nando
Been here a while! 
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
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Post by nando on Jul 16, 2017 20:39:06 GMT
After (de)soldering through Mike's kit for the x-cans, it was time to mod my x-pre. Again it's a kit supplied by Mike. These are the pcb's almost ready. The quad socket is missing because it was almost in half and repaire job was quite badly done (plastic cannot be repaired). So I have ordered a new quad cinch socket. The grey wires are a mod or repair by a previous owner (I don't know why).  In the kit were two Samwha elco's which are a bit wider than the stock Jamicons. So I had to make it fit. Not the most beautiful configuration but I'm the only one who knows...?  Alps potentiometer fitted.  Top pcb with new caps. Yes, the connector and socket is missing. A previous owner modded or repaired my x-pre. Why I don't really understand.  New caps and diodes.  |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Jul 22, 2017 18:48:13 GMT
The MF x-pre is ready. Lots of components removed, new ones placed, cleaned with isopropanol, visually checked for faults, checked again and once again. Then fired up without front plate and source connected. Then after a few hours all connected up and fed with some nice tunes. Mike's kit for the x-pre. new tubes new Alps potmeter new cinch quad socket Resoldered some connections and components. Now I have placed the x-pre in my setup (x-psu, x-ray, x-a200, Quad esl-63, vd Hul cables). There was a change to be heard immediately. The sound was low in volume. I guess this is because of the new alps potmeter. There is no way I can blow up my speakers now, even at full volume of the x-pre. Something else was noticably different. The bass is much less present. At first I thought there was something wrong but the bass tones are there only much better defined. Kettledrums are more than a rumble in the background on Mahler no.3 (Royal Concertgebouw Orkest, Riccardo Chailly, Decca). The seperate beats can be heard individually. Recordings with prominent bass are less spectacular but I like it nonetheless. I'm not sure yet but the modded x-pre might be close or better than my MF nu-vista pre amp. Thanks, Mike! So on with the next x serie to be modded. But which one? x-200 power amps, nu-vista pre, x-24k, x-ray, x-plora... choices, choices, choices.  The botttom is new quad cinch socket, obviously.  Some tubeglow inside the x-pre.  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 22, 2017 19:16:50 GMT
Hi Nando, Nice job! Give the X-PRE a hundred hours or so to allow the caps to form and the sound will blossom out nicely  It will sound OK from the get go but once you have a few hours on it things will start filling out.... better bass, better separation, a lot more minutiae of detail coming to the fore. You should even notice a huge improvement if you leave it on overnight. Best regards, Mike. |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Jul 22, 2017 21:52:25 GMT
Well my x-pre has some years to burn in, so I'm not worried.
Mike, is there a way to check if the valves are good? Can I measure something about them? I have at least 3 pairs of tubes doing nothing at the moment.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 23, 2017 10:07:43 GMT
Well my x-pre has some years to burn in, so I'm not worried. Mike, is there a way to check if the valves are good? Can I measure something about them? I have at least 3 pairs of tubes doing nothing at the moment. Not really Nando..... you need a valve analyser to test them correctly. If you send them over to me I'm more than happy to test them for you FOC. Best regards, Mike. |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Jul 25, 2017 21:09:48 GMT
Well my x-pre has some years to burn in, so I'm not worried. Mike, is there a way to check if the valves are good? Can I measure something about them? I have at least 3 pairs of tubes doing nothing at the moment. Not really Nando..... you need a valve analyser to test them correctly. If you send them over to me I'm more than happy to test them for you FOC. Best regards, Mike. Mike, that would be great! I think I have your adress on the bow from the last delivery. Speaking of the last postal delivery. The box was damaged but the components are in my x-pre at the moment and working perfectly. So... (haha, just teasing) your packaging skills are second to none. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 27, 2017 19:19:35 GMT
Not really Nando..... you need a valve analyser to test them correctly. If you send them over to me I'm more than happy to test them for you FOC. Best regards, Mike. Mike, that would be great! I think I have your adress on the bow from the last delivery. Speaking of the last postal delivery. The box was damaged but the components are in my x-pre at the moment and working perfectly. So... (haha, just teasing) your packaging skills are second to none. Hi Nando, Send them over and I'll test them for you...... that way you will know 100% what condition they are in. Just because they "glow" doesn't mean they are strong OR just because they glow doesn't mean they go They can be well off / very weak but the amp will still work..... thing is, it won't sound anywhere close to how it should sound with strong / well matched valves. I'll test them out for you and give you the results in photos...... will take photos of them being tested and the readings. Mike. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 27, 2017 19:20:28 GMT
Not really Nando..... you need a valve analyser to test them correctly. If you send them over to me I'm more than happy to test them for you FOC. Best regards, Mike. Mike, that would be great! I think I have your adress on the bow from the last delivery. Speaking of the last postal delivery. The box was damaged but the components are in my x-pre at the moment and working perfectly. So... (haha, just teasing) your packaging skills are second to none. Hi Nando, Send them over and I'll test them for you...... that way you will know 100% what condition they are in. Just because they "glow" doesn't mean they are strong OR just because they glow doesn't mean they go They can be well off / very weak but the amp will still work..... thing is, it won't sound anywhere close to how it should sound with strong / well matched valves. I'll test them out for you and give you the results in photos...... will take photos of them being tested and the readings. Mike. |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Aug 10, 2017 17:32:29 GMT
Thanks a lot for testing the valves. I'll use three good pairs in my two x10-d's which will undergo a "Mike mod" with ohmite resistor in the comming weeks.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 10, 2017 20:11:09 GMT
Thanks a lot for testing the valves. I'll use three good pairs in my two x10-d's which will undergo a "Mike mod" with ohmite resistor in the comming weeks. No probs at all Nando, it was a pleasure...... pity about the six duff ones but good news that the other six of them are as close to perfect as can be. Mike. |
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nando
Been here a while!
The Frying Dutchman
Always look on the bright side of life
Posts: 393
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Post by nando on Aug 10, 2017 20:38:49 GMT
It was to be expected some of the valves were bad, being 20+ year old.
I'm very happy I have three good pairs.
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It will sound OK from the get go but once you have a few hours on it things will start filling out.... better bass, better separation, a lot more minutiae of detail coming to the fore. You should even notice a huge improvement if you leave it on overnight.