Upgrade/repair for Genesis 500, Genesis 501 and Genesis APM-1

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
The Genesis 500 and the APM-1 were among the most popular models from the old company, Genesis Technologies. As these venerable loudspeakers approach 15 years old, their "hearts" are no longer young and some have been beginning to fail. Some owners have been successful keeping their amps going with judicious re-capping of the power supply, but even then the parts are aging.

We have been trying to repair the servo-bass amplifier from these models (and the 12-year old Genesis 501) for the past few years, but parts are harder and harder to find. As with old vintage cars, sometimes you fix one part, and that puts stress on another part, and another part fails. Moreover, some of the parts of these ancient Class D amplifiers have been obsolete for nearly 10 years now. Our stock of one particular controller IC is exhausted, and now impossible to find.

In an effort to keep our customers supported, we have adapted the Servo-Controlled Amplifier from the current model Genesis 5.3 (incorporating all the latest upgrades) to work with these older loudspeakers. This is available as a drop-in plug-in upgrade. The entire plate amplifier is replaced, and a new 912VA toroidal transformer replaces the old 375VA E-I core one.

The only thing we have not been able to do is to keep this at 1998 prices......


G501 Plate Small.jpg
 
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bobmorr

New Member
Jan 6, 2014
1
0
0
Gary - as you know I had a hard time convincing myself to go with the upgrade of the amps in my 12 year old 501's due to the cost of the new amps. We were unable to repair my old amps due to a chip that failed that was no longer available. As much as I loved my speakers the price seemed too steep. However, I did some research and taking into account the mint condition of my 501's I could not find a replacement pair of speakers out there that I knew would give me as incredible of a sound as I had enjoyed over the past 12 years with my Genesis 501's. We went ahead with the order for the new amps. I received the new amplifiers and after panicking a little when I could not find an existing mounting area for the new (quite big and heavy) transformer I drilled a quick hole after talking to your wonderful wife Carol who answered the support line, mounted the transformer on the back wall of the woofer chamber, cabled the new amp, and fired them up. WOW! I am sure I am going to sound full of clichés but I thought I was hearing a brand new speaker. While I still had the great treble and mid-range I was used to the bottom end of the new speakers was a revelation. While no slouch in the past, the speed and control of the woofers with the new amps made them sound even bigger and more powerful than before. I know that the new amps are indeed more powerful - you can tell you are in for something special when you pull the small transformer out and replace it with the new three times as big and heavy replacement transformer from the kit - but in no way was I expecting to hear what I was now hearing. My 501's are in a 900 sq/ft listening room and at times in the past I thought they may be too small for the space but not anymore. I have been going through my music with reckless abandon for the past couple of weeks while the new amps have been settling in and they had indeed slowly been getting even better but I think they are run in and broken now. I love my 'new' speakers. I am hearing things from some of my most favorite albums I had not heard before and I get a wonderful thump in my chest when the music goes down really lowwwww. If anyone out there is having trouble like I did making this decision I HIGHLY and without any reservation recommend they bring their 501's back to life. Spending the money for the new amps was a hard pill to swallow when I thought I was just going to get my old speakers back but that's not what happened. I got a new and much better pair of speakers from the upgrade and that was not expected. Thanks so much for going through the process of designing and testing new amps to keep your old customers up and running. You guys are the absolute best and you will always have me as a customer! Bob
 

sc53

Well-Known Member
Jan 14, 2014
17
14
298
Hi Koh's and other posters, I have had my Genesis 500's for 15 years. The salon I bought them from new went out of business a while ago (and they kind of sucked anyway). I contacted your company last night via your "support" email address for info on how to repair one of my speakers--the right speaker, down at the back where the amp is, just developed a loud hummmmmm. I already received a reply from your customer service, containing helpful info as well as a link to this thread. How would I go about buying these new amp options, for both speakers since I wouldn't want to upgrade just one! I am female (and 60--but STRONG like BULL :)) -- could I actually do this upgrade myself? Your customer service said they will try to find a local technician for me, so maybe I will have assistance, but is this really a "drop-in" replacement? Let me know how to purchase the new amps. They should give my speakers another 15 yrs at least, and by then I'll be 75 so hopefully I'll be downsizing by then!
--sarah in northern Virginia (DC metro area)
 

pgbcincy

New Member
Apr 5, 2014
1
0
0
Hi Gary/Carol,

Can you supply the specifications of the new plate amp and price? What is the warrantee with new amp?

I’ve owned my APM-1’s since 1998 and have used an alternative rack subwoofer amplifiers to power my 15” drivers after my amps went bad in 2001 and couldn’t get them serviced under warrantee.

Thanks for your time,
Paul
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Hi Paul,

The new plate amp will work with the APM-1's. However, as your APM-1's have a single 4-ohm driver and not three 8 ohm drivers in parallel, it will develop a little less power. Nevertheless, 400W into a 15-inch woofer is plenty. However, I would recommend that you replace the 15" drivers as the surrounds and spider would have deteriorated in the 12 years since they were last used.

We warranty the new amplifier and driver combination for 1 year. Please contact us at customer@genesisloudspeakers.com for price and shipping estimate. The transformer is extremely heavy, and could cost a bit to ship.
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Just a little note - the replacement amp for the G500/G501/G5.2 is not the same as the replacement amp for the APM-1. As the drivers are different, the crossover points and slopes are different. This question came up with our customer service team a number of times.
 

djcwardog

New Member
Aug 11, 2014
1
0
0
Central KY
Hi Sarah,

I've sent you an email, but oh yes. You can do the upgrade yourself. The transformers are a little on the heavy side, but if Strong like Bull - then no problem!

This is David "The Brother" and I am Strong Bull! I now have Sarah's Genesis 500 speakers having loaded and trucked them over the mountains from VA to KY last May. I snapped a few photos of the unloading job. I backed the pickup through the lower yard and right up to the concrete steps leading to their present location in the house, my office/den. Seriously, 'twas a mere seven or eight feet from truck bed to the floor inside for unpacking!

I want to restore or enhance full function of these classic speakers. Sarah took great care of them and they deserve many more years of enjoyment. Years ago, I got Sarah's Spendor BC3 speakers. They performed to a new and higher level for me when I got that ARC tube amp. Wow! A missing bottom octave of bass magically appeared. I can't wait to hear the 500's in their full glory. How to accomplish this as I begin a new phase in my career and life?
 

KASSEL

New Member
Feb 4, 2015
1
0
0
Hi audiophile community and Genesis Lovers,

over the past 10 years, my beloved 501er bass amps failed several times. I spend much time and money in getting the amps fixed by Genesis. I ordered a repacement in 2004, which workes fine since now.
Instead of going in the upgrade, I am looking for someone who could sell a used amp to me or have an replacement to spare.

Thanks in advance,
Andy, Germany
 

systemroot

New Member
Sep 29, 2018
4
0
1
Hi there,is here someone who has the service manual for the Genesis APM-1 speaker?
I have a wonderfull pair of APM1 but one speaker makes scratching noise when turning up the BIAS, with low noise its ok.
I already changed th caps.

Any idea from the specialists here? ;-)

THANKS

Best Regards from Germany
 

basura

New Member
Sep 29, 2019
5
0
1
40
I am new member. Hello for everyone. I would be very gratefull for help with Genesis 501.
I want to buy Genesis 501 loudspeakers ( used, upgraded in very good condition ) but I have a question:
at the the under bottom stand every loudspeaker there are holes ( 10 holes ) is it normal? Please look at the picture.
Kind Regards for everyone.
 

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systemroot

New Member
Sep 29, 2018
4
0
1
Hi Gary,

what is the number or name of the IC you talked about in the first chapter?
I have the APM-1.
Thx.
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
5,599
225
1,190
Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
I am new member. Hello for everyone. I would be very gratefull for help with Genesis 501.
I want to buy Genesis 501 loudspeakers ( used, upgraded in very good condition ) but I have a question:
at the the under bottom stand every loudspeaker there are holes ( 10 holes ) is it normal? Please look at the picture.
Kind Regards for everyone.

I have never seen anything like that before. Do the holes go through to the woofer chamber? How were these speakers upgraded? If you would like to have a chat about these, you can give us a call in the office - 9am to 5pm Pacific time.
 

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