marcm09
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Post by marcm09 on Jun 24, 2007 7:09:15 GMT
Possibly could be ? I thought that the bypass capacitors would help the treble but not hinder the mid range though ? I more woundering about the Yellow polys that I changed, maybe I sould have used the Evox ones, even though the physcial size was smaller , they are AC rated which I dont think should matter but they are metalizied which maybe could be giving me a little harshness maybe ? The inly reason I used these was because they were locally available . .. .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2007 7:13:59 GMT
I think the little harshness is more likely due to double bypassing. Let's see what Mike says. SandyK
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marcm09
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Post by marcm09 on Jun 24, 2007 7:27:48 GMT
Yeah but on my xcan V2 both pairs of Non-polarized Input and output caps are bypassed and it sounds simply stunning ! I value your thoughts and as you know they are easily removed and in fact the board (if your really fussy Like me) will appear even neater in appearance without the bypass caps ?
It just they worked so well in the Xcan on the Np's.... Further thoughts welcome the more input the better, I would like to post a thread on the mods that I've performed , but first I feel that I need to be buzzing about them in order to recommend them to others. My wifes comment when she heard the amp while I was spinning a CD was that it sounded a little sharp and harsh , when she walked into the room, and to turn it down, prior to the mods she didn't complain, which makes me wounder as well as other people opions are good.
Maybe remove the removing ther bypass caps and changing to the evox polys would be a good move ? or back to the original orange caps and remove the bypass caps?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2007 7:52:57 GMT
Marc The idea of these types of modifications is more about correcting perceived deficiencies.What works for a slightly dull bit of kit, may sound bloody terible in something else. There are really no hard and fast rules that apply, just experience, and familiarity with the actual piece of equipment. Something that Mike has in abundance when it comes to MF products (and others) Some product ranges seem to have a generic sound of their own, and wide experience of one or two types, often translates to successful improvements in another of the same manufacturer's range. SandyK
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 24, 2007 23:04:45 GMT
Marc The idea of these types of modifications is more about correcting perceived deficiencies.What works for a slightly dull bit of kit, may sound bloody terible in something else. There are really no hard and fast rules that apply, just experience, and familiarity with the actual piece of equipment. Something that Mike has in abundance when it comes to MF products (and others) Some product ranges seem to have a generic sound of their own, and wide experience of one or two types, often translates to successful improvements in another of the same manufacturer's range. Word. SandyK
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marcm09
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Post by marcm09 on Jun 24, 2007 23:12:36 GMT
so the question becomes do I getrid of the bypass caps and change the yellow polys back to the original orange or should I try the Evox ?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2007 0:54:50 GMT
Marc Just try removing the extra polystyrenes first. Then see if "she who must be obeyed" is happier. SandyK
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 26, 2007 9:25:25 GMT
so the question becomes do I getrid of the bypass caps and change the yellow polys back to the original orange or should I try the Evox ? Bypass caps can make an amp sound awful or they can make it sound good it really is a case of suck it and see. I remember the time I went in on a WNA MKll and triple bypassed everything in sight thinking it would sound the dog's bollocks..... it absolutely strangled the performance and was like listening to some mickey mouse transistor radio.... out with the bypass caps and, voila!, business as usual I think I mentioned a few posts ago that's it's a good idea to learn to walk before you start running and do everything in very small steps.... it's so easy to over egg your pudding and it sounds like you have added a few too many eggs into the mix. Fortunately, unlike cake mix, you can undo the changes..... just whip those bypass caps out and use your ears..... if it sounds better with them out then you know the answer Some amps sound better with bypass caps others sound awful, especially if those bypass caps end up resonating at audio frequency , be very careful where you employ them and ask yourself "why" you are employing them......
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marcm09
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Post by marcm09 on Jun 26, 2007 10:03:55 GMT
Thanks Mike, Yes thats what the amps doing to a smaller extent, those bypass caps are coming out, I love them on the xcan but obv not on the Xa100R.
I have a full how to with photos, I started and nearly finished a really long post with lots of photos last Sunday and then got the guilts and didnt post it as hey it has to be 100% perfect in order for me to recommend it to others, think that Ive got the recipe right now though, even though I'm really fussy and I'll do a stella job, I feel like I'm the Ginnie Pig and by removing components and resoldering that I risk lifting pads (I'll be really carefully though) Never mind ...mike you must feel like that with your personal xcan that's nearly P2P, its always nice to dream (I'm sure that mine will be fine though) of a new amp with a one off modification... You learn from everything that you do in life..
Musical Fidelity- You could do so much better from just adding a few higher end caps etc into your amps... Maybe with the highest high end amp that they have that they have decided to change the caps for better ones and not tried to save money in there production costs ? I really must look at one of the top end MF's...Interesting ;D
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marcm09
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Post by marcm09 on Jun 27, 2007 10:54:16 GMT
Further Update guys- All of the bypass caps have been removed and the amp is back to sounding silky smooth and nice and warm.
It is now more detailed than before I replaced the capacitors, Its a stunning amplifier, it always was before the modifications and now it is simply sublime.. Oh It did take a few days to run in the new caps too !
Keep an eye out for the how to with full pictures when I have a chance. ;D
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2007 11:07:13 GMT
Nice work Marc ! Looking forward to the pics.
SandyK
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Post by lardyone on May 31, 2019 7:34:57 GMT
Hate to necro this thread, but I have an X-A2 with a blown winding in the toroidal transformer. Cost to replace it seems pretty prohibitive so could you run a 35 V feed from a Mouser (or similar) SMPS to the other side of the bridge rectifier in the X-A2?
And would a 36V SMPS (they have voltage adjustment I think) work or do we need to do something else?
I know that some people prefer linear PSUs over switched ones but I'd like to convert my doorstop of an amplifier into something useful. Thanks, Ian
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Post by lardyone on Dec 8, 2019 0:57:04 GMT
Hate to necro this thread, but I have an X-A2 with a blown winding in the toroidal transformer. Cost to replace it seems pretty prohibitive so could you run a 35 V feed from a Mouser (or similar) SMPS to the other side of the bridge rectifier in the X-A2? And would a 36V SMPS (they have voltage adjustment I think) work or do we need to do something else? I know that some people prefer linear PSUs over switched ones but I'd like to convert my doorstop of an amplifier into something useful. Thanks, Ian Trying again to necro this thread. Still looking to revive the X-A2 and wondering if I could use a linear PSU that's on AliExpress? It's I.AM.D LPS200 Linear Power Supply For V200 Digital Amplifier Output DC32V/8A+ www.aliexpress.com/item/32810979503.htmlInternally it has a rectifier but presumably I could just by-pass that for 32V AC into the connector for the X-A2. It's looking like this internally and is much cheaper than getting a NZ supplier to fabricate one for me. Cheers
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nando
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Post by nando on Dec 9, 2019 23:38:34 GMT
It’s already dead so what could possibly go wrong? 😉
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Post by dan1 on May 26, 2020 7:03:46 GMT
Hate to necro this thread, but I have an X-A2 with a blown winding in the toroidal transformer. Cost to replace it seems pretty prohibitive so could you run a 35 V feed from a Mouser (or similar) SMPS to the other side of the bridge rectifier in the X-A2? And would a 36V SMPS (they have voltage adjustment I think) work or do we need to do something else? I know that some people prefer linear PSUs over switched ones but I'd like to convert my doorstop of an amplifier into something useful. Thanks, Ian Trying again to necro this thread. Still looking to revive the X-A2 and wondering if I could use a linear PSU that's on AliExpress? It's I.AM.D LPS200 Linear Power Supply For V200 Digital Amplifier Output DC32V/8A+ www.aliexpress.com/item/32810979503.htmlInternally it has a rectifier but presumably I could just by-pass that for 32V AC into the connector for the X-A2. It's looking like this internally and is much cheaper than getting a NZ supplier to fabricate one for me. Cheers
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Post by dan1 on May 26, 2020 7:05:16 GMT
lardyone did you get the power supply to work? I have chance of a 2nd hand x-a2 without a power supply?
cheers
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Post by puggie on May 30, 2020 20:03:21 GMT
From pics I've seen it's just a sizeable transformer in a box. The power connector is a 3pin XLR if you fancy making something. My guess is it's about a 400VA transformer and the XLR is probably wires pin1 ground. No idea what voltage the transformer would be, you can probably make a good guess from the amp power and check the voltage rating of the big power caps in there.
If it's cheap and you are not interested I might be if it's available.
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Post by puggie on May 30, 2020 20:56:12 GMT
From pics I've seen it's just a sizeable transformer in a box. The power connector is a 3pin XLR if you fancy making something. My guess is it's about a 400VA transformer and the XLR is probably wires pin1 ground. No idea what voltage the transformer would be, you can probably make a good guess from the amp power and check the voltage rating of the big power caps in there. If it's cheap and you are not interested I might be if it's available. Actually, just scroll up to post 10 and start reading from there !
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