If you have the original version of Klipsch's ProMedia 2.1 (1999-2012), you may know that none of the newer versions since 2012 has been able to match the performance of the original, including the subwoofer channel. (Side by side, the last ProMedia 2.1 THX sounded hollow and lacked depth/punch). I have original ProMedia 2.1 plate amplifiers in my store with the same upgrades as in this listing, but this kit is available for either A) those with good soldering skill to do the work themselves, or B) owners who wish to have me or another person repair/upgrade their amplifier panel, rather than buy an identical, upgraded panel and send their old plate amplifier (panel) back for a core refund. This kit focuses on improving the Low Frequency (LF) board's durability, but also addresses weaknesses in the power supply board and both satellite channel boards. I first created a cooling kit for the 2.1's big brother, the ProMedia 5.1 in October 2005. In 2020 a generous electrical engineer helped me develop a new, improved LF board for this first generation ProMedia 2.1. Four tiers of options for this 2.1 kit are available, including the recommended option to add a Noctua cooling fan. The new LF circuit board isFR4 (woven glass with flame retardant epoxy resin),and key components are premium: manufacturers include Panasonic, WIMA, and Noctua.Every level of this kit for the first generation ProMedia 2.1 starts with and includes a new, improved low-frequency (LF, subwoofer) circuit board with 57 new components. Each board is tested after assembly. The new circuit board has 4 improvements:A) Better quality/low-ESR capacitors from companies in Japan (Panasonic & Nichicon), U.S. and Germany (WIMA).B) Revised circuit produces less heat for lower temperatures.C) Heat-producing power resistors are relocated to the back of the board, away from capacitors. The original design had resistors sometimes touching the capacitors, drying them out.D) A pair of 1000 uF capacitors are higher voltage and ten times larger than Klipsch's undersized originals, to address a class D design weakness of bus pumping. (This also reduces harmonic distortion. I may be able to hear the difference, but I look forward to hearing from others who use this kit.)
There is a kit option to add a fifth, recommended improvement--a Noctua 40 mm cooling fan--to keep temperatures cooler by circulating air inside the sub enclosure, evening out temperature and helping the heat more efficiently be moved to the aluminum back panel, where the aluminum radiates the heat into the room. Noctua fans have 6-year warranties and are designed to run 150,000 hours mean time to failure (mttf), or 17 years non-stop, far longer than other brands I tried in the past.
New for 2026: Satellite board improvement. The kit now includes two upgraded 220 ohm resistors, one for each satellite channel circuit board. This addresses a weak, 1/8 watt component that can fail and cause a cascade of failures by multiple transistors and can even damage a satellite speaker connected to that channel when it fails.
There is a kit option to also add a new foam orrubber surround for the 6.5" subwoofer speaker to this kit. The original foam surrounds frequently dry out, become weak (causing distortion) and even crumble away after 15 or more years. Rubberized glue is included for mounting the surround. Often after the amplifier is repaired, the bass is stronger than before, and a weak foam surround will crumble.
This kit is only for the ProMedia 2.1 version that has a power switch on the back of the amplifier. The later ProMedia 2.1 versions that do not have a power switch do not need a cooling fan. Unfortunately, they also seem to lack some of the depth and power of this original version. The original version has components that normally reach over 200 degrees F. (Picture a well-done steak). That heat dries out capacitors, makes copper traces brittle, and dries out the gasket sealing the satellite speaker terminal and the gasket sealing the panel to the sub. This revised kit is designed to address all those issues, and prevent them from reoccurring. There is the option to add a new speaker terminal kit and gasket to seal the panel to the sub enclosure.
This kit cannot be guaranteed to fix every problem with a ProMedia 2.1 amplifier, but it addresses the most common issues. I also do have some rebuilt satellite channel circuit boards available ($32, with a $9 core return value for a non-working board that can be rebuilt).
Kit includes:New, improved LF (subwoofer) amplifier circuit board. For the power supply board, seven upgraded capacitors, a pair of upgraded resistors, a transistor and a pair of wire jumpers to bypass brittle copper traces are also included. For the left and right channel satellite boards, an upgraded resistor (one per channel).
The plastic satellite speaker spring terminals also get brittle over the years, and/or the foam that seals the terminals to the aluminum panel becomes hard and shrinks, ruining the airtight seal and causing noise from air leakage and a loss of sub performance. (See photo of an example of dried, shrunk foam). A new pair of satellite speaker terminals can be included in the largest three kit options (the terminal kits otherwise sell separately for $24). A new adhesive gasket (4 segments) is included with the full kit for sealing the sub to the enclosure. Instead of providing a good acoustic seal, the old ones tend to compress flat, or bake so hard they must be scraped away with a knife.
#1 Basic Kit includes:New LF Circuit board with 57 new components. Your original threaded mount (soldered to your old LF board) is reused(see side-by-side photo of old and new LF boards).10 new components for the power supply board2 resistors for the satellite channel boardsKester solderPhotos and instructions will be sent via message system, (or to buyer's email, if requested).
#2 Kit with Coolingincludes the Level #1 above and adds:1 Noctua 40 mm cooling fan with power supply and wiring harness2 Scotchlok connectors to connect to internal 120 VAC power.Mounting tape and adhesive.A new relay for the subwoofer output.Satellite speaker replacement terminal kitAdhesive 15mm x 1mm gasket (4 segments).
#3 Kit with Cooling and Rubber Surround for 6.5" SpeakerIncludes the Level #2 above, plus:Rubber speaker surround for subwoofer driver (6.5")Rubberized speaker glue to mount the rubber surround (Caution: it takes practice to become proficient at mounting a surround correctly. The photo still shows clear adhesive).
#4 Kit +Terminal +Rubber Surround but no fan
This fifth option has all of the above kits' contents, except for the Noctua fan, which is DELETED.
Installation Option:If you would like to have me install the kit for you, you may ship your amplifier to me.
Packing: The amplifier removes with 8 screws around the outer edge. The old, compressed gasket can stick, so if the panel does not pop loose, a screwdriver may be needed to pry a corner out and away from the enclosure. The fragile amplifier panel circuit boards must be protected during shipping. The amplifier can be wrapped in many layers of heavy wrapping paper or newspaper to fit snugly inside a usps medium flat rate box. Pirate Ship or Paypal.com/shipnow offers discounted USPS and UPS labels. A better method: I recommend using a box inside a box. Use an 8x8" inner box, then for about $1 at Walmart purchase a 15x12x10" or 12x10x8" box as the outer box. Use bubblewrap or similar to cushion the heavy smaller box inside the larger, outer box. Please tape your name to the amplifier.
Installation of any of the first two kits costs $90 plus return shipping $20 (to the lower 48 states). Installation costs $110 for the kits with new rubber speaker surround for a 6.5" subwoofer speaker, which the buyer ships with amplifier panel. The installation cost can be paid after work is complete. Ask me if you want the four large filter capacitors replaced, too.The 15 business days' shipping time is to reflect the time it takes to ship your amplifier panel to me and for me to repair it to ship it back to you. If you buy the kit and not installation, it only takes a day or two to get the kit shipped to you.
There is good reason why so many owners of these original ProMedia systems refoam their 6.5" speakers (I also rebuild the original 6.5" speakers, and have new originals from Klipsch in my store) and rebuild these amplifiers. The power and sound quality of the original ProMedia 2.1 was hard to beat 20 years ago, and is only harder to beat with current computer speaker systems!
Some response received Sept. 2022: "Wonderful upgrade to my ProMedia 2.1 sub! Managed to bring it back to life and hope it will run cooler due to the improvements on the upgrade kit! Great communication with the seller as well!"