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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 21, 2006 20:47:04 GMT
I decided to make a thread of "work in progress" and will start it with the X-CAN V3 I have just modded (today) for a guy in Ireland. The owners of the equipment can always visit the thread and comment on the SQ etc. So to start it off, here's Alan's V3. A few additional "tweaks" have been added to bring out the very best from the amp and they worked wonders! 1000uF CD71 105C Non polars replace the two stock 220uF (per channel) non polars and they're bypassed with WIMA film caps and EVOX Rifa polyprops. Film caps have been bypassed with picofarad values of EVOX Rifa polyprops and 2 x .47uF polyprops replace the stock film caps in the PSU section. The rest is pretty much business as usual with low ESR Panasonic electrolytics etc. How does it sound? I'll let Alan comment on that but let's just say there's no way the amp would be going back to Ireland unless it sounded "considerably" better than it did when it arrived         |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 21, 2006 21:08:15 GMT
Next up is an X-10D........
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Post by hower on Apr 22, 2006 1:40:17 GMT
The upgrade of the 2 x .47uF polyprops at the PSU section is a new one for me. Maybe I should do the same too.
Must it be Polyprops? Or can I replaced it with 2x .47 film Cap from Auricap or Oil Cap from Jensen? I happen to have 2 pcs each in my spare list.
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marcm09
100+
Audio Monster
Posts: 119
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Post by marcm09 on Apr 22, 2006 8:48:02 GMT
lovely work, I did a simular thing in my version 2 using polyester bypass caps on the 1000uf's and then bypassed the polys with picofarads of poltster caps, big difference !!!
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 22, 2006 8:54:22 GMT
Must it be Polyprops? Or can I replaced it with 2x .47 film Cap from Auricap or Oil Cap from Jensen? I happen to have 2 pcs each in my spare list. They'll be perfectly fine to use. I'd imagine they'd be quite large but if you can get them on the board then use them...... perfectly fine! |
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Post by manic on Apr 25, 2006 20:15:06 GMT
Hi Folks
Just finished an initial listen to the recapping mod PinkFloyd did to my V3. For those who have not experienced the conversion you have to hear to believe the improvement. Improved dynamics across the frequency range, better control and timing. Overall, I absolutely love the sound with a quieter noise floor a higher level of transparency and deeper soundstage. The unit preforms like a more expensive phono stage but at a very reasonable cost to recap.
If you have thought about modding - don't think - do it right now. Its a pity that the before- and-after sound cannot be produced on line like the photos- theres a challenge for the techies out there.
Mike's a great guy to do business with; the service and communication was excellent. I sent the board last Thursday - Mike had it modded by Friday pm and posted to me on Monday morning after 48 hours testing. It arrived today and was on-line within the last hour.
Your a genius with a soldering iron PinkFloyd.
Will update you folks after 200 hours which will not take long and will be a real joy.
Happy listening.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 25, 2006 21:37:25 GMT
I'm really glad you like it fresh from the box Alan, please do report back after she's got a few hours on her  All the best. Mike. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 27, 2006 18:41:58 GMT
Just finished working on Matthew's V1 and it was pure fun and games and a good lesson in "just because a valve glows doesn't mean it works" ;D There was 20V @ the output (yes "VOLTS") and, to cut a long story short, I replaced the regulators and all transistors only to find out the valves were knackered. Oh well a good lesson in "start with the obvious!" and no harm done as this little V1 now has brand new transistors and regulators so is on course for a nice long life Mods included ALPS pot, Polyprops, Panasonic FC, NE5532 opamps replaced with OPA 2134 and new valves. She's burning in now and sounding extremely good I'm pretty gobsmacked it's a V1 (X-CANS) making this kind of music, so much so I'm going to feature this particular amp on my website and update the V1 page.. this is just soooooo smooth, velvety and punchy.... lovely! Before:  NE5532, stock potentiometer and stock caps After:  OPA 2134, ALPS potentiometer and polyprops More "after" pics:      |
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Apr 27, 2006 19:18:15 GMT
Damn Mike I almost want to buy an X-Cans just to have you mod it for me nice work would be a good idea to remove the valves for shipping because man,i swear postal workers take great enjoyment out of seeing how much abuse a parcel can take before it totally disintergrates and if you REALLY want absolute destruction on a grand scale just write Fragile on the box  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 27, 2006 19:28:40 GMT
Damn Mike I almost want to buy an X-Cans just to have you mod it for me nice work[ That's the V1 dating back to the mid 90's, MF's first ever headphone amp in a tube so I'm quite honoured having one here to play about with Really really nice sound out of it and being the first of the breed it's got a cool aura about it..... just nice! Cheers Rick Heh, the new valves are in as tight as anything, it'll be ok on its way home |
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Apr 27, 2006 19:38:40 GMT
you are braver than me dude.even a slight shift in the socket can mean intermittant contact and then
BLAMMO !
tubeless ;D
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thegreatroberto
100+
The Great Roberto "himself" The real deal on a stick!
Posts: 157
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Post by thegreatroberto on Apr 27, 2006 20:16:33 GMT
Mike...........I'm sure there are many thousands of V1's out there crying out for being modded.
So,in your opinion,hoe do you rate the 3 X-cans (modded and stock),i.e. 6 X-Cans ?
I guess a modded V3 is at the top with a stock V1 at the bottom, but would a modded V1 outperform a stock V2 ?...............You must have listened to more of these than most !
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 27, 2006 21:23:55 GMT
Mike...........I'm sure there are many thousands of V1's out there crying out for being modded. So,in your opinion,hoe do you rate the 3 X-cans (modded and stock),i.e. 6 X-Cans ? Phew! that's some question to ask and virtually impossible to answer absolutely spot on as there are a lot of variables but in general, considering what I've just heard from the V1, I'd honestly say there's not much in it apart from probably a slightly wider soundstage with the V3 (stock) The V1 is actually very very "fun" to listen to with a very warm luscious sound (if that makes sense?) with everything being presented in a compact, yet addictively three dimensional, way. Put it this way, I'd buy all three and have one for all occasions they're just beautifully fluid sounding devices (well, with the exception of the V3 which does sound slightly more solid state than it's two earlier brothers) to point blank say "X" sounds better than "Y" would be wrong for me to do I think as they all have their own unique signature and appeal in different ways. Nope, I can't answer that question without a real side by side session and I'd probably have to be blindfolded and strapped to a chair for about 7 days to do that  tell you what, I'll be running this one in till Sunday so will take down some critical notes and will post my impressions "after" matthew gets it back safely and has the chance to form his own impressions, fair enough? A full "shoot out" no holds barred comparison taking value for money and everything into consideration. should be fun. |
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Post by hower on Apr 27, 2006 23:40:12 GMT
I realised in the mod V1 that some of the cap you actually replaced with NON-POLAR cap, which are those? I saw 4 in the 2nd photo, are there any more that are replaced with NON-POLAR Cap?
Most important of all, is there a benefit by placing a NON-POLAR cap than replacing it with the PANA FC of similar value?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 28, 2006 18:07:14 GMT
I realised in the mod V1 that some of the cap you actually replaced with NON-POLAR cap, which are those? I saw 4 in the 2nd photo, are there any more that are replaced with NON-POLAR Cap? Most important of all, is there a benefit by placing a NON-POLAR cap than replacing it with the PANA FC of similar value? Hi hower, Where there's no DC voltage across a cap polar types can be replaced with non polar types sometimes to great effect sonically. Wth polar caps you subject them to backwards voltages on half of every cycle of audio and they will behave in a nonlinear way which generally doesn't do the music any favours. Replacing polars with non polars can make one pretty noticeable improvement in the SQ and the X-CANS (V1) is one amp that responds to them very favourably. Paul J. tamler's Article on capacitors makes for good reading and well worth looking at www.bext.com/replace.htmMike. |
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bigtony
<100
Mr. Musical Fidelity
Posts: 6
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Post by bigtony on Apr 29, 2006 6:22:12 GMT
www.bext.com/replace.htmDamm,that's a good read.Right ,it's polyprop caps for all my MF products from now on.And metal resistors as well !Why have my team not told me about this before ?  
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Post by manic on May 3, 2006 22:23:34 GMT
PinkFloyd, I promised to return to this forum after I had given the recapped V3 time to settle. These comments come with a health warning - I had to replace existing valves (one popped)with a new set at the same time and let them settle in. I chose an pair of Amperex as I am more familiar with their sound.
I continue to like what I hear. I left the unit on permanently and noticed a difference during the 6th day. The sound lost a harsh edge and mellowed while the sound stage continued to extend. I used three well worn tests to review the equipment comprising:
(i) Steve Earle who drawls his way through 'A Train A Comin' and it can be difficult to hear some words;
(ii) Dire Straits 'Alchemy' and Eagles 'Hell Freezes Over' both live recordings which test detail retrieved; and
(iii) An orchestral track looking for the reproduction of violas and cellos which test the frequency response.
I know this is all subjective but I am one happy camper and delighted with the sound - I can listen for hours without any fatigue setting in.
Hope this is useful and thanks for the listening pleasure.
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Post by hower on May 15, 2006 11:57:07 GMT
Another newbie question here...
The lead pitch for the prop cap in the X-CAN V1 is 10mm, there are no such prop cap (0.47uf) available, and it seems to me that the one chosen here is 15mm, and the lead have to be bend in order to fit in.
There are a number of other prop cap (Suppression cap, X1, X2 and Y1). Can these kind of supression prop cap be used? They do come with lead pitch of 10mm for 0.47uf.
Please advise.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 27, 2006 20:37:46 GMT
Today was spent working on a fellow Scot's (Raymond) V3. Operation went smoothly and with this baby I decided to up the output capacitance from 440uF per channel to 1,470uF per channel and lost the input caps entirely as he definitely doesn't have any DC present on his source output. Heatsinks fitted, Panasonic FC and polsters and also 6H23N valves fitted. Burning in as I type this and sounding superb, I'll leave it up to Raymond to comment on it as soon as he gets it back.  1,470uF output capacitance  Heatsinks  Panasonic FC's and EPCOS polypropylenes   |
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 27, 2006 20:38:32 GMT
Another newbie question here... The lead pitch for the prop cap in the X-CAN V1 is 10mm, there are no such prop cap (0.47uf) available, and it seems to me that the one chosen here is 15mm, and the lead have to be bend in order to fit in. There are a number of other prop cap (Suppression cap, X1, X2 and Y1). Can these kind of supression prop cap be used? They do come with lead pitch of 10mm for 0.47uf. Please advise. Fine. As long as it fits, use it |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2006 19:25:52 GMT
Hamish V3 0.47uF EPCOS polypropylene, Panasonic FC  Input caps removed, pads jumpered with zero ohm links  Pana FC  2 x 470uF output capacitance per channel  Heatsinks  Completed job
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 22, 2006 20:15:39 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 23, 2006 20:03:21 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 24, 2006 11:50:06 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 24, 2006 17:37:36 GMT
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tell you what, I'll be running this one in till Sunday so will take down some critical notes and will post my impressions "after" matthew gets it back safely and has the chance to form his own impressions, fair enough? 
