticeable integration during the approximately twenty minute optimization cycle without any adjustment of the main speakers. 

@keppertup2  Thanks for that contact information and your experience with them.

https://www.outlawaudio.com/products/SMS_manual.pd

This is the Hall brothers first release of subwoofer Equalizing I believe based on the Texas instruments platform using Velodyne custom designed parameters. Shortly after the SMS release the Digital Drive was rumored with an advanced servo circuit, driver and cabinet. The component SMS may have been geared toward supporting the companies legacy products and third party subwoofers?

Despite its age the SMS can provide more detailed capabilities than a number of current low frequency processing designs.

https://velodyneacoustics.com/pdf/digitaldrive/DDManual.pdf