Musical Fidelity x-tone modded

[nando]

This is the fifth MF x-series (see other treads on this forum).

This is a Musical Fidelity x-tone. I don't see a lot of people using the x-tone. I use it between my Beolab 5005 and pre-amp for a bit of adjusting of the sound.

Goals are to refresh the x-tone and make the thing last for a very long time. Therefor I selected Panasonic FR series capacitors if possible. These have a lifetime 10000 hours and are all 105C rated. Also Mike likes them so they can't be that bad...?
I selected the new capacitors with higher capacitence in the power supply that the original Jamicons. With that I also installed capacitors with higher ripple current as a consequence.
Other elco's are of the same capacitence but always 105C and Panasonic FR series so are better in every way than the original Jamicons.

Future mods are:
-replace other capacitors
-possible replace switches and potentiometers.

I also replaced the diodes with UF4007, supplied by Mike as are the rca sockets and power sockets.





Removed in4007 dioded.


Give it a good clean.

[nando]

Placed a new power socket. And some Panasonic FR capacitors along with UF4007 diodes.


Placed a new rca socket

[nando]

Some new soldering of the rca socket and capacitors.



I misjudged the size of the new capacitors. So this is not the most beautiful solution but it works.



Wax on...



... wax off!



One x-tone ready for testing.


It works. Yet to be tested with audiosignal.

[nando]

Now after two weeks vacation in Denmark I connected my x-tone in my MF setup.
It works fine, only one thing. When I turn on my amps, there is a thumb. Maybe all the big capacitors slurp up to much energy at once.

[PinkFloyd]

C114 & C214 (10uF) are the input coupling caps, you can remove these and jumper over the pads with a wire link (an offcut from a capacitor leg for example).

Looking good though, nice soldering, are you going to replace the metalized film caps or just leave them?

Mike.

[nando]

Thanks, Mike!

What does the removal really do to the circuit? There is no capacitor that charges a little bit (10uF)?

I am thinking of replacing the film capacitors ass well but I have to educate myself in that area before going in head first. In the other mf stuff I've done I didn't replace these yet either.
Problem / challenge with the x-tone is that there are a lot or these red buggers and close together also. These are originally so close that they are at an angle. So I guess Wima's are not flexible enough to make a row possible. Any suggestions?

[jefudesu]

G'day nando,
I just bought an X-Tone; you know why, don't you? Because of how it looks.
Where should it go in the X-Ray, X-24K, X-Pre, X10-D, Melody EL36 chain?
An X-Plora has just been listed on eBay here in Australia, A$400, no bids, 6 days to go; it only gets radio, 99% crap, but it is an X, what a dilemma!