|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 2, 2015 20:11:04 GMT
Hi Mike, What do You think about quantity of funds one need to involve in the process of modding or better say repairing of old MF X-Can v.1 ? I'd just want to say that there are a lot of places to improve due to genius of engineers from MF - caps, old op amps, sockets, good tubes, diodes, power source ..... tinkering here and there. Does this device deserve such amount of efforts really ? All in all it may cost as new custom made tube amplifier. Yes, I ordered some parts indeed but if try a bunch of different op amps, and a new stabilized power supply final price may be ridiculous. Every device has definite boundaries defined by it's internal scheme . Regards, Sergey Hi Sergey, I think what you are proposing, so far, will bring about an audible improvement that you will like. I, personally, wouldn't go mad and replace "everything" in the amp as it really doesn't require it. The fresh (higher capacitance caps) in the power section, the UF diodes and the other caps you are changing will really spruce the sound up to a level that you will find a definite improvement. You can always go overboard and over egg the pudding if you do too much.... in this instance you are trying to fine tune the wheel and not attempting to re-invent the wheel. The caps / diodes and new valves are probably as far as I would go with the V1, especially if keeping cost down is concerned. If you can PM me your address I'll pop a Jalco pro headphone socket, a new gold plated quad phono socket and a couple of opamps in the post to you.... free of charge as you are finding it so hard to source components in your country. My advice would be to fit the caps and diodes..... have a good listen.... then fit a new pair of valves..... have a good listen etc. etc. Do everything in small steps and don't fire in a blunderbuss full of components all at once, take your time and get to know what each additional tweak is doing..... that way, if it sounds better then leave it in, if it sounds worse then you know that particular tweak has caused it and it can easily be reversed. All the best, Mike. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2015 18:11:01 GMT
Hi Mike.
I highly appreciate your kind help.
As I see there are two controversial cases Hi-Fi enthusiasts may face up. In the first case audio device has proven schematic decision but sometimes manufacturers need to put cheap ( relatively ) components from some reasons ( tight budget ). In this case you must inspire new life in your equipment by performing relatively simple upgrade i.e. put new caps op amps and valves ..... In the second case if your new rig suffers bad schematic decisions you just have no way to improve anything in device. Many new equipment originated from East Asia and China and in this case device has components of visually nice quality - Nichicon FG , Muse and so on ..... but bad design kills sound . I hope Musical Fidelity refers to the first group. May be later I'll open thread concerning my own upgrade of old X-Can v.1 and share my impressions and ideas with members of this community.
Regards,
Sergey
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 1, 2015 20:25:40 GMT
Hi Mike I understand and accept what you are doing in order to try and squeeze a little more HF detail out of them. Have you tried Panasonic FMs there? Regards Alex Hi Alex, To my ears the Panasonic FM just don't work there and the HF tends to become slightly etched and uncomfortable (on a prolonged listen).... they initially sound great but after a few minutes they begin to grate  The Samwha VA / The Panasonic FC or the Panasonic NHG are my preferred choice of cap in this position. Mike. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2015 1:11:14 GMT
Hi Mike
The Panasonic FC is my preferred choice in my own gear.
Kind Regards
Alex
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 18, 2015 20:53:05 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 18, 2015 20:56:39 GMT
There has been a change since I took those photos....... one of the 1985 vintage 6112 proved defective so I have fitted a closely matched pair of my special reserve 1960's valves........ pictures to follow.
Mike.
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 19, 2015 19:52:57 GMT
19th April 2015 - Laurent Moureu's XLPS. There wasn't a lot I could do regarding "extra" capacitance in the power section due to the way the caps are crammed together so this was more an exercise of fitting quality capacitors and capacitors that were fit for the job. The two regulators had 85C caps parked right next to them / actually touching them so this was an area that had to be addressed with high temperature capacitors. I chose to implement Panasonic FC (105c) and Samwha VA (135c) adjacent to the regulators, Every single electrolytic was replaced on the board, as well as some of the film caps. A mixture of Nichicon Fine Gold, Panasonic FC, Panasonic FM, Panasonic NHG, Samwha VA, Samwha WF, NIC NRSZ, Wima MKS2 and EVOX PMR Polypropylene caps. A new quad phono socket was also fitted along with UF4004 ultrafast diodes. Before:  After:     Just look how close the caps are to the regulators:  A few close up shots of various sections of the XLPS:       I gave the enclosure a good wash and, voila!, as good as new!:     Sounding absolutely incredible compared to the stock XLPS, I will leave Laurent to comment on it after he has given it a hundred hours or so for the caps to form. Pinkie. |
|
|
|
Post by silver74 on Apr 20, 2015 8:16:57 GMT
I am really looking forward listening to my brand new XLPS and I am sure it will be an incredible experience again. with it, I completed my family... Little Pinkie PSU, X10-D, XCAN V2, and XLPS... all tuned in Scottland  FYI, I have a simple but great Project DC Carbon Esprit with Ortofon 2M Black...it was already sounding great, now it should be even better! Cheers from the French Alps and lovely Annecy |
|
jc
Fully Modded
Posts: 5,417 
|
Post by jc on Apr 20, 2015 17:31:44 GMT
Hey Mike, I used to sell tons of these things without any knowledge of them at all, it was just another accessory to punt out (although they were always good value, sound to pound). I never realised they were NOT a valve hybrid design!!!   |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 20, 2015 20:59:19 GMT
Hey Mike, I used to sell tons of these things without any knowledge of them at all, it was just another accessory to punt out (although they were always good value, sound to pound). I never realised they were NOT a valve hybrid design!!! You learn more each day |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 25, 2015 19:41:45 GMT
25th July 2015 - Chris Fecteau's Musical Fidelity X-CAN V3 upgrade. Removed the stuff that stops this amp working at its best:  Not a lot left on the board:  Ahhhhhhh....... that's a lot better!:  I got rid of the 4 x 40ohm (3 watt) wirewound resistors in parallel which make a total of 10ohm and replaced them with ONE Mills 10ohm, non inductive 12 watt type. The wirewound resistors are magnetic, the Mills non inductive is not, and this one solitary resistor really does make a marked improvement in the sound quality and I will be incorporating it in all of my X-CAN V3 / X-10V3 kits from here on in. The Mills (USA made) non inductive resistor runs lukewarm to the touch, in the V3, but I fitted some heatsinks onto it for good measure (I always like to go belt and braces)...... it's an absolute "key" ingredient to the overall improvement in SQ and I must highlight this. Mills 12 watt / 10ohm non inductive resistor in situ:  Chris supplied his own valves (tubes) and I was a bit skeptical as most people who tell me their valves are "OK" / "matched" / "NOS" get a bit of a shock when I tell them that they are knackered The Amperex / gold pins that Chris sent along with his amp are (possibly) the best matched / healthiest pair of valves that I have ever witnessed..... the triodes matched up perfectly for gain and the transconductance was actually BETTER than the spec sheet..... superb pair of valves (tubes) and then some:  The rest of the mods are my stock upgrade..... Panasonic FC / FM / NHG capacitors, Nichicon Fine Gold / MUSE caps, Wima film caps, UF 4004 ultrafast diodes, new gold plated quad RCA socket, silver loaded solder AND an injection of magic dust from yours truly I hope that Chris will take time to post his impressions after the amp returns to the USA. A few pics: On 24 hour test right now (as I type):  Earlier in the not so summery day:           |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 15, 2015 20:18:14 GMT
14th July - Andrew Love's X-CAN V2 This is one of the cleanest X-CAN V2's that I have seen in a long time, absolutely spotless inside and out. Before:  Remove 40 parts:  After:  I fitted my usual upgrades which consist of extra capacitance on the PSU board, ultrafast diodes, 1000uF output coupling caps, ALPS 50K log potentiometer with knob, Jalco Pro headphone socket, purple LED with 5K1 taming resistor, precision matched pair of 6H23N Voskhod Russian valves (Kaluga plant), brand new 2.1mm DC socket, new gold plated quad phono socket etc. etc. (The "etc." bit is the part that will always remain my secret) The capacitors were a mixture of Panasonic FC, Panasonic FM, and EVOX Rifa, all damned good quality / high 105c temp rated / long life / low ESR types.... the best sounding caps in the V2 "still" (after all these years of me experimenting).... they have never let me down in the sonic or reliability departments and I swear by them. I also made up a solid copper noise nulling screen to replace the aluminium one and this, believe it or not, is quite an "audible" upgrade..... I certainly wouldn't waste my time with a hacksaw and drill if it wasn't The noise floor goes from inky black to even inkier black if that makes any sense. Stock aluminium and hand made copper noise nulling shields:  Hand made copper shield in situ (you can also see the brand new 2.1mm DC socket and gold plated Quad phono socket):  The Tip 110 and Tip 115 transistors were removed and precision matched TIP 110 and TIP 115 were fitted in their place....... I'm not too sure that this makes a "massive" improvement but I must say that this is one of the best V2's I have heard..... whether or not that's down to the matched transistors I'll never know. I think the truth of the matter is that EVERY modded V2 is the "best one" I have ever heard..... I have a damned good listen before I do the mods and a damned good listen when I have completed the mods and it never ceases to amaze me that the V2 that I have just "tinkered" with sounds MILES better than the stock V2 did........ I am VERY self critical and VERY unassuming when it comes down to receiving praise from others and I have never been one of those overly bumptious types who sings his own praises BUT, I have to admit to myself (after all these years) that what I have been doing with / to these amps is something special. I've been told on so many occasions and have always replied with a "No probs, enjoy the music, it was nothing" type response....... I will now reply with "thank you, it was my pleasure and I'm happy to have brought the music to life for you". erm......... nah, I'll stick with my stock "It was no probs mate" reply....... I don't want to be known as an outspoken big head Anyhoo....... here are a few pics of Andy's X-CAN V2 with Rock Grotto mods: URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/pinkfloyd2007_bucket/media/Andy%20Love%20X-CAN%20V2/bare%20psu%20board_zpsl7bqiuun.jpg.html]  [/URL] Whoops!, sorry, that was a pic of the stripped (upper) PCB board Here are the pics of the fully modded V2..... ta ra.... "drum roll" / moonwalk / grab crotch and shriek "Shamone!".........     Lovely enclosure missus..... you got any "candid" naked shots? Nudge nudge, wink wink :       Going in "bareback" with this one....... "input coupling caps" are removed  Not too sure if I want to do the rear end with all that scribbling on it  It's in the post tomorrow Andy, please do report back with your impressions. Mike. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2015 5:05:26 GMT
Mike Have you ever tried double sided copper clad PCBs for this ? Regards Alex
|
|
|
|
Post by andy on Jul 16, 2015 8:59:54 GMT
Mike,
That's looking fantastic! and yes I can see what you mean by it being the cleanest ever, from the photos it looks completely new!
Listening will be fun as I have had to buy a new pair of high Ohm phones as mine would have sucked with this amp.
DT990 Pro's have been running in for the last 48 hours.
Rather excited!
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 16, 2015 19:54:36 GMT
Mike, That's looking fantastic! and yes I can see what you mean by it being the cleanest ever, from the photos it looks completely new! Listening will be fun as I have had to buy a new pair of high Ohm phones as mine would have sucked with this amp. DT990 Pro's have been running in for the last 48 hours. Rather excited! Andy Hi Andy, it's an absolute beauty inside and out, it has obviously seen very little use. I posted it this afternoon (along with the 3 amp power supply) but it won't leave the post office until tomorrow morning as I took a run over to John O' Groats with my mate and totally forgot your package was in the car! It was a lovely day over in John O' Groats and there were quite a few tourists there with expressions on their faces as if to say "Is this it?"...... what the hell do they expect, a bloody theme park? John O' Groats consists of a cafe, a burger shack (on wheels), and a place where you can buy ice cream..... it's not Disneyland  Quite funny watching them all locking their cars and whacking steering locks on..... there has NEVER been a car theft up here, ever and there has never been a burglary.... you could go on holiday for two weeks, leave your doors unlocked and return to find your home and contents intact. God knows where all these tourists with the steering locks come from but I would HATE to live in the type of place where unless it's "locked" it disappears. I'm actually a bit wary going on the holiday in August, if truth be told, all this talk of pick pockets, pimps, scammers, con artists, terrorists etc..... Is that a holiday?? My idea of a holiday is to relax and be carefree not to have to walk about in a kevlar vest with a steering wheel lock in your back pocket..... what the hell type of holiday is that? If any of these lowlives try it on with me when I'm on holiday I'll steam into them like a raging bull..... bloody "extremists" wandering about on beaches shooting people? I'll have my jeans and shoes on at all times and if I see one of those fekkers shooting people I'll boot the fekk out of him..... I was thinking about going with the "shorts and steel toe capped safety boot" look but a pair of trainers are a lot lighter (and you can run away faster ) Call me insane but I really WOULD love to tackle one of those "terrorist" cowards..... disarm him and then really enjoy beating the living daylights out of him.... that would be a superb "adventure" holiday and I may even make it onto the news.......... "British tourist with balls tackles gun toting coward sporting a gun". Anyhoo......... back to the amp Andy.......... I sent via Parcelforce 48 (insured for £500) so it will probably arrive on Monday. Mike. |
|
ronzo56
Been here a while! 
All you need is love. But money helps too.
Posts: 316
|
Post by ronzo56 on Jul 16, 2015 20:49:00 GMT
Sounds like your coming to The States on holiday Mike! |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 16, 2015 21:23:57 GMT
Sounds like your coming to The States on holiday Mike! Oh god no....... a much safer zone..... Vietnam. |
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Jul 16, 2015 21:43:40 GMT
Mike Have you ever tried double sided copper clad PCBs for this ? Regards Alex
What thickness are they Alex? |
|
|
|
Post by freddypipsqueek on Jul 16, 2015 22:21:30 GMT
Should it not be - "sounds like yaw coming to the USA"
|
|
jc
Fully Modded
Posts: 5,417
|
Post by jc on Jul 16, 2015 22:37:20 GMT
Youz wise crackin' honky, it's "Hey nigga, youz commin to da hood?"
|
|
jc
Fully Modded
Posts: 5,417
|
Post by jc on Jul 16, 2015 22:47:20 GMT
"Hey m***** f*****, don't you be bringin' yaw limey white ass to da bruthas hood!".
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2015 22:55:49 GMT
Mike Have you ever tried double sided copper clad PCBs for this ? Regards Alex
What thickness are they Alex? Hi Mike They are 1.6mm thick with 1oz. copper both sides. I haven't tried them, but Silicon Chip used them in a Phono Preamp design for screening.
Regards Alex
|
|
|
|
Post by andy on Jul 17, 2015 22:38:21 GMT
After all that it comes down to 1.6mm
|
|
jc
Fully Modded
Posts: 5,417
|
Post by jc on Jul 17, 2015 23:11:58 GMT
Sounds like your coming to The States on holiday Mike! Oh god no....... a much safer zone..... Vietnam. Ya gonna be in the DMZee? Can't think of Vietnam without quotes like; |
|
|
|
Post by andy on Aug 14, 2015 15:27:23 GMT
Just a quick catch-up,
My new and tweeked X-can has ben getting a little use, but due to children being off school etc no where near enough to give a accurate idea of how things are.
Having said that I am hugely impressed with what I am hearing so far. Im using a pair of DT990 Pro 250Ohm cans and am loving the depth of the sound stage from cd's I have listened to many times in the past.
Hope to move this amp up to my 'loft' soon and get some serious listening underway whist catching up with paperwork...... cant wait!
A
|
|
The Samwha VA / The Panasonic FC or the Panasonic NHG are my preferred choice of cap in this position.
Quite funny watching them all locking their cars and whacking steering locks on..... there has NEVER been a car theft up here, ever and there has never been a burglary.... you could go on holiday for two weeks, leave your doors unlocked and return to find your home and contents intact. God knows where all these tourists with the steering locks come from but I would HATE to live in the type of place where unless it's "locked" it disappears.
