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Post by derekrumble on Oct 10, 2007 12:19:45 GMT
Why did I buy it? What do I like about? In the context of my X-DACv3 I'll try to explain.
I didn't need an X-DACv3 - until my Denon DVD2900 failed. For the second time.
You see the 2900 is a very nice piece of kit.... when it worked. Great picture quality plus fantastic reviews praising its sound quality as well. And I believe those reviews were accurate. The 2900 was priced in the UK at around 700 to 800 pounds and if the sound quality was equal to , say, a £400 stand-alone CD player then all is as it should be. And it was - the 2900 is a fine CD player, as well as handling SACD without conversion to PCM, and DVD-A too.
When it failed the first time it was just within guarantee.. but when the 2900 failed for the second time I didnt want to risk the expense of a repair and have it let me down again. Like many quite a few audiophiles, I had a couple of inexpensive CD machines, from previous systems, lying about. So adding an external DAC was maybe the route to take. This should give me high end sound for mid fi expense. I couldn't afford to go back into the £800 per unit market - but I could just about afford around half that price.. which is where the X-DACv3 came in.
Upsampling to 24bit / 192kHz with DSD1792 DACs, plus good reviews, and less than £500 pounds - in fact I had a £50 discount because I bought the stores demo model. Straight out of the box it sounded cool, accurate and detailed. But even though it was ex-demo and therefore a little run-in already, it continued to improve for about six months. Now it is sort-of warm and smooth but detailed. And there is still the opportunity to improve the X-DACv3 a bit more with a power supply upgrade if I wish to go that far.
The X-DACv3 was also a new mate for my X-CANv3! I had had this for some time. You see the Denon DVD2900 had no 'phones socket. Nor had my amp/pre-amp.. hhmmmm... need a headphone facility, and I would love to have valves in my system somewhere.... so welcome the X-CANv3. Aagain, straight out of the box.... wonderful. A month mater? Sheer magic.
So put together the X-DACv3 and the X-CANv3 make up a very very good mini system. I did take the risk and have my Denon repaired (£180). It needed a new transport, as it did the for the first repair under quarantee. But the part number for the mech. has changed meaning hopefully that it's a redesigned part which may last a bit longer. Anyhow, so far, so good... the 2900 is working fabulously, and the 2900 > X-DAC > X-CAN path to my Grados is brilliant.
There is one serious flaw with products like the small X series. They are good quality without being frighteningly expensive. Which means that upgrading is a non-trivial issue. My view is that a significant upgrade would HAVE to cost around double the price of the small X's. In fact that's where I am with the whole of my system right now; it's balanced, high quality stuff but nothing is high budget so I can't afford anything that is significnatly better than I already have! The only way forward, as I see it, is to win the lottery, or tackle X-DAC / X-CAN power supply issue.
Derek
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Post by derekrumble on Oct 10, 2007 12:49:34 GMT
Or to put it in rhyme... (Sung to Scaffold's "Lily the Pink") Gimme The Pink, The Pink, The Pink, And then I think, I think, I think... I'll plug it in... I'll put it in place, Behind my stack..... of X-CAN and DAC Most efficacious, in ev'ry case! Sorry  Derek |
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Post by derekrumble on Oct 10, 2007 13:15:58 GMT
Verse Two - and then I'll shut up....
We'll drink, a drink, a drink,
To my little Pink, The Pink, The Pink
It gives your Wall-Wart... a case-of-the-trots
Better than any... medicinal compound,
Pinkie cures all... with Amps-Volts-and-Watts.
I'll get me coat.
Derek
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2007 13:41:56 GMT
Derek Should have quit while you were ahead ?  SandyK |
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Post by derekrumble on Oct 10, 2007 13:43:15 GMT
But neither of those verses will win me the Pinkie because they fail to address the issue as set out by PinkFloyd who said...
"...to be in with a chance of winning this Little Pinkie I'd like you to tell me what you like about your small x-series component."
Buttering him up with praise for his Little Pink Marvel just won't do. Or will it ? !!
Derek
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Post by colin1958 on Oct 10, 2007 15:37:43 GMT
HI DEREK ???IT MIGHT.......I HAD THE MUSICAL FIDELITY XPSU; & YES IT WAS AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE STANDARD WALLWART,BUT,THE PINKIE V3i ABSOLUTELY TROUNCES THE X-PSU IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.ALSO MIKE GIVES YOU THE OPTION OF ANY LENGTH OF UMBILICAL CHORD [WITHIN REASON]TO YOUR X-COMPONENT,IN MY CASE TO MY X-10V3. I HAD THE X-PSU CONNECTED TO MY X-10V3 VIA AN EXPENSIVE UMBILICAL CHORD BOUGHT FROM THE USA,I THINK FROM MEMORY IT COST £50 FROM AUDIOGON  .IT'S ORIGINAL COST WAS APPARENTLY £100 & THEY ARE STILL BEING SOLD NOW.I HAVE ALREADY GONE ON RECORD TO SAY THAT THE COMBINATION WAS VERY GOOD & INDEED I WAS VERY PLEASED,THAT WAS UNTIL I BOUGHT THE X-10V3 UPGRADE KIT FROM PINK FLOYD.I HAD MY X-10V3 MODDED BY A FRIEND [AS I SUFFER FROM ARTHRITUS],THE SOUND VASTLY IMPROVED.I THEN PURCHASED THE PINKIE V3i & IT WAS THEN THAT I REALISED THE FULL POTENTIAL OF WHAT MY SYSTEM COULD OFFER.TAKE A LOOK AT THE REVIEWS FROM ROBERT & MYSELF. I REALLY CANNOT EXPRESS THIS ANY MORE CLEARLY......THE MUSICAL FIDELITY X-PSU IS IN MY OPINION VERY GOOD,BUT THE PINK FLOYD PINKIE V3i IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.THIS GUY HAS BUILT A QUALITY PIECE OF HIFI THAT ABSOLUTELY WIPES THE FLOOR WITH THE COMPETITION. YES I KNOW THE M.F. X-PSU CAN RUN 4 COMPONENTS BUT IN MY HONEST OPINION I WOULD RATHER HAVE A PINKIE FOR EACH COMPONENT.THESE PINKIES ARE SO SMALL & UNOBTUSIVE THEY COULD BE HIDDEN AT THE BACK OF ANY RACK! DON'T COMPROMISE YOUR EQUIPMENT WITH THE X-PSU,LET YOUR COMPONENTS SING & BREATHE ......BUY THE PINKIEV3i HOPE THIS HELPS.  |
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Post by bennyboy on Oct 10, 2007 20:29:16 GMT
If the sky fell to the sea, there would still be me and my V3. ;D
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Post by bennyboy on Oct 10, 2007 20:32:56 GMT
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Post by colin1958 on Oct 10, 2007 21:18:11 GMT
oh dear! have i upset somebody?[bennyboy]go & play with your mobile phone  |
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Post by bennyboy on Oct 11, 2007 0:20:08 GMT
oh dear! have i upset somebody?[bennyboy]go & play with your mobile phone What is a mobile phone? and why would I play with it? |
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Post by colin1958 on Oct 11, 2007 20:14:27 GMT
OK BENNYBOY,OBVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T GET MY DRIFT,SO MAYBE IT IS BEST IF YOU JUST WRITE SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE & TRY & WIN THIS PINKIE FOR YOURSELF.MIKE IS OFFERING A SUPER PRIZE FOR ALL TO WIN & FOR THE LIFE OF ME I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY MORE MEMBERS HAVEN'T ENTERED.GOOD LUCK TO YOU IF YOU DO DECIDE TO PEN SOMETHING WORTHWHILE & NOT TAKE CHEAP SHOTS AT THOSE WHO DO!
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Post by bennyboy on Oct 11, 2007 20:25:02 GMT
Hey Greenhorn! try unlocking your keycaps(you look like a fool when you write in caps).
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Post by colin1958 on Oct 11, 2007 20:26:41 GMT
GO BOIL YOUR HEAD!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2007 20:53:52 GMT
Hey Guys!
Benny's original "Kiss Ass" comment was only meant to be funny. He would have done exactly the same to Mike , Graham, me, or anybody else !
I sometimes use capital letters to highlight something, or make it more noticeable, but my understanding is that complete use of capital letters is the equivalent of SHOUTING .
So let's get this back on track to see who can win the prize ?
SandyK
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Post by colin1958 on Oct 11, 2007 21:15:38 GMT
:)Many thanks for clearing that up Alex,i use caps as it is easier for ME to read.when i saw bennyboys kissass remark i wasn't to sure how to take it,i'm probably a little bit pissed off that more members are not bothered to take a little bit of time out & try & win this competition.let's face it alot of people ask mike for help & insight to a lot of problems they experience,questions that often take a lengthy reply.if i have offended bennyboy or anyone else i apologise.in future i will wear my glasses so as not to appear to SHOUT :-[maybe now bennyboy will not smite me]
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toad
Been here a while! 
I am the Super Toad, the Original Toad, the Whole Toad and nothing BUT the toad.... don't forget it!
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Post by toad on Oct 11, 2007 22:14:53 GMT
Colin if you use Internet Explorer go to the view menu then down to Text Size menu and change the text size.
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Post by colin1958 on Oct 12, 2007 6:02:03 GMT
:)cheers my friend,i'm not very good on the computer will get 1 of the kids to do it when they turn up at home.
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Post by colin1958 on Oct 14, 2007 17:47:53 GMT
Musical Fidelity X-psu verses Pinkie v3i one is poo the other hifi safe to say i've used em both one is sold a real sloth nice to hear my music clear & sing i must be listening via the V3i ;D OK,last post from me,no more cheesy ditties |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 14, 2007 22:21:00 GMT
Winner will be announced at one second past midnight. I can't subject myself to a minute more of these corny poems I'll require (more) medication if this continues  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 14, 2007 22:33:49 GMT
Sod it, I want to end the pain before one second past midnight....... The winner is................................ Colin!sung to the tune of ROXANNE by the POLICE[ phrasing is everything give it a go] WALLMART YOU DONT NEED TO UNDER ACHIEVE TONIGHT YOUR DAYS ARE ALL OVER YOUR JUST A BASIC BAG OF SHITE WALLMART YOU'VE BEEN UNPLUGGED CAUSE YOUR NOT TOO BRIGHT TAKE YOUR WEAK SUPPLY YOUR NO CONTEST FOR THE ALL NEW MIGHT WALLMART YOU DON'T NEED TO UNDER ACHIEVE TONIGHT WALLMART YOU'VE JUST A BASIC BAG OF SHITE WALLMARK, [ BEATEN BY THE PINKIE]WALLMARK,[beaten by the pinkie] WALLMARK [beaten by the PINKIE],WALLMART [beaten by the PINKIE] WALLMART[beaten by the PINKIE.......... You do realise I actually sang along to that? More disturbing that I was singing "wallmart" instead of "wallwart"..... my type of humour man and your Turbo pink Wallmart will be on it's way to you special delivery tomorrow. Thanks to the thousands of contestants for their entries but there could only be one Wallmart winner and that winner is COLIN! Enjoy your turbo vented wallmart mate Pinkie. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 14, 2007 22:40:57 GMT
BTW (by the way) my Walmart has been doing very well.... it has now grown into a US supermarket chain store. |
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Sol
100+
loves motorcycles !
Chief Technical Numpty
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Post by Sol on Oct 14, 2007 22:46:32 GMT
The course is clear for our scottish DIY guru!
It's obvious there's too many who wish to woo.
They've all had a stab at being literary lames,
but the time approaches to end this game.
So I wait with baited breath for the announcement,
a pinkie to the poster with the best pronouncement!
Will it be Alex, Merton, Graham, or fanboi
Someone will be heralding the arrival of their new toy!
There's appeal in this X-comp PSU,
you'll hear the review in a day or two.
I'm sure the winner will be pleased with their prize,
and will be estolling the virtue of increased soundstage size!
All x-comps are smashing bits of kit,
they're budget hifi, and have proved quiet a hit.
The test has been time, they're obvioulsy not fads,
The sound great, and look the dogs gonads,
So Mike will retire to ponder 1st choice,
and determine whose x-comp will improve it's voice.
So choose wisely Mike, the players await,
Oh and with this little ditty, I'm probably too late.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2007 23:20:30 GMT
Nice choice Mike, you have to give Colin a big wrap for his fierce determination to win a Little Pinkie exclusive.
Colin's gear will love you too !
SandyK
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 14, 2007 23:22:14 GMT
The course is clear for our scottish DIY guru! It's obvious there's too many who wish to woo. They've all had a stab at being literary lames, but the time approaches to end this game. So I wait with baited breath for the announcement, a pinkie to the poster with the best pronouncement! Will it be Alex, Merton, Graham, or fanboi Someone will be heralding the arrival of their new toy! There's appeal in this X-comp PSU, you'll hear the review in a day or two. I'm sure the winner will be pleased with their prize, and will be estolling the virtue of increased soundstage size! All x-comps are smashing bits of kit, they're budget hifi, and have proved quiet a hit. The test has been time, they're obvioulsy not fads, The sound great, and look the dogs gonads, So Mike will retire to ponder 1st choice, and determine whose x-comp will improve it's voice. So choose wisely Mike, the players await, Oh and with this little ditty, I'm probably too late. You're 14 minutes early and around 13 minutes too late..... Colin wins with his wallmarts. No correspondence will be entered into the pink decision is final wallmart.... premium wallmart... the entire wallmart, nothing but the wallmart..... the FULL Wallmart. Nice try Sol |
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Post by bennyboy on Oct 14, 2007 23:37:53 GMT
The course is clear for our scottish DIY guru! It's obvious there's too many who wish to woo. They've all had a stab at being literary lames, but the time approaches to end this game. So I wait with baited breath for the announcement, a pinkie to the poster with the best pronouncement! Will it be Alex, Merton, Graham, or fanboi Someone will be heralding the arrival of their new toy! There's appeal in this X-comp PSU, you'll hear the review in a day or two. I'm sure the winner will be pleased with their prize, and will be estolling the virtue of increased soundstage size! All x-comps are smashing bits of kit, they're budget hifi, and have proved quiet a hit. The test has been time, they're obvioulsy not fads, The sound great, and look the dogs gonads, So Mike will retire to ponder 1st choice, and determine whose x-comp will improve it's voice. So choose wisely Mike, the players await, Oh and with this little ditty, I'm probably too late. You're 14 minutes early and around 13 minutes too late..... Colin wins with his wallmarts. No correspondence will be entered into the pink decision is final wallmart.... premium wallmart... the entire wallmart, nothing but the wallmart..... the FULL Wallmart. Nice try Sol What a jip! the cry baby wins in it! and its wallwart not wallmart. |
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.IT'S ORIGINAL COST WAS APPARENTLY £100 & THEY ARE STILL BEING SOLD NOW.I HAVE ALREADY GONE ON RECORD TO SAY THAT THE COMBINATION WAS VERY GOOD & INDEED I WAS VERY PLEASED,THAT WAS UNTIL I BOUGHT THE X-10V3 UPGRADE KIT FROM PINK FLOYD.I HAD MY X-10V3 MODDED BY A FRIEND [AS I SUFFER FROM ARTHRITUS],THE SOUND VASTLY IMPROVED.I THEN PURCHASED THE PINKIE V3i & IT WAS THEN THAT I REALISED THE FULL POTENTIAL OF WHAT MY SYSTEM COULD OFFER.TAKE A LOOK AT THE REVIEWS FROM ROBERT & MYSELF.
