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Post by graeme on May 9, 2018 10:27:03 GMT
Just picked up a working but with issues X-Cans v2 with Rock Grotto upgrade from eBay. Has a dodgy power socket, easily fixed, and apparently crackles until valves are warmed up. I intend to fit new valves and possibly sockets.
So far had no pops or crackles but a really bad hum. The hum almost goes away when I touch the case, any ideas would be appreciated, is this just an issue of the old valves or does any other cause spring to mind? The hum doesn't change if I manipulate the power lead so I don't think it's in that area.
Thanks in advance.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 9, 2018 19:33:04 GMT
Just picked up a working but with issues X-Cans v2 with Rock Grotto upgrade from eBay. Has a dodgy power socket, easily fixed, and apparently crackles until valves are warmed up. I intend to fit new valves and possibly sockets. So far had no pops or crackles but a really bad hum. The hum almost goes away when I touch the case, any ideas would be appreciated, is this just an issue of the old valves or does any other cause spring to mind? The hum doesn't change if I manipulate the power lead so I don't think it's in that area. Thanks in advance. Open the V2 up, make sure the LED wires are "dressed" over toward the headphone socket side of the amp..... if they are over near the potentiometer side of the amp (the volume control) this can cause a hum. The crackling is 100% a sure sign of failed / failing valves and they will need to be replaced. Dress the LED wires away from the potentiometer and replace the valves, this should cure the problem. All the best, MIke.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 9, 2018 19:38:51 GMT
BTW..... this is why MF attach the LED wires to the headphone socket side of the amp with a bit of double sided sticky tape..... the minute those wires (Black and red) find their way across to the potentiometer side of the amp it's pretty much hum city When you're under the hood take a few photos and post them here Graeme, just to check that there are no visible signs of any culprits. Best regards, Mike.
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Post by graeme on May 10, 2018 7:14:42 GMT
Just picked up a working but with issues X-Cans v2 with Rock Grotto upgrade from eBay. Has a dodgy power socket, easily fixed, and apparently crackles until valves are warmed up. I intend to fit new valves and possibly sockets. So far had no pops or crackles but a really bad hum. The hum almost goes away when I touch the case, any ideas would be appreciated, is this just an issue of the old valves or does any other cause spring to mind? The hum doesn't change if I manipulate the power lead so I don't think it's in that area. Thanks in advance. Open the V2 up, make sure the LED wires are "dressed" over toward the headphone socket side of the amp..... if they are over near the potentiometer side of the amp (the volume control) this can cause a hum. The crackling is 100% a sure sign of failed / failing valves and they will need to be replaced. Dress the LED wires away from the potentiometer and replace the valves, this should cure the problem. All the best, MIke. Hi, Mike, thanks for quick response. It was just as you suggested, led wire was towards pot, moved it over towards h/phone socket. While case was open also noticed that valves were not seated properly so I removed and replaced a couple of times. Just plugged it in and from cold no hum :-) Thanks for that. However (there's always a however) now the hum is gone there is a very noticeable background noise, almost a quiet white noise, which disappeared after about 10 minutes. My guess is that just confirms the need to replace the valves. Sitting here now in total silence after listening for about 20 minutes. In the next pic, can't see it easily, the board is discoloured under tr1 and tr2. Not burned but definitely darker than rest of the board. It is clearer at d6. Probably just heat from soldering? Whoever fitted the upgrade (you?) has also cut two neat holes above the valves as I see suggested on your website. Just like to say that this site has already been an amazing resources, for very small outlay I now have a perfectly usable sound system with the X-Cans working (but with room for improvement) and the HD681 h/phones (fluffy muffs on their way from China as we speak) bought after seeing various posts on here.
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Post by graeme on May 11, 2018 10:12:15 GMT
While looking at various valve reviews, deciding whether to just replace the Brimar 6DJ8s that are already installed in my 'new' V2, I remembered back to Army days in 1977.
I was at Waterbeach nr Cambridge on 'stag' on the airfield. In the middle was a large hut that we would doss in if the weather was bad. Several windows were broken but at the back was a windowless room, still with power, where we had a small electric fire, a kettle and a couple of chairs. I guess the room was about 20 x 30 feet. But here is the main point. It was mostly filled with floor to ceiling dexion shelves filled top to bottom with valves. Probably thousands of them. All in boxes within boxes. It was just a load of obsolete junk...
Went to Belize for 6 months, came back in time to drive a Green Goddess in the Fireman's strike. But first a couple of guard duties before leaving for Melton Mowbray. The hut had been demolished. Apparently some large plant had crashed into it during a Rapid Runway Repair exercise and it was decided to just finish the job. What was left was bulldozed into a pile, dexion shelves and all.
No idea what make or model the valves were, probably a whole range of types, but would have made a nice little pension fund.
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Post by graeme on May 16, 2018 16:54:34 GMT
So after sorting out the positioning of the led wire and deciding to live with the valves for a while, until funds allow new ones, I went for a major upgrade which I think has transformed my enjoyment of the X Can. An orange led. So much nicer than the glaring emergency warning Will Robinson red, and nicer even than the blue. IMHO
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 16, 2018 19:56:52 GMT
So after sorting out the positioning of the led wire and deciding to live with the valves for a while, until funds allow new ones, I went for a major upgrade which I think has transformed my enjoyment of the X Can. An orange led. So much nicer than the glaring emergency warning Will Robinson red, and nicer even than the blue. IMHO Hi Graeme, looking good If the orange LED glow is a bit "bright" for your eyes you can tone it down nicely by fitting a 2K resistor (instead of the 330R one) in position R5 on the upper (PSU) board. If you want to take the glow "way down" then try a 5K resistor. The purple LED with 5K resistor in R5 is still my favourite, just glows a nice deep purple / very soothing to the eye. I detest the obligatory "blue". Going to be controversial here but traffic lights..... Red = STOP, Amber = get ready to go and Green = engines revved and free to rock and roll. WTF does blue mean in the scheme of things? I don't know if I'm ready to listen to music if my amp turns blue....... it has either got to turn purple or green before I dare put a pair of headphones on my ears......... Orange is totally out of the box Graeme..... you are pushing the envelope....... you could cause a major pile up / major confusion as to what is start or stop...... I like the cut of your Jib.... a true pioneer DON'T "live" with the knackered valves! PM me and I'll sort you out with a precision matched pair that will blow your mind. All the best, Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 16, 2018 20:04:09 GMT
While looking at various valve reviews, deciding whether to just replace the Brimar 6DJ8s that are already installed in my 'new' V2, I remembered back to Army days in 1977. I was at Waterbeach nr Cambridge on 'stag' on the airfield. In the middle was a large hut that we would doss in if the weather was bad. Several windows were broken but at the back was a windowless room, still with power, where we had a small electric fire, a kettle and a couple of chairs. I guess the room was about 20 x 30 feet. But here is the main point. It was mostly filled with floor to ceiling dexion shelves filled top to bottom with valves. Probably thousands of them. All in boxes within boxes. It was just a load of obsolete junk... Went to Belize for 6 months, came back in time to drive a Green Goddess in the Fireman's strike. But first a couple of guard duties before leaving for Melton Mowbray. The hut had been demolished. Apparently some large plant had crashed into it during a Rapid Runway Repair exercise and it was decided to just finish the job. What was left was bulldozed into a pile, dexion shelves and all. No idea what make or model the valves were, probably a whole range of types, but would have made a nice little pension fund. I had a similar experience back in 1982 but all that was on offer were sheep. I STILL can't believe I was that fit back then.......... a great few weeks at sea but not something I'd want to replicate. Mike.
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Post by graeme on May 18, 2018 6:48:49 GMT
I had a similar experience back in 1982 but all that was on offer were sheep. I STILL can't believe I was that fit back then.......... a great few weeks at sea but not something I'd want to replicate. Mike. And penguins? Quick question about the diy X-Can psu on your website. Did the final incarnation, before you went Pinkie, use the filtered or unfiltered IEC?
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Post by graeme on May 18, 2018 15:56:14 GMT
So after sorting out the positioning of the led wire and deciding to live with the valves for a while, until funds allow new ones, I went for a major upgrade which I think has transformed my enjoyment of the X Can. An orange led. So much nicer than the glaring emergency warning Will Robinson red, and nicer even than the blue. IMHO Hi Graeme, looking good If the orange LED glow is a bit "bright" for your eyes you can tone it down nicely by fitting a 2K resistor (instead of the 330R one) in position R5 on the upper (PSU) board. If you want to take the glow "way down" then try a 5K resistor. The purple LED with 5K resistor in R5 is still my favourite, just glows a nice deep purple / very soothing to the eye. I detest the obligatory "blue".Going to be controversial here but traffic lights..... Red = STOP, Amber = get ready to go and Green = engines revved and free to rock and roll. WTF does blue mean in the scheme of things? I don't know if I'm ready to listen to music if my amp turns blue....... it has either got to turn purple or green before I dare put a pair of headphones on my ears......... Orange is totally out of the box Graeme..... you are pushing the envelope....... you could cause a major pile up / major confusion as to what is start or stop...... I like the cut of your Jib.... a true pioneer DON'T "live" with the knackered valves! PM me and I'll sort you out with a precision matched pair that will blow your mind. All the best, Mike. Hi Mike, Totally agree with the blue, my car radio is blue, awful. I have put a 5k between the led pos and the wire so it is nice and subdued. I think your suggestion is much neater and I'll do that at the weekend when I refit the power socket properly. The orange was to match my pc, the mobo (bought for a song with bent cpu pins and repaired) has built in rgb and we liked the fiery glow of the orange best. The power button has a silver centre with a clear surround it and a white led behind. This was more tricky as the led is tiny and inaccessible. But it was Xmas. And that means Quality Street with a whole rainbow of coloured wrappers. The wrapper from the 'penny' toffee was perfect, folded into three layers and moulded over the led. Now my ring glows orange when you press it. That's not something you see every day. Just the X-Pre (which I kept when I reluctantly sold the X-A50s) and the Nad 310 (£10 because power button rubber cover is missing, I love eBay) to orangify at the weekend and that's the full set, my world is Tangoed.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 18, 2018 19:42:08 GMT
I had a similar experience back in 1982 but all that was on offer were sheep. I STILL can't believe I was that fit back then.......... a great few weeks at sea but not something I'd want to replicate. Mike. And penguins? Quick question about the diy X-Can psu on your website. Did the final incarnation, before you went Pinkie, use the filtered or unfiltered IEC? JEEZ Graeme, the "website" is ancient, hasn't been updated since 2002, I can't believe people are still looking at it Unfiltered will be fine..... a class X2 capacitor across live and neutral does help things.... a 100nF class X2 will do the trick No, I didn't see any penguins (I know there a loads of them) just saw a lot of mud and darkness..... it was far from "fun" mostly wallowing about in mud Not a place I'd ever visit again, at the time (20 years old) it was an adventure but soon turned into a nightmare. All the best, Mike.
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