SDA 2.3 x over upgrade

[bikerboy]

With Soniccrafts sale on till the end of the month, I will upgrade the caps ect on my 2.3s. They have the doughnut drivers. I am going to pull the x over tonight. I have searched the forum and get 0 results. I know I saw a 2.3 post with pics and everything. I have the schematic from Raife's book. I think I will install only one set of binding posts as I cant see ever using a bi-amp set up. What do you think about that? Good idea or not?

[F1nut]

You still need to run jumper wires from the bottom to top posts, so do all of the posts and upgrade the jumper wire while you're at it. Yeah, it makes a big difference.

[Toolfan66]

What Jesse said...

You have them out just do it, you will be glad you did.... +++1000 on the jumpers, I just got some Cardas Jumpers from Sonicraft...

You might as well put some rings in for your drivers and passives as well;)

[Vette C6.r]

Did you change the tweeters too ????

[bikerboy]

Tweeters already swapped by Bsoko2 (Bill) to the RDO-194

[Vette C6.r]

Tweeters already swapped by Bsoko2 (Bill) to the RDO-194

Good man.

[bikerboy]

Heres pics of the board. On the first pic, is the yellow/orange thing left of the words input the thermal breaker? Should I jumper it or use a 0.5 ohm resistor? I had to remove the top left cap to see the value of the resistor under it. It is a 6.2 ohm 5w. So the parts match the schematic in Raife's compendium SRS 2.3. Am I right that the depressed ring is negative on the elec. caps?

So the list for each speaker would be:
4.4 uf 100v
5.8 uf 50v
12 uf 50v x 2
20 uf 50v
40 uf 50v
6.2 ohm 5w
22.5 ohm 5w
33 ohm 5w x 2

So for the 40 I will use a 30 and a 10.

The purple things in the third pic that the white arrows point to are the mica bi-pass caps? I wont use any and remove these.

I think I will wire it so there will be only one set of posts (Cardas solid copper) instead of the biwire setup it comes with stock. Bad idea?
Any tips or questions before I put it back together?

[george daniel]

Yep--polyswitch(mustard colored),,I use a Mills .5 ohm 12 watt resistor in its' place,,for the 40,I uses 2 twentys,,can't remember why but thats what I did with my 2.3.s,, good luck--you are really gonna' be surprised what the new caps will do.

Yes on the silver micas,, just remove em.

[schwarcw]

Greetings!

To check out my experience with this upgrade look Here

Use the search engine, I think George Daniels and others have done this same upgrade.

Use 2 - 20 uF caps instead of a 30 and a 10.

Good luck!

[bsoko2]

Heres pics of the board. On the first pic, is the yellow/orange thing left of the words input the thermal breaker? Should I jumper it or use a 0.5 ohm resistor? I had to remove the top left cap to see the value of the resistor under it. It is a 6.2 ohm 5w. So the parts match the schematic in Raife's compendium SRS 2.3. Am I right that the depressed ring is negative on the elec. caps?

So the list for each speaker would be:
4.4 uf 100v
5.8 uf 50v
12 uf 50v x 2
20 uf 50v
40 uf 50v
6.2 ohm 5w
22.5 ohm 5w
33 ohm 5w x 2

So for the 40 I will use a 30 and a 10.

The purple things in the third pic that the white arrows point to are the mica bi-pass caps? I wont use any and remove these.

I think I will wire it so there will be only one set of posts (Cardas solid copper) instead of the biwire setup it comes with stock. Bad idea?
Any tips or questions before I put it back together?

I'm doing my 2.3's next week. Took advantage of the Sonic Craft sale last month, so bring yours down and we can do them together.

Bill

[george daniel]

Carl is da' man,,he helped me with mine.

[F1nut]

Am I right that the depressed ring is negative on the elec. caps?

Crossover caps are non-polar.....no positive or negative.

I think I will wire it so there will be only one set of posts (Cardas solid copper) instead of the biwire setup it comes with stock. Bad idea?

Replace both sets and upgrade the jumper cables.

Copper oxidizes, get the gold plated version.

[bikerboy]

Thanks Guys,
I used the search many times and got nothing. Thanks Carl for the link. It does look like one of the easier jobs with the plug in wire harnesses. The higher value blue caps look to be electrolitic. But the replacement soniccraft caps wont be so polarity wont matter? I am going to put it back together and order the stuff tomorrow. I will pm you Bill. Got to go pedal my ass around town. Training for the Gran Fondo in Vancouver in september. Thanks, Jeff

[george daniel]

The sonicaps are not polar--so no orientation is necessary on your crossover.

[mewisemagic]

post an after picture when are done

[bikerboy]

I replaced the posts with a pair I was going to use on the sda-II. I cut the extra wires that went to the top set of posts and jumpered them at the board. I removed the white ground wire that went to the spade connector on the IC connector. I didnt have a ground wire on the IC anyway. Now only one pair of posts. Used a machine screw to plug the holes. All back together for now. I will order the stuff tomorrow.

[bikerboy]

Ordered Larry's retaining rings. I removed the right x-over to do the wiring mods and remove the poly switch. When I tried to tighten the screws all but one of the screws stripped out. Larry is a lifesaver! Ordered fatmat to dampen the baskets and to use on the doors of the WRX. They rattle a lot when playing loud bass. Ordering caps and resistors next. Already have mortite. A long weekend of work ahead once all this stuff shows up.

[Face]

Ordering caps and resistors next.

FYI, Sonic Craft's sale ends soon.

[bikerboy]

Ordered caps and resistors for the 2.3s from Soniccraft and other things to finish the ldr preamp. I ordered 5 watt mills for all except for the poly cap replacements I got 12 watt. I think I have it all covered. Now waiting. Thanks guys for all the pointers. It made it a lot easier to know what to order right the first time.

[cincycat13]

Thanks for documenting your upgrade bikerboy and thanks for looking up the link Carl. Please add what you can when you do it. I look forward to doing this upgrade myself when I can figure out the parts list.

My searches when I was going to to the 2BTL had plenty of info, but my 2.3 xo searches had yielded much less (I had not found schwarcw's).

[F1nut]

I replaced the posts with a pair I was going to use on the sda-II. I cut the extra wires that went to the top set of posts and jumpered them at the board. I removed the white ground wire that went to the spade connector on the IC connector. I didnt have a ground wire on the IC anyway. Now only one pair of posts. Used a machine screw to plug the holes. All back together for now. I will order the stuff tomorrow.

That was a terrible idea. You just ruined any chance of being able to use the AI-1, bi-wiring or bi-amping down the road without fixing what you just did.

All of that glue you removed needs to be replaced to prevent air leaks.

[bikerboy]

I didnt think about the A-I when I decided to cut the wiring up. The bi part doesnt bother me and probably most would agree. I dont expect to sell these ever so I'm not too worried. After all the work and money that will go into these I will love them. If I want to return them to stock it will be only one extra solder joint. I documented the mod well so I "should" be able to undo it if needed. Who likes big ugly speakers anyway? What kind of freak would like speakers built in 1988? :D

[audio_alan]

.... Who likes big ugly speakers anyway? What kind of freak would like speakers built in 1988? :D

<--- This freak! I'm loving my new pair of 2.3's so far. As for big and ugly, that's part of why I like them. No whimpy Bose satellite speakers for this guy!

I might even be up to the challenge of modding them soon. Perhaps Larry (who doesn't live too far from me) can help twist my arm. :D

Alan

[cincycat13]

Well, you inspired me to give it a try. I called this afternoon (got voice mail), so I e-mailed a list of parts with my contact info except CC. Now to figure out which speakers to sell...

[schwarcw]

Well, you inspired me to give it a try. I called this afternoon (got voice mail), so I e-mailed a list of parts with my contact info except CC. Now to figure out which speakers to sell...

Way to go Jeff! You will be glad you made the jump.

Have you replaced those tweeters yet?

Regards,

[bikerboy]

The tolerance on the parts is + or - 10% so you have some room for error. Soniccraft was able to make "custom" 5.8 value cap. I think they made them for us polk freaks.
4.3 uf 100v x 2 Gen 1
5.8 uf 50v x 2 "
12 uf 50v x 4 "
20 uf 50v x 6 "
0.1 uf 200v x 6 Gen2 for the tweeters
6.2 ohm 5w x 2
22 ohm 5w x 2
33 ohm 5w x 2
0.5 ohm 12w x 2
Too many Jeffs around. I go by schnack at work. Here are 4 jeffs there. Glad I not the only freak around! I cant wait to get this thing done. The man cave will never be the same! Acoustic panels next. No more hardware changes till they are done.
The ugly and freak references are in honor of FZ.

[F1nut]

0.1 uf 200v x 6 Gen2 for the tweeters

You do not want to use those. They are not needed when upgrading the crossover to superior film/foil caps and they will make your high end sound very odd.

33 ohm 5w x 2

There should be 4 total.

22 ohm 5w x 2

Should have used a 10 and 11.5 to get 22.5 as that .5 ohm makes a huge difference.

[cincycat13]

Should have used a 10 and 11.5 to get 22.5 as that .5 ohm makes a huge difference.

I think you mean 10 and 12.5 to get 22.5

Thanks for the heads up F1!

[F1nut]

I think you mean 10 and 12.5 to get 22.5

Thanks for the heads up F1!

Yep, that's what I meant. Thanks for the correction. :)

[bikerboy]

Thanks Jesse,
I dont know why I missed the 22.5 ohm. I was following Carls list and didnt use the schematic when I got the order together. Soniccraft only has 12w in the 12.5 ohm. I have read people used 5w or 12w in the tweeter circuit. Isnt the 5w a better choice here? Quieter and less inductance? So 2 x 10 ohm 5w and 2 x 12.5 12w. Or 2 x 15 ohm 5w and 2 x 7.5 ohm 5w. I guess I can wait till they get here and measure them and see how close they are to 22.5 ohm. On the 33 ohm I have ordered 4 of them but didnt post it correctly. The 0.1 bypass caps that I ordered wont be used.