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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 28, 2006 21:32:00 GMT
You'd like the summers here then Rick and I quote:
Summers are long, sunny and usually warm. Not as warm as the Riviera, but then Thurso is much further north. Due to daylight saving time, the summer days in Thurso last much longer than someone from the south would expect. Sunrise occurs at around 0300 and sunset around 2400. On the longest day of the year, the sun barely sets. It goes from evening to twilight then straight into morning.
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Fergus
100+
Done a David Ike and is now known as Godkin 
Posts: 197
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Post by Fergus on Oct 31, 2006 19:24:58 GMT
Just spent the day slaving over the V3. Following Mike's advice, I fitted the 1000uF/16v CD71 bi-polars to the output stage, bypassing them with Russian mil-spec PIO caps. I also fitted EPCOS polyprops, Wima bypass caps, resistors, and mounted the heatsinks to the transistors. Because there was DC coming from the X-DAC, however slight, I decided to play it safe and fit the small CD71 caps to the input.
V3 now sounds fantastic, but I'll let it burn in for a few days and see how it improves. I've asked Mike to send me a few of the UF4007 ultra-fast diodes - they can only improve things even more.
Fergus
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 2, 2006 0:23:24 GMT
01st November - Miguel's X-CAN V2 Fully Panasonic FM'ed throughout with the exception of the output caps which are CapXon audio grade 470uF non polars. Electrolytics bypassed in places using good quality film caps. 470nF EVOX polyprop bypassed with silvered Mica. Ultrafast diode mod fitted, JALCO head socket fitted, hand matched ALPS pot fitted, new Gold plated quad phono socket fitted, Purple LED with integral 5K1 resistor fitted, a few damping washers fitted to the support pillars, 1UF stock film caps bypassed with 47nF EVOX polyprops. She's playing away as I type this and I think you may possibly like what you hear. I've got a few bits and bobs to try out tomorrow but, in the meantime here's the pRon:  The first ultrafast diode module to hit the board  Silvered Mica bypass cap and a couple of film bypass caps  All of the ultrafsat modules in position  1200uF 35V Panasonic FM's (two different package sizes for variety )  EVOX with silvered mica bypass  Close up of the silvered mica  Purple LED assembly in position  Another angle  New gold plated quad socket  New hand matched ALPS potentiometer, Jalco headphone socket, input caps removed (jumpered with zero ohm links) and 470uF CapXon audio grade non polar output caps  Shows the stubbier 1200uF Panasonic FC in different package size  a couple of EVOX poyprops which bypass the stock 1UF film caps So, don't worry Miguel, she arrived this afternoon and received my full attention.... will be on her way back to you once I've listened to her for 48 hours.... so far so very good  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 2, 2006 0:37:44 GMT
Just spent the day slaving over the V3. Following Mike's advice, I fitted the 1000uF/16v CD71 bi-polars to the output stage, bypassing them with Russian mil-spec PIO caps. I don't remember advising you to bypass the 1000uF non polars with "russian" mil spec caps (or any caps for that matter) but if it sounds good then it is is good as that man used to say I also fitted EPCOS polyprops, Wima bypass caps, resistors, and mounted the heatsinks to the transistors. Because there was DC coming from the X-DAC, however slight, I decided to play it safe and fit the small CD71 caps to the input. Wima bypass caps fitted to?................ and what value of bypass cap? If the DC is very small (<5mV) then dispense with the input caps, it does make a fair bit of improvement overall. V3 now sounds fantastic, but I'll let it burn in for a few days and see how it improves. I've asked Mike to send me a few of the UF4007 ultra-fast diodes - they can only improve things even more. They just arrived this afternoon Fergus I'll solder on the caps tomorrow and send you some, let me know what you think of them... I can send you the naked diodes if you prefer? |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 2, 2006 1:07:04 GMT
By the way Mike, you remembered that my Little Pinkie should be 120 volts, right?  ummmmmm..... " yes" I tend to pay attention when it comes to voltage you can see she's configured correctly by looking at the primary connections: (the ones to the right of the picture)  |
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Fergus
100+
Done a David Ike and is now known as Godkin
Posts: 197
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Post by Fergus on Nov 2, 2006 12:34:06 GMT
I used the 1000uF caps following your technical advice about why a 1000uF caps were necessary to drive the Sennheisers. I fitted the WIMA (100pF/100v) to bypass the yellow film caps because I couldn't get the EVOX/RIFA you recommended from FARNELL.
Yes, please, diodes with the soldered caps.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 2, 2006 23:47:47 GMT
Yes, please, diodes with the soldered caps. My batch arrived today Fergus and I've made seven up for you, they'll be in the post tomorrow... let me know what you think. Mike. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Nov 23, 2006 23:39:33 GMT
Mike, just a quick note to let you know I am loving my V2. The sound is just sweet and punchy. It is amazing how deep and thick the bass is. Thanks. Thanks Miguel I'm so happy you're enjoying it. I've finished the one I got for myself but am so deep down with the winter blues and aching joints from the persistent rain, that I just can't get into the groove even though it sounds the business. Hopefully we'll have a few dry sunny days and I may be able to pull myself out of it a bit but, at the moment, I'm in gloom mode. I want to sell a load of amps but can't even get motivated enough to list them on ebay...... (that's my excuse ) |
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Nov 24, 2006 19:18:12 GMT
almost like being asked which kid of mine I like best.  there are times they ALL get on my last nerve and times the differences between the three are so extreme that I wonder if my wife was out screwing around to widen the gene pool (joke ) but in the end each is uniquely different in a good way and so each a keeper and the question not a thing I could ever answer without lying |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 5, 2007 21:41:33 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 5, 2007 21:45:21 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 9, 2007 21:16:38 GMT
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Post by spacecadet on Jan 9, 2007 23:02:17 GMT
Ohhhh!!! My x-can sweetie has turned into an internet pin-up, showing herself bare for everyone to see!
She rather suits the black and yellow don't you think? Can't wait to get her home and give her a good hearing to. Thanks again pinkie!! (Like the modding badge of honor there).
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 9, 2007 23:11:11 GMT
Ohhhh!!! My x-can sweetie has turned into an internet pin-up, showing herself bare for everyone to see! She rather suits the black and yellow don't you think? Can't wait to get her home and give her a good hearing to. Thanks again pinkie!! (Like the modding badge of honor there). She's in a box ready to return to base tomorrow, I really couldn't have let her leave me without fitting new caps spacecadet, a few of them on the PSU were bulging at the tops and fit for the bin, to have just replaced them and left the rest intact would have been shoddy workmanship, not something I aspire to. She is totally renewed now with the exception she sounds 100% better than they ever did new. The panasonic FM capacitors will last for many many years I hope you enjoy the sound. Mike. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 16, 2007 2:21:01 GMT
Hi Miguel,
Same value of cap different brand, that's all. Both give the same 470uF
All the best.
Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 23, 2007 21:39:01 GMT
23/01/07 Peter De Turk's X-CAN V2 Fitted a total of 14,000uF to the PSU board using Panasonic FM / FC caps. Fitted 470nF EVOX polypropylene to the PSU board Fitted UF 4007 ultrafast diodes Fitted Capxon 470uF (105C) output capacitors Removed the input capacitors and jumpered with zero ohm links Fitted Panasonic FM 100uF to the lower board (the filter caps) Removed the stock potentiometer and replaced with a hand matched ALPS Type Fitted a Jalco Pro Headphone socket Fitted a Blue LED with integral 5K1 resistor Drilled a few vent holes on the PSU board              |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 23, 2007 22:51:02 GMT
Mike, I see you are back drilling holes on the top board. I was under the impression you had stopped doing so. What caused you to start again? Hi Miguel, For no other reason other than Peter requested it. He's also arranging for his enclosure to be drilled top and bottom. Like yours, no signs of overheating in Peter's V2 so the venting is not required, it won't do any harm but personally I prefer to leave the enclosure as is unless it's one of those pretty rare V2's that runs as hot as toast. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 10, 2007 18:36:25 GMT
10th February 2007 - Chris's B-Tech BT928 I haven't seen one of these guys for a few years so when Chris e-mailed me asking about components I asked him to send it up to me so I could get reacquainted with the little B-Tech. Well she arrived this morning and I spent an enjoyable couple of hours tweaking her When she arrived:  That tone control had to go so I whipped it out and also whipped out the 3 unnecessary caps adjacent to it (if anyone else has a B-Tech then just remove these components don't jumper over the pads) I replaced the body of the tone control as a temporary measure (to cover the hole) but chris can fit an on / off switch here should he want to at a later date:  Next up I replaced all the resistors with 0.5watt metal film types:  Removed the power caps and replaced the 25V 1000uF with a Panasonic FC 35V 1800uF and the 25V 100uF with an ELNA cerafine 63V 100uF I also replaced the 1N4002 diode with an ultrafast UF4007:  Removed the NE5532, Fitted a dip8 socket and rolled in an OPA2134. I'll have a listen over the weekend and try a few different opamps on board including AD843, OPA2227, OPA2107 and a few others.... the winner will remain under the bonnet, Chris has a pair of SR-80 on the way so I'll choose the opamp that best matches my SR-225. Replaced the remainder of the caps with Panasonic NHG series. Great little amp and still a firm recommendation at £25, throw a few more quid into it and it responds very well indeed EDIT: Replaced the 2 x 47uF output caps with 2 x 470uF as the 47uF were rolling off the Grado's bass.... why oh why do a lot of manufacturers assume that people will only be using high impedance 'phones ;D A few more pics:     |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 12, 2007 20:39:54 GMT
12th February 2007 - Fabio's X-CAN v3 UF4007 Ultrafast diodes, Panasonic FC / FM, EVOX polyprops, input caps removed and "one" 16V 1000uF non polars. I have recently thought it better to fit just one high value output capacitor per channel rather than the two 470uF I normally fit. It makes sense that the signal only pass through one capacitor instead of two in this position. I have also taken to damping the psu capacitors by pumping hot melt glue in between them... IMO this firms up the bass slightly, I have also fitted felt dampers on top of the capacitors.   A close up of the capacitor damping    One x 1000uF 16V non polar output cap per channel |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 13, 2007 22:54:29 GMT
Mike, the following pic is what I have on my V3. Do you recomend I install the blue caps as shown above? Thanks.  The blue caps are polypropylene the ones in the above picture are stock metallized polyester. Swapping them out and installing polyprops (the blue ones) on their own won't add up to much but in conjunction with the rest of the mods each small improvement goes toward making a big improvement. I'll send you a couple over Miguel along with a couple of 1000uF output caps. Easy to fit as both are non polar. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 11, 2007 18:43:55 GMT
11th March 2007 - Richard Drew's X-CAN V1 This little puppy arrived humming away quite the thing. One look at the 85C caps next to the regulators was all that was required to pinpoint the culprits.... right enough they were pretty much shot and were also bulging:  So, without further ado all the caps were plucked out:  And replaced with 1200uF Panasonic FM 105C types:  X-Can V1 aficionados will see a film cap on the PSU board and will ask "what's that doing there?" Well, this is an issue 4 board and they all came with film caps (the earlier versions didn't) so there you have it. I also replace the 1N4004 diodes with ultrafast UF4007 types. On the amp board I replaced the 470nF polyester caps with EVOX polypropylenes and replaced all the 10uF electrolytics with 105C non polar types. All 100uF caps were replaced with 105C Panasonic FM. I also removed the NE5532 opamps, fitted dip8 sockets and then rolled in a couple of the uber fantastic Burr Brown OPA 2107..... WHAT an improvement! absolutely stunning To up the visuals a bit I fitted a blue LED. Some piccies:      |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 25, 2007 18:01:10 GMT
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Post by gianix on Apr 26, 2007 6:05:36 GMT
Hi Mike,
I'm very happy to see my X-CAN v2 full upgraded, now I just can't wait to get it back home. There are two sweet NOS Mullard E88CC and a lot of music to listen here in France waiting for it!!
I just bought an AKG K1000, do you think the X-CAN v2 can drive this headphone? If not do you have any suggestion for an amplifier that doesn't cost as a fortune?
Many Thanks
Gianluca
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hydrocity
<100
Official Funky Cat status
Funky Cat Maybe
Posts: 31 
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Post by hydrocity on Apr 27, 2007 1:10:59 GMT
HAY GUYZ
I thought I never would, but finally found and bought a xcanv2! Time to raise the tubes out on top of the chassis, replace jacks and pot, and... make a tread+toroid power supply (will a tread work?)
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Post by gianix on May 7, 2007 19:47:37 GMT
Hi Mike,
I would like to thank you for the great job you made on my X-CANv2. I simply love the way it sounds with my hd650!!
Thank you
Gianluca
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