|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 8, 2016 20:37:27 GMT
Not been on here for a long time but while I was I always wanted an x-can of any sort. It's the valve thing I just wanted to try it and finally pulled my finger out and won an X-Can on eBay tonight. Supposed to be in good working order and looks immaculate.
I'm undecided as to where I will use it yet. I will either get a DAC and run it along with a vast collection of Digital files in the bedroom as like a secondary and now decent musical escape......
Or
Connect it to my Rega Brio-R downstairs. Which has sources of an old Marantz 63SE that I hardly ever use and the main source a pretty heavily modded and upgraded old Rega Planar 3 (my main usage, love my vinyl!!) and it's Rega RS5's.
Nothing ridiculous but a reasonably humble and good sounding system.
Headphones wise I still own the Grade SR80i but a few months back bought a pair of Bower & Wilkinson P7's which I am more than impressed with and love for out and about and still use at home.
Anyway I just thought I would share my excitement and can't wait to see what it's like and the sound of the valves......which hopefully I won't feel the need to upgrade to soon!!!........but you know what it's like :S
Cheers
BMX
|
|
Chris53
Been here a while! 
Posts: 365
|
Post by Chris53 on Aug 9, 2016 9:26:33 GMT
Welcome to the X-Can club.  The original valves are not that good. I bought an exceptionally wonderful set of new valves from Mike a few months ago. I have had a few different sets from Mike over the past few years and they have all been better than the originals. The new set knocks them all out in the first round. Get a bit used to the sound of the current valves and then buy some new ones from Mike and be prepared for a very pleasant surprise. Disclaimer: These are my own opinions. I do not work for Mike, nor do I receive payment from him and despite all the rumours, we have never slept together. |
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 9, 2016 10:10:19 GMT
Haha
This is the plan I had in my mind already. No point in immediately upgrading anything as tempting as it might be!!
Sound it out and then valves would be the first step and already have my eye on the 6H23N-EB because well just because.......
I would be surprised if it doesn't end up having a little holiday at some point at Mikes for a full over haul but for now I'm just stoked to be able to check this valve lark out. Really looking forward to it as I've been on about it for ages. A mate even jumped the gun on me and picked up an X-Can 8-12 months ago. Thought I would grab his off him as his system is a Cyrus based with some beautiful PMC speakers and thought it wouldn't be for him..........Problem was HE LOVES IT!!!! Went out and bought new headphones the works lol, git!
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 9, 2016 20:30:03 GMT
Welcome to the V2 club BMX, I hope you get as much joy out of the V2 as I have  Best regards. Mike. |
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 13, 2016 9:28:21 GMT
Got it, great condition! It's a V1 Mike. Just ran it straight off my mp3 player (so silly source, like not much, a trial) with a 3.5mm jack to left/right phono out cable straight into the x-can. Wow, sounds amazing, really full weight sound. Rich natural just wow. Better than I hoped for. Really need to try with record deck now, then CD!! Tiny little clicking in right ear when volume at half way when no music but none at any other level or audible when music playing gonna check the valves are seated ok but dont know what else I could try to sort any ideas?  Otherwise, amazed!!! Ummmmmm if those Russian valves improve OMG happy days. Apparently it's worth getting a better plug than supplied one too but unsure which mate said it made a good difference. Anyone know where from, spec etc? As will be cheap.......but first those clicks?! I love this thing!!!!! |
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 13, 2016 10:59:27 GMT
Text mate........Shifted the Led cable a bit to remove as far from volume pot as possible. Swapped and reseated both valves. Hum gone! Awesome.
All capacitors etc look like new with no visible swelling or other defects, looks pristine. Well stoked on this. Made the P7's seem like a new headphone.
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 13, 2016 19:17:18 GMT
Text mate........Shifted the Led cable a bit to remove as far from volume pot as possible. Swapped and reseated both valves. Hum gone! Awesome. All capacitors etc look like new with no visible swelling or other defects, looks pristine. Well stoked on this. Made the P7's seem like a new headphone. Glad you like it BMX Did you notice what valves were inside? The stock valves would be JAN Philips 6922 with either green or blue markings. If they are the originals then they will most definitely have drifted out of spec over the years and a new pair will improve the SQ no end (and then some). It's imperative that you dress the LED leads away from the pot on the V1, if they are anywhere near the pot it causes hum.....if you're not too fussy about a light telling you the amp is on then simply snip it off (cut the wires at the circuit board). The best "off the shelf" PSU is this one: www.maplin.co.uk/p/3a-acac-fixed-voltage-12v-power-supply-n57dlIt's 3000mA (3 amps) so 6 times more current on tap than the el crappo stock MF wallwart which is 500mA. Best regards, Mike. |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 13, 2016 19:21:44 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 13, 2016 23:22:38 GMT
Yep my mate had the same hum as me and it was what you had written that he read when he sorted his when he got his. If I needed snip LED I would but shifting it has sorted it.
I'm probably going to pop into town tomorrow as you've confirmed the plug I thought it would be from Maplins, again something you wrote that my mate had read but the old one was the 9v AC out with loads of sockets which has been discontinued. I can grab a nice coffee while I'm at it.
Then the next thing will be the valves which are the blue print Phillips one you mentioned. I assume the best replacement you'd recommend would be 6H23N-EB Mil-Spec Valves £48.00 per matched pair?
I am still trying to get my head around the leap in sound from the MP3 player putting the X-can between it and B&W P7's and can also confirm the Grados shine paired with it but that didn't really surprise me as always thought the Grado would suit valves. So much so I've yet to connect it to my record deck and am pretty convinced I have just found a great little bedroom setup. I am just hoping this isn't going to make me want to get a valve amp to sit between the Rega deck and RS5 speakers as the sound is something I have warmed to far more than I even thought I might!
|
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 20, 2016 18:58:21 GMT
A little update. Got in touch with Mike about upgrading the valves. He got back to me that same day, brilliant.
I was asking about the 6H23N-EB but Mike pointed me in the direction of the 6H23N which are cheaper along with his recommend of the sound.
He posted them the next day and I had them the day after. Can't ask for a better service than that can you.
Review wise well I ordered two sets one for myself and one for my friend who also has an X-can.
I put mine in last night and awoke at 1am with my headphones still on lol. In my view the sound out of these things is pretty astounding and as an upgrade for that sort of money you would be hard pushed to hear such improvements for the investment in the HiFi world.
To list immediate things I noticed were a hugely improved soundstage, taughtness and stereo imaging. The clarity of the sound was just awesome and everything only got better as the night went on.
Now is it just me, am I just hearing this because I want to? The kind of thoughts we all have after spending money I suppose, you want to hear them so is it just in your mind.
Well i got up thought sod it I'll drop my mates round to him and see what he thinks which I did late morning. I know he'll have fit them and been playing all afternoon and that he has and has just sent me two emails over the last hour or so.
His system out does my humble Rega setup also so he is comparing on a higher level with a full Cyrus system power amps the lot and some serious PMC speakers. He wouldn't tell you this as would consider it boasting but it's my comments on his system so you are aware of the quality he is used too.
These are his words and I'll let him speak for himself with a copy and paste....
"Running approx 5 hours, initial impressions are very good, bass tighter more controlled though a lot lot deeper and with more punch, mids less coloured, cleaner sounding and more detail being dragged out....more space around instruments. Can only get better. Nice one mate. We'll worth it"
"It's getting better all the time! As shed 7 once sang....highs are coming through more crisp now!."
His findings and joy with these valves are matching my own.
Mike thanks for the help and the great service there are two people here with very smug new valve grins on. The sound out of these things are just quality!
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 20, 2016 21:10:34 GMT
You've got the best there is / perfectly matched and that makes me happy..... glad you are enjoying them.
Mike.
|
|
Chris53
Been here a while!
Posts: 365
|
Post by Chris53 on Aug 21, 2016 10:18:27 GMT
A little update. Got in touch with Mike about upgrading the valves. He got back to me that same day, brilliant. I was asking about the 6H23N-EB but Mike pointed me in the direction of the 6H23N which are cheaper along with his recommend of the sound. He posted them the next day and I had them the day after. Can't ask for a better service than that can you. Review wise well I ordered two sets one for myself and one for my friend who also has an X-can. I put mine in last night and awoke at 1am with my headphones still on lol. In my view the sound out of these things is pretty astounding and as an upgrade for that sort of money you would be hard pushed to hear such improvements for the investment in the HiFi world. To list immediate things I noticed were a hugely improved soundstage, taughtness and stereo imaging. The clarity of the sound was just awesome and everything only got better as the night went on. Now is it just me, am I just hearing this because I want to? The kind of thoughts we all have after spending money I suppose, you want to hear them so is it just in your mind. Well i got up thought sod it I'll drop my mates round to him and see what he thinks which I did late morning. I know he'll have fit them and been playing all afternoon and that he has and has just sent me two emails over the last hour or so. His system out does my humble Rega setup also so he is comparing on a higher level with a full Cyrus system power amps the lot and some serious PMC speakers. He wouldn't tell you this as would consider it boasting but it's my comments on his system so you are aware of the quality he is used too. These are his words and I'll let him speak for himself with a copy and paste.... "Running approx 5 hours, initial impressions are very good, bass tighter more controlled though a lot lot deeper and with more punch, mids less coloured, cleaner sounding and more detail being dragged out....more space around instruments. Can only get better. Nice one mate. We'll worth it" "It's getting better all the time! As shed 7 once sang....highs are coming through more crisp now!." His findings and joy with these valves are matching my own. Mike thanks for the help and the great service there are two people here with very smug new valve grins on. The sound out of these things are just quality! Told ya!  |
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 21, 2016 21:46:33 GMT
Really putting it through it paces at the moment. Have gone away for a few few days but I've brought the X-Can with me!!!
Smashing all sorts through it. I am an old punk at heart and it will always be my first love but my music collection covers much more from Napalm Death, world music, jazz, classical, reggae, prog to pretty much anything you care to mention. Honestly consider myself a 'music' lover not to be pigeon holed in anyone genre nowadays. A far cry from the "if it ain't punk it's s***!" warcry of my youth.
Think I mentioned my old Grado SR80i have become a new headphone with this amp. The B&W P7 also suck up everything offered to them with aplomb.
Feeling across the two headphones while both are good though is that the open backed spacial sound of the Grados is more suited amd better paired with the X-Can. I don't know why or what it is. If it is it wouldn't worry me at all as I bought the P7's as a portable listen to match with my MP3 player.
I may have a listen using my mates phones as he has Sennheiser HD700 also open backed to see. I almost hope not due to the fact that means I very possibly could take a leap again with a better open backed headphone as thus amp could warrant it......Maybe find some higher specced Grados secondhand for pairing to the X-Can and letting it sung. We'll see.
All that being said I'm sat here now with Dido flowing out of the amp and pouring into my ears like liquid silk via the P7's as i type.
Happy ears.
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 21, 2016 21:56:03 GMT
Really putting it through it paces at the moment. Have gone away for a few few days but I've brought the X-Can with me!!! Smashing all sorts through it. I am an old punk at heart and it will always be my first love but my music collection covers much more from Napalm Death, world music, jazz, classical, reggae, prog to pretty much anything you care to mention. Honestly consider myself a 'music' lover not to be pigeon holed in anyone genre nowadays. A far cry from the "if it ain't punk it's s***!" warcry of my youth. Think I mentioned my old Grado SR80i have become a new headphone with this amp. The B&W P7 also suck up everything offered to them with aplomb. Feeling across the two headphones while both are good though is that the open backed spacial sound of the Grados is more suited amd better paired with the X-Can. I don't know why or what it is. If it is it wouldn't worry me at all as I bought the P7's as a portable listen to match with my MP3 player. I may have a listen using my mates phones as he has Sennheiser HD700 also open backed to see. I almost hope not due to the fact that means I very possibly could take a leap again with a better open backed headphone as thus amp could warrant it......Maybe find some higher specced Grados secondhand for pairing to the X-Can and letting it sung. We'll see. All that being said I'm sat here now with Dido flowing out of the amp and pouring into my ears like liquid silk via the P7's as i type. Happy ears. The V1 is better suited with high z 'phones..... think Senheiser HD-600 Jared. |
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 21, 2016 22:25:01 GMT
Will look into this Mike. Again thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by bmxargh on Aug 22, 2016 7:11:36 GMT
Hmmmmm spent the evening listening while searching on high impedance headphones, comparisons to what I have etc etc, interesting.
Worse/better yet those HD600 or the newer HD650 are not stupidly expensive especially if you find some secondhand. Almost worth a punt to suck it and see. Tempting.
|
|
Chris53
Been here a while!
Posts: 365
|
Post by Chris53 on Aug 22, 2016 12:09:20 GMT
Hmmmmm spent the evening listening while searching on high impedance headphones, comparisons to what I have etc etc, interesting. Worse/better yet those HD600 or the newer HD650 are not stupidly expensive especially if you find some secondhand. Almost worth a punt to suck it and see. Tempting. A personal opinion, for what it's worth. I have owned a pair of HD600 & HD650. The HD600's were good but for me the HD650's were far too coloured by comparison. Neither of them give me the analytical clarity and openness that I've had with AKG K702's or more recently the K712's. You may find that with your musical tastes that the AKG's might be lacking in bass. The K712's definitely less so. However I would suggest that you try and audition them somewhere and compare them to the Senns. For me... I could never go back to the Senns now. |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 22, 2016 12:32:32 GMT
Hmmmmm spent the evening listening while searching on high impedance headphones, comparisons to what I have etc etc, interesting. Worse/better yet those HD600 or the newer HD650 are not stupidly expensive especially if you find some secondhand. Almost worth a punt to suck it and see. Tempting. A personal opinion, for what it's worth. I have owned a pair of HD600 & HD650. The HD600's were good but for me the HD650's were far too coloured by comparison. Neither of them give me the analytical clarity and openness that I've had with AKG K702's or more recently the K712's. You may find that with your musical tastes that the AKG's might be lacking in bass. The K712's definitely less so. However I would suggest that you try and audition them somewhere and compare them to the Senns. For me... I could never go back to the Senns now. If you like bass think along the lines of the Beyer DT990 pro wwww.rockgrotto.proboards.com/thread/6755/page/3/joined-beyer-club?page=6 |
|
Chris53
Been here a while!
Posts: 365
|
Post by Chris53 on Aug 22, 2016 13:34:56 GMT
A personal opinion, for what it's worth. I have owned a pair of HD600 & HD650. The HD600's were good but for me the HD650's were far too coloured by comparison. Neither of them give me the analytical clarity and openness that I've had with AKG K702's or more recently the K712's. You may find that with your musical tastes that the AKG's might be lacking in bass. The K712's definitely less so. However I would suggest that you try and audition them somewhere and compare them to the Senns. For me... I could never go back to the Senns now. If you like bass think along the lines of the Beyer DT990 pro wwww.rockgrotto.proboards.com/thread/6755/page/3/joined-beyer-club?page=6I've got those too along with the T90's and it's true about the bass but I would trade that for the transparency and more realistic midrage.. or even midrange of the AKG's, but then these things are personal. I might even be selling the T90's before long. I've only had them six months or so too. |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 22, 2016 19:39:31 GMT
The other thing Chris.... ears are as unique as fingerprints and due to the different shapes and sizes everybody hears things slightly differently which is why I would never go on a recommendation from another person. Sure, I would try out the persons recommendation but wouldn't simply "buy" on the say so of somebody else. Quite a lot of people never think of the ear as being part of their system but it's possibly the most important part.... I have always said (when I used to write reviews) "That's what it sounded like to me but always use your own ears"..... Have a read of this: www.wired.com/2010/11/ears-biometric-identification/www.yalescientific.org/2011/05/ears-the-new-fingerprints/The ear is a receiver and, as such, for us all to hear things exactly the same we would all have to sport an identical pair of ears and as ears are now considered even more unique than fingerprints that is never going to happen. The age of the ear is another factor, as we get older our ear's HF capabilities diminish and what may sound "bright" to a 14 year old pair of ears may be perceived as "dull" by a 50 year old pair of ears. There are so many variables, the shape of the the ear (every single ear on planet earth is different), the age of the ear, ear wax, the ambient temperature of the ear...... I could go on and on and on....... I'll try and find the thread but I have been going on about this for MANY years (possibly the past 20)...... do you remember the old ear trumpets? Well, I got a job lot of them at an auction many years ago (There were about 15 of them and I think they cost me around £8) Anyhoo....... long story short, I tried them all out (they were all assorted shapes and sizes) and each and every one of them sounded different! That led me to believe that the ear itself (between individuals) would also sound different due to the non uniformity of the human ear. This may sound a bit geeky but try reshaping you ears....... the stuff I used was butyl rubber tape (it will stick to ANYTHING) www.dortechdirect.co.uk/window-installer-tools/arboseal-butyl-88-glazing-tape.html?gclid=CMDO7vbe1c4CFckp0wodZH0AOAPack some of it into the triangular fossa, the concha and the antihelix (parts of your ear)....... listen to your favourite reference track and you will be absolutely astonished!!!! Totally different aural reception from the norm! When you then consider that every single tragus, helix, lobule, antitragus is totally unique to each individual (we haven't even got to the inner ear yet!) you'll soon realise why there is no one size fits all pair of headphones! My 87 year old Mother enjoys her "soaps" and likes listening to "Frank Sinatra"......... I was around a couple of weeks ago and the oil "watchman" alarm was going hell for leather as was a smoke detector that was screaming out for a new battery....... I could hear the two of them going hell for leather when I got out of the car........I was like "WTF! is that noise" and she repied "I can't hear it". Headphones are a personal choice, I was simply pointing out that the X-CAN V1 prefers 120 - 300ohm impedances / drives them well. Jeez....... there was even a thread here about ear candling, I must try and find that too Glad your enjoying the V1 Jared. Best regards, Mike. |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 22, 2016 19:42:58 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 22, 2016 19:51:08 GMT
One of my "ears are as unique as fingerprints" rants........... oh god, I don't even know what the original post was about rockgrotto.proboards.com/thread/8034I'll find my original (in depth) post regarding the human ear...... bear with me |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 22, 2016 20:06:29 GMT
I stand by what I said: I'll just slip in a reply I made to something in the "staff room" section of this forum.... no reason it shouldn't be on public view... totally unrelated to this thread but I feel it may be related in a way? I hope so.
My friends KNOW I sometimes speak before I think and they KNOW that when I go off on one it will only be short term and I'll bounce back the following day with my tail between my legs
I am getting a little bit pissed of with the recent trend where people are expected to "prove" a point (even BEYOND reasonable doubt) and if the measurements don't change the sound cannot be different type of thing.... even Alex and his "rips", it's all got to be proven beyond doubt before it is accepted as true.
People being blindfolded, gagged, strapped to chairs, hooked up to oscilliscopes, men in white coats taking notes... what the f@@k does any of this have to do with enjoying music?
Of course it's good to have healthy debate but to take it into a "laboratory" setting for conclusive proof is just going a bit too far AND it takes the enjoyment out of the music too...
FFS, it's not the equipment that should be under scrutiny, it's the listener! Trillions of people out there, all with different perception, different hearing abilities, different ears (remember that the human ear is as unique as fingerprints), different states of mind, some stressed, some happy, some relaxed, some sad, some mad, some insane, some drugged, some drunk, some sober, some sombre, some depressed, some manic..... believe me (and this is FACT!) put 100,00 people in front of a live band and they will ALL have a different perception on what they saw and heard.... the "band" may have been technically perfect but the atmosphere, the vibe, the surroundings etc. will have been digested by each individual differently.
It annoys me intensly that we speak so much about the "equipment" but fail to realise that it will be listened to by trillions of ears, and each pair (being a unique acoustic shape) will hear things slightly differently.
A semi deaf person may actually get MORE out of a recording than a person with perfect hearing, much the same as a blind man can sense what's going on around him better than a fully sighted man.
A guy who is "zoned" into the vibe will get more from his transistor radio than a stressed out accountant listening to his latest "£700" 1 metre length of interconnect.
When we can accept the FACT that we are ALL individuals it will then become crystal clear that it's our "perception" of sound that matters (to us in an individual sense).... to have an "expert" tell us that changing a capacitor for a different brand / different value has no effect is actually quite insulting. That is one pair of ears telling a trillion ears that they are mistaken BUT if it sounds good to their ears then carry on... it's all in your mind but that's ok, whatever floats your boat type of thing.
It's got f@@k all to do with audio "religion", voodoo, science, fact, fiction.... it's all to do with the FACT that we are ALL very complex beings with unique auditory sensory skills, the human mind (fortunately) is not as clinical as a computer... it has emotions, it has passion, it has love, it has feelings..... to try and match up a piece of equipment to all these individual, living, being, breathing, walking, seeing, hearing emotional roller coasters is IMPOSSIBLE and I'm sure 99.9% of people would agree that they are unique?
There is nothing more "unique" than emotions, and music stirs the emotions AND the senses..... think of an old tune you liked back in the day, you can even smell and taste that time in place.... it's unique to you..... Can you remember what you were doing in 1983 from looking at a capacitor? erm.... nope!
Rick was so loved here (by me anyways) because he knew that we weren't all the same... we are all unique.... similarly he, like me, managed to pick up that not all capacitors "sound" the same... different brands, different chemical compositions equate to different "house" sounds.... could be that the two of us were two in a trillion (I am not discounting that) and we could both notice quite substantial tonal signature changes between different breeds of capacitor (and resistors).... Rick would ALWAYS back up any of his personal preferences with a "your mileage may vary", "use your own ears" type thing.....
What is pissing me off at the moment is not you Frans, it's the way this forum is veering off toward annoying people all trying to PROVE that they are correct.... NOBODY is correct, we are all little piss ants in the scheme of things, quasi "molecules" in the arsehole of the universe..... inconsequential, carbon footprint taxed arseholes who only have one true qualification in life and that is guaranteed death.
I am not a subjective / objective listener..... I enjoy music. Some days it sounds like crap, other times it takes me to a new level of being.... all depends on what mood I am in.... it's got f@@k all to do with anything OTHER than my ability to receive and zone in.....
If props like Peter Belt's rainbow foil, incense sticks, LSD, Magic mushrooms, ambient lighting, booze, snorting coke out of a hooker's belly button, a dusting of shake and vac on the carpet, a prince albert in your bell end or a simple "cap upgrade" do it for you then YOU are NOT wrong!
You are in the ZONE.
Read more: rockgrotto.proboards.com/thread/8034#ixzz4I5r67xyy |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 22, 2016 20:10:26 GMT
Please note.......ears are as unique as fingerprints........ did I mention that? |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 22, 2016 20:24:23 GMT
BMX..... you actually STARTED this thread (back in the day) and my "ears are as unique as fingerprints" reply features in it rockgrotto.proboards.com/thread/6303/headphone-amp-first-timerDid I ever mention that ears are as unique as fingerprints? I'm sure I did. Still searching for the ear trumpet thread.......... |
|
The original valves are not that good. I bought an exceptionally wonderful set of new valves from Mike a few months ago. I have had a few different sets from Mike over the past few years and they have all been better than the originals. The new set knocks them all out in the first round. Get a bit used to the sound of the current valves and then buy some new ones from Mike and be prepared for a very pleasant surprise.
