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Post by PinkFloyd on May 21, 2016 19:57:00 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 21, 2016 20:57:18 GMT
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Post by jackfrost on Jan 19, 2017 21:38:08 GMT
I guess this is the right page to post on this incredible kit. Been installed and powered up for two weeks now, and Mikes sales pitch on the website is no lie. Having enjoyed the benefits the 6H23N valves had bought for a few days, I couldn't resist taking it apart and warming up the soldering iron any longer!!! An hour or so later the x-can was back together and warming up......
First impressions were very favourable - a subtle but noticeable improvement right across the board which would have pleased me if it had stayed that way, but over time my reference tracks have taken on a whole new life form and right now as I listen to 'Time Flies' by Porcupine Tree for the first time in 10 days it's an absolute sonic pleasure!! ( Not saying this is anywhere near the best 'hi-fi' track I have, but I knew every nuance intimately before the x-can upgrades). The whole soundstage now feels twice as wide, the bass subharmonics rumble beautifully through the jaw, the acoustic guitars are individually identifiable, and the subtle percussion nuances now fly round the head left, right, and centre.
I've also been digging through some old favourites that haven't been played for a while, and some of them to my ears have leapt forwards with almost the same improvements as CD was to cassettes (ahh nostalgia!!! And yes, I do still have a tape deck in the hifi system......)
All in all, if you have a decent source, quality phones and a stock X-can v3, then £100 for NOS valves and the capacitor kit is without doubt the best £ for £ upgrade you could ever wish to make.
Right, I'm off back to my sonic adventure...........!!!!!
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 3, 2017 20:41:53 GMT
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Post by bobeck1 on Dec 9, 2018 17:53:09 GMT
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Post by xcanfan on Mar 11, 2020 16:57:06 GMT
I have been experimenting and here is a new idea for this unit I cobbled together. I purchased 100VA 12v+12v ANTEK toroidal transformer for a PSU, and I used 4x Caddock 15w power resistors instead of wirewound resistors (have to bend them to fit), and I replace the four 1500uf caps from the kit with Nichicon Fine Gold 1000UF 65V. I left everything else from the kit the same. The resistors are very important, and the 1000uf caps are very important, huge improvement in sound. The original 1500uf caps sound bloated in the low end and have unnatural dynamics. I might try all Fine Gold caps throughout the power section but right now it sounds good. Delicate but "all there". I also am using Genelex Gold Lion tubes.
Good luck!
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Post by jlm70 on Aug 11, 2020 16:31:43 GMT
Super mod!
I just finished the desold-resold play and... in short my history and earing in pictures!
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Post by gotanster on Aug 12, 2020 6:52:18 GMT
"I replace the four 1500uf caps from the kit with Nichicon Fine Gold 1000UF 65V" This question is a blind spot for me. Is it "enabled", is it "possible" to use a capacitor with a different capacitance? Obviously, a higher V value doesn’t hurt, but what happens when you use a higher / lower uF? I don't touch it at all, that's why I'm deliberating or asking you. |
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Post by jukkak on Dec 6, 2022 0:55:36 GMT
Hi,
Is there still X-CAN V3 upgrade kit available?
Asking as just got one unit with original components.....
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FritzS
Been here a while! 
Sound of Blue Danube
Sound of Blue Danube
Posts: 1,364
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Post by FritzS on Dec 12, 2022 17:30:00 GMT
Hi, I see you use Nichicon MUSE UES Bi-Polarized Electrolytic Caps (the green) in output signal path. Are this a good replacement for old Black Gate 1000 uF 25 V NX (made in 2005)? Or are the old BlackGate still on top!? |
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pingu
Been here a while!
Reallising what has been taken on with the GB
Posts: 332
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Post by pingu on Dec 12, 2022 23:15:23 GMT
Hi FritzS,
Don’t think you can get the black gates anymore. They stopped a while ago and must be getting rare/old now so it may be that they are just not available.
Nice to see you still here tho.
Have a good Christmas
Martin
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Post by jukkak on Dec 14, 2022 1:05:09 GMT
Hi there,
I have not been able to reach Mike recently, no reply for emails or chat...does anyone knows if the X-CAN V3 upgrade kit is still available? Other option could be to find all components by my self, but for this, I would like to have full list of upgrade components what should be purchased - Any info about this? All instructions are very welcome.
rgds jukka
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pingu
Been here a while!
Reallising what has been taken on with the GB
Posts: 332
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Post by pingu on Dec 21, 2022 11:12:16 GMT
Hi there, I have not been able to reach Mike recently, no reply for emails or chat...does anyone knows if the X-CAN V3 upgrade kit is still available? Other option could be to find all components by my self, but for this, I would like to have full list of upgrade components what should be purchased - Any info about this? All instructions are very welcome. rgds jukka Hi Jukka, Haven’t seen Mike on here for a while don’t know what’s happened to him. I did ask for some help converting a little pinky but got no reply so I did it myself. He was poorly after a fall but that was ages ago, broken ribs I believe All I can suggest is to see if anyone has a list of bits you need and source them yourself, hope all goes well. I would say I that I have fitted his upgrade to an Xcans V2 and it is good but I found the track lifted very easily so go carefully on the soldering, I was probably not careful enough. Though it’s easy enough to add a link to lifted tracks. Good luck Have a good Christmas Martin |
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Dec 21, 2022 17:50:03 GMT
I have sent a couple of private emails to Mike regarding a new Pinkie - he was very busy in the summer - but I was expecting him to come back to me.
I hope he is Ok.
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Post by jukkak on Dec 22, 2022 22:58:04 GMT
Hi Martin,
Thanks for the info. Yes, I actually just need a list of components and I can do all by my self.
By the way, if any one knows list of components needed for upgrade, please let me know?
rgds jukka
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pws
<100
Posts: 7 
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Post by pws on Apr 14, 2023 12:52:33 GMT
Hi,
Is this kit still available.
I've mailed a few times but no reply
Cheers
Paul
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Post by Slavomir on Oct 15, 2023 14:21:27 GMT
Hi there, I have not been able to reach Mike recently, no reply for emails or chat...does anyone knows if the X-CAN V3 upgrade kit is still available? Other option could be to find all components by my self, but for this, I would like to have full list of upgrade components what should be purchased - Any info about this? All instructions are very welcome. rgds jukka Hi. I also tried to contact Mike multiple times at both email addresses, but with no response. Have you got a list of items to upgrade? Based on the analysis of many photos, I determined all the values of the elements that are included in the official photo for upgrade. I only had doubts about how to solder the green Nichicons, because it is probably not indifferent despite the lack of polarity. Regards Slavek |
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Post by matthewrosser on Dec 6, 2023 13:33:46 GMT
Same here, no reply from Mike from emails over the last few weeks of trying.
Hope he's still with us, best of health to you if you should read this.
Cheers
Matt
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Post by earsaudio on Dec 6, 2023 19:45:58 GMT
Same here, no reply from Mike from emails over the last few weeks of trying. Hope he's still with us, best of health to you if you should read this. Cheers Matt |
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Post by earsaudio on Dec 6, 2023 19:48:12 GMT
I sent an email about the 30th of November and received an email two days later.
It was just asking him about which way the op amps sat.not about new tweaks or equipment
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Post by jukkak on Dec 28, 2023 9:26:25 GMT
Hello all, As not been able to reach Mike, I am asking if any one of you might have a component list of full upgrade for X-CAN V3? I can perform the upgrade work by my self but I need the list of components. Some years back Mike did full upgrade for my X-CAN but I have lost that unit and now having a new mint unit with original components. I can hear the difference compared to upgraded version and like to do it with new unit as well. rgds jukka |
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Post by Slavomir on Jan 12, 2024 20:40:26 GMT
Hello all, As not been able to reach Mike, I am asking if any one of you might have a component list of full upgrade for X-CAN V3? I can perform the upgrade work by my self but I need the list of components. Some years back Mike did full upgrade for my X-CAN but I have lost that unit and now having a new mint unit with original components. I can hear the difference compared to upgraded version and like to do it with new unit as well. rgds jukka Hi Based on the photos that Mike posted on the forum and the photo of the ugrade kit, I recreated the list of components: 1. Panasonic NHG 3300uF/35V - 6 pcs. 2. anasonic FR 1500uF/35V - 4 pcs. 3. Elna Silmic II 100uF/35V - 4 pcs. 4. Nichicon Muse BP 1000uF/6.3V - 2 pcs. (I set it to 25V, I didn't find any others) 5. Nichicon Muse BP 10uF/25V - 2 pcs. 6. WIMA MKS4 1uF/100V - 2 pcs 7. OHMITE resistor 10 Ohm/10W 8. UF4004 diodes - 7 pcs. By the way, I have a question: has anyone checked how to solder (direction) Nichicon Muse BP? Regards |
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pingu
Been here a while!
Reallising what has been taken on with the GB
Posts: 332
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Post by pingu on Jan 24, 2024 18:57:48 GMT
Hi slavomir,
Doesn’t matter if they are BP caps although I’m told the longer lead is usually what would be the anode + on a nonBP cap
Hope that helps
Martin
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Post by Slavomir on Feb 25, 2024 10:30:09 GMT
Hi slavomir, Doesn’t matter if they are BP caps although I’m told the longer lead is usually what would be the anode + on a nonBP cap Hope that helps Martin Hi Martin Thanks for the answer. It was this longer lead that interested me, but I will leave it for now because the amplifier sounds very good. I wonder how the jukkak managed to select the set of elements and how it sounded? Regards Slavomir |
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Post by michaelh1966 on Mar 14, 2024 9:38:04 GMT
How do I buy one of these kits for my x can v3
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