X-DAC c.f. X-24K

[jefudesu]

Happy New Year Mike & all.

I am contemplating the purchase of an X-24K.
I currently run my X-Ray CD into my X-DAC, into my X-Pre, into my X10-D into my Melody EL36 to my Ambience Standard 1800 speakers.
I suspect that I am degrading the signal from the 24bit X-Ray by feeding it into the X-DAC and hope that swapping to an X-24K will improve the sound. Am I deluding myself that my 71 yr old ears might tell the difference?

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.
Jeff.

[nando]

Hi. I have the x-ray v1 and the x-24k. The x-24k is modded with better opamps and capacitors. To be honest, I can’t tell the difference between them. That was the case when they were new and now.
So maybe I’m not listening carefully enough but I think that the difference is quite small if there is any.

[jefudesu]

Many thanks for your reply, I have seen many of your posts. I missed your reply & a couple of hours ago I bought an X-24K on eBay. I don't think it would have made a difference because you didn't strongly advocate for or against. The truth is I love the early X- components, I have 8, nowhere near a full house; the X-24K will make 9. I will give it a good listen & consider an upgrade with Mike, although it is difficult to identify the weakest link.
Thanks again.
Jeff.

[nando]

Have fun with it, that's the most important thing.
The x-24k is a nice little thing. It's supposted to make unlimited copying possible without problems with DRM protection issues.
I think there is not a lot of difference because (as far as I know) the dac's in the x-24k and the x-ray are the same. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Upgrading could be easy when you replace the capacitors. These are old and not of the highest quality (nor the lowest to be honest).

But 9 x-cans is quite above average. I have 14 cans and love them too!
It's the unusaul cosmetics that attracts me. The sound is good but this is true for a lot of equipment.

[jefudesu]

G'day nando,
Thanks for the copying tip, I'll look into it.
The x-ray & x-24k have 24bit dacs, the x-dac is 16bit. I was feeding 24bits into 16, which seemed like a backwards step to me, hence the interest in the x-24k.
My first x- was x-lp from Mr Wang shortly before he closed his Melody Amplifier showroom in Bayswater, Melbourne in the early 2000s. He had an x-ray but I couldn't afford it.
I was also attracted by the design aesthetics and as I picked up others I was not interested in the v3 models because they were nondescript rectilinear boxes. Improved sound was not an issue, they weren't cans. I had my x-cans 5 or
6 years before I plugged them in. I came across Rock Grotto & replaced the odd valves inside with a matched pair from Mike. A month later I picked up an x-canv2, x-psu(my second) & x10-d together on eBay & all of a sudden I had an upgrade in the can format. The x-cans went to my son along with the pair of new valves.
The x-dac presented on eBay & had to be had because it was a can, not realising my x-ray had a better dac inside.
Nearly a year ago I stopped looking for an x-24k because it didn't have an HDCD indicator like the x-dac. Recently I read an ancient review which said it didn't need one because of superior circuitry, I was interested again. Now that I have it I am pleased, but after a brief a-b I couldn't tell the difference.
I was a little disappointed with the x-24k because it has only 1 output c.f. the 2 on the x-dac; the second going to my x-canv2.
The x-24k does have 2 inputs however which will allow me to connect a recently acquired Sony Blu Ray which plays SACDs. I think I have 6 or 7 SACDs, so that's something to look forward to. Most of them are Bob Dylan so it won't be the audiophile experience it could be if I had a Bluezeum SACD.
Today I saw some Google Images of 20+ can setup's so perhaps I need to study how to best connect all the stuff I have.
All the best,
Jeff
PS: I'd like to know what the can is at the top of your x-cite stack.

[nando]

That's funny. You are as much of a nutter as I am! The cans are that much different of all the other audio gear that it drew my attention right from the start. As a young kid I wanted to have a lot of equipment like mono amps and such. With the x series I can and not being ridicolous by having every sort of audio function (amp, cd player etc.) dubble.

[PinkFloyd]

Jan 22, 2018 20:49:51 GMT nando said:

That's funny. You are as much of a nutter as I am! The cans are that much different of all the other audio gear that it drew my attention right from the start. As a young kid I wanted to have a lot of equipment like mono amps and such. With the x series I can and not being ridicolous by having every sort of audio function (amp, cd player etc.) dubble.

And, Ladies and Gentlemen, the "X-Tone"............ That thing is "out there" (for all the good / perverse reasons) but has been elusive to me for many years......... I'd love an X-Tone

[jefudesu]

Here's an x-tone for you Mike. It seems a bit high to me.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Musical-Fidelity-X-Can-Headphone-Amplifier-Unique-and-Rare-Combination/253377016322?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

[mochi]

I own an X-24K since a long time ago, but if nostalgia or aesthetics are not priorities, nowadays there are many good options for cheaper prices, for example the Topping D30 is an awesome sounding unit that can be purchased for less than 100€ new.

[nando]

Jan 23, 2018 21:27:09 GMT mochi said:

I own an X-24K since a long time ago, but if nostalgia or aesthetics are not priorities, nowadays there are many good options for cheaper prices, for example the Topping D30 is an awesome sounding unit that can be purchased for less than 100€ new.

You are possibly right about a good dac for less money. But that wouldn't look right in my system.
Then again, some prefer an old Philips tda1541 dac.