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Post by preproman on Jan 5, 2012 18:58:24 GMT
Hi there,
I new to this fourm, first post. I was looking around to find some information on MF products. I'm in the market for a new Head phone amp and DAC. I'm cureently using the Headphone out of my Pre amp procesor. I need a amp that will run the following. Ultrasone Pro 900, AKG Q701, Senn. HD650, Sure 940. I would like to also get the T1 and the LCD-2.
Would the MF M1 HPA work well with all of the above. Also I'm in the US. I see on this board many talk about the X - CAN. I don't see that on the MF site. Have they been discontinued?
Anyway. I would like to get more information on the M1 HPA and some recommendations on its performance.
Thanks..
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 5, 2012 20:36:41 GMT
Hi, Welcome to the forum. MF no longer make the X-CANS / X-CAN V2 / X-CAN V3 or X-CAN V8. All four were valve (tube) amps (not in the strictest sense of the word) and the latest M1 amp is solid state with a switched mode power supply. In my opinion, the X-CAN V2 and X-CAN V3 were their best amps (overall) and I would, personally, look for a secondhand one... they often appear on ebay. You can experiment with different valves (tubes), you can fit a beefier external power supply etc. They are cracking little amps and Miguel (mrarroyo - a US member) and I both agree that they are pretty much unbeatable on the sensible side of $$$$ The V2 can be had for as little as £100 GBP secondhand and if you recap it (fit new capacitors) and roll in some new tubes it will be up there (if not better) with most current release amps. Remember, there have been no real advances in amplification for decades, it is very hard to redesign the wheel, so just because it's a few years old doesn't make it a lesser amp... in fact, some would say it is much preferable to the M1 which has a nasty "onboard" SMPS (switched mode) power supply.... the only reason it has that SMPS onboard is to comply with these stupid "green" directives and has nothing to do with sound quality. If you can secure an X-CAN V2 then I would. The V1 and V2 were made in England and were quite ahead of their time when first released... one of the first "dedicated" headphone amps that caught my eye... a unique looking amp too (you either love it or hate it)... IMO, the X-CAN introduced a LOT of people to the world of dedicated headphone amps and, to this day, it still has a strong following... love it or loathe it, it's a true icon and I'd rather have my headphones plugged into one of them than a square box of Far East origin. Even to this day, anybody who comes into my house homes in on the V2 and asks "what is that?"... when I explain "what" it is and let them have a listen they always ask where they can buy one MF, these days, contract out to Taiwan and it's more about BS than it is about sound.... Big square boxes boasting revolutionary design and sonic "miracles".... maximum show, maximum blow, very little content under the hood. They got the ball rolling in Wembley (England).... unfortunately it's now being kicked to death in Taiwan. Seems to be the way of the world now. Hope this helps. Mike.
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Post by JohnnyBlue on Jan 5, 2012 21:16:43 GMT
I, for one, am very grateful for this intro to all the MF HPA gear: often wondered what all the fuss was about. Thanks, Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 5, 2012 21:32:25 GMT
I, for one, am very grateful for this intro to all the MF HPA gear: often wondered what all the fuss was about. Thanks, Mike. John, There is some SERIOUSLY "in depth" stuff out there somewhere.... I don't have the time to search for it nor the time to repeat what I have said a million times on the airwaves. There's a limit and my "limit" has been reached... I am pissed off repeating the same old, over and over again.....
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XTRProf
Fully Modded
Pssst ! Got any spare capacitors ?
Posts: 5,689
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Post by XTRProf on Jan 6, 2012 4:57:10 GMT
I am pissed off repeating the same old, over and over again..... Hey, get yourself on youtube once that's all. Then the link to those who ask the same thing again.
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XTRProf
Fully Modded
Pssst ! Got any spare capacitors ?
Posts: 5,689
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Post by XTRProf on Jan 6, 2012 5:00:14 GMT
Anyway preproman,
There is no such thing as one HA that can be a good boy to all HPs. Most who play HPs have a few from different genres to match to their tastes.
Genres to acquire:
1) Transistor type 2) Mosfet/Fet type 3) Tube type 4) Tube hybrid type 5) Class D type
Hopes this helps.
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Post by preproman on Jan 6, 2012 11:46:46 GMT
I, for one, am very grateful for this intro to all the MF HPA gear: often wondered what all the fuss was about. Thanks, Mike. John, There is some SERIOUSLY "in depth" stuff out there somewhere.... I don't have the time to search for it nor the time to repeat what I have said a million times on the airwaves. There's a limit and my "limit" has been reached... I am pissed off repeating the same old, over and over again..... Thanks for all the useful information Mike. I apologize if this questions was asked a few times before me. I tried the search feature, but had no luck.. thanks again.
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