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Post by derekrumble on Dec 26, 2007 16:54:33 GMT
dang, anyone here use this pinkie with a dac? I have had a Little Pinkie powering up my X-Dac V3 for well over 6 months. So, after another 8 months - how does it sound with the X-dacV3? I use an X-dac and I am interested in your observations. Thanks, Derek |
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Post by derekrumble on Dec 26, 2007 16:56:31 GMT
I have had a Little Pinkie powering up my X-Dac V3 for well over 6 months. So, after another 8 months - how does it sound with the X-dacV3? I use an X-dac and I am interested in your observations. Thanks, Derek Sorry got the date wrong - darned American conventions!... so .. after another 2 and a half months - hot does it sound? Derek |
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Post by datsun510 on Dec 29, 2007 2:02:56 GMT
I'd like to order one...! how?!
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Post by dc2 on Feb 9, 2008 20:38:29 GMT
Thanks for the Little Pinky Mike.
Along with the XCan V2 upgrade it’s been in use ever day since I received it mid December. This combination is the most enjoyment I gotten out of my system in a long time.
In the description of the Little Pink you say there is a built in thermal trip, is it on the load side or the supply side and will it protect against short circuit?
Thanks
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 9, 2008 21:45:10 GMT
Thanks for the Little Pinky Mike. Along with the XCan V2 upgrade it’s been in use ever day since I received it mid December. This combination is the most enjoyment I gotten out of my system in a long time. In the description of the Little Pink you say there is a built in thermal trip, is it on the load side or the supply side and will it protect against short circuit? Thanks Hi dc2, Glad you like it man  The thermal trip is on the load side and, yes, it will trip under a short circuit situation.... it is self resetting..... the primary side is protected by a time delay (T) fuse. |
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Post by derekrumble on Feb 20, 2008 11:16:04 GMT
I have emailed Mike to order my V3i PSU at last. Am so looking forward to using it with my X-DACv3. Derek
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 25, 2008 12:22:40 GMT
For those of you waiting for Little Pinkies. I have just been informed that the custom transformers are in the process of being potted and will be with me midweek so I anticipate the Pinkies will start going out early next week.
Sorry for the delay but this is what happens when you get the transformers custom made to your requirements by a small specialist manufacturer.
Many thanks for your patience, I'm glad to say the wait is almost over!
Mike.
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Post by RyCooder on Feb 25, 2008 13:02:59 GMT
That´s really great news! I´m looking very much forward to hear what it will do for my headphonelistening (X-can V3 + HD650, source Primare CD31 and loads of great music).
Lars
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Post by derekrumble on Feb 29, 2008 10:20:08 GMT
For those of you waiting for Little Pinkies. I have just been informed that the custom transformers are in the process of being potted and will be with me midweek so I anticipate the Pinkies will start going out early next week. Sorry for the delay but this is what happens when you get the transformers custom made to your requirements by a small specialist manufacturer. Many thanks for your patience, I'm glad to say the wait is almost over! Mike. No problem at all - the wait will be worth it I am sure. Following on from gruiter's comment earlier I wouldn't expect any 'burn-in' effect with what is a straightforward transformer in a box - or am I wrong? Derek |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 29, 2008 13:14:08 GMT
No problem at all - the wait will be worth it I am sure. Following on from gruiter's comment earlier I wouldn't expect any 'burn-in' effect with what is a straightforward transformer in a box - or am I wrong? Derek They have "at last!" shipped them today (the transformers) so the Pinkies will be going out pretty soon.... I have all the enclosures, wiring etc. all ready to go I REALLY must order up some more NOW and never be in the position where I have to wait weeks again, the company that make these to order are fantastic but man are they slow! There will be a degree of "burn in" Derek.... it will sound fantastic fresh from the box but do allow it a few hundred hours for the internal class X2 capacitors to form and you'll also notice it sounds better after about 30 mins from cold. Have a look inside and you'll see it's not just a straight transformer in a box  |
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Post by derekrumble on Feb 29, 2008 18:39:22 GMT
No problem at all - the wait will be worth it I am sure. Following on from gruiter's comment earlier I wouldn't expect any 'burn-in' effect with what is a straightforward transformer in a box - or am I wrong? Derek They have "at last!" shipped them today (the transformers) so the Pinkies will be going out pretty soon.... I have all the enclosures, wiring etc. all ready to go I REALLY must order up some more NOW and never be in the position where I have to wait weeks again, the company that make these to order are fantastic but man are they slow! There will be a degree of "burn in" Derek.... it will sound fantastic fresh from the box but do allow it a few hundred hours for the internal class X2 capacitors to form and you'll also notice it sounds better after about 30 mins from cold. Have a look inside and you'll see it's not just a straight transformer in a box Yes, stupid aren't I? The caps will need to settle in. Am having to unload everything from the living room this weekend as we are having a new carpet laid - that means all the main system audio kit will be unplugged and shipped out - so when re-assembled there will be new acoustics (the new carpet is thicker) AND a new PSU! Isn't it sad I am exited? In the meantime I can have my X-DACv3 and my X-CANv3 at my bedside so I can stroke them when I wake up. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 29, 2008 21:45:14 GMT
They have "at last!" shipped them today (the transformers) so the Pinkies will be going out pretty soon.... I have all the enclosures, wiring etc. all ready to go I REALLY must order up some more NOW and never be in the position where I have to wait weeks again, the company that make these to order are fantastic but man are they slow! There will be a degree of "burn in" Derek.... it will sound fantastic fresh from the box but do allow it a few hundred hours for the internal class X2 capacitors to form and you'll also notice it sounds better after about 30 mins from cold. Have a look inside and you'll see it's not just a straight transformer in a box Yes, stupid aren't I? The caps will need to settle in. Am having to unload everything from the living room this weekend as we are having a new carpet laid - that means all the main system audio kit will be unplugged and shipped out - so when re-assembled there will be new acoustics (the new carpet is thicker) AND a new PSU! Isn't it sad I am exited? In the meantime I can have my X-DACv3 and my X-CANv3 at my bedside so I can stroke them when I wake up. Just noticed you don't want a switch Derek, a man after my own heart! I used to make these guys without switches and every man and his dog said "I want a switch" ;D I, personally, don't use a switch on mine.... the only thing is they don't look quite as good without the switch, just looks like an unobtrusive little black box with no purpose in life, some people prefer that kind of minimalist look though It won't be long in arriving now and please do report back and let me know what you think of it. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 2, 2008 16:14:47 GMT
Won't be long now guys, just waiting for the transformers which should be here tomorrow then it's just a case of soldering this lot together  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 3, 2008 9:41:24 GMT
Transformers are here - nose to the grindstone for me ;D
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Post by RyCooder on Mar 3, 2008 11:13:20 GMT
Terrific news! But take care and don´t push yourself too hard.
All the best Mike!
Lars
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 3, 2008 21:48:01 GMT
Terrific news! But take care and don´t push yourself too hard. All the best Mike! Lars Got through a few today which will be shipped tomorrow, you are in the next batch Lars which I will make tomorrow... still quite a few to make but should manage to work my way out of the backlog by the weekend |
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Post by RyCooder on Mar 4, 2008 6:21:27 GMT
That´s really good news. Looking very much forward to try it. Now when it´s so close the waiting gets harder...  Thanks Mike Lars |
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Post by derekrumble on Mar 4, 2008 11:52:45 GMT
Yes, stupid aren't I? The caps will need to settle in. Am having to unload everything from the living room this weekend as we are having a new carpet laid - that means all the main system audio kit will be unplugged and shipped out - so when re-assembled there will be new acoustics (the new carpet is thicker) AND a new PSU! Isn't it sad I am exited? In the meantime I can have my X-DACv3 and my X-CANv3 at my bedside so I can stroke them when I wake up. Just noticed you don't want a switch Derek, a man after my own heart! I used to make these guys without switches and every man and his dog said "I want a switch" ;D I, personally, don't use a switch on mine.... the only thing is they don't look quite as good without the switch, just looks like an unobtrusive little black box with no purpose in life, some people prefer that kind of minimalist look though It won't be long in arriving now and please do report back and let me know what you think of it. Yes of course - comments will follow. If you say that the Pinkie looks its best with a switch then include the switch - but don't wire it up. Just have a dummy switch. Or..... to satisfy both the 'switchers' and the 'non-switchers'... include the switch anyway - but build in a switch by-pass switch; so you can switch the switch in or out as needed. Derek |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 7, 2008 22:34:17 GMT
I hope all you guys who have ordered a Little Pinkie v3 i are watching this thread cause my e-mail inbox is like wading through a swamp and the days of conducting lengthy exchanges on a one to one basis via e-mail are rapidly dwindling.... sure, I could still do it but nobody would ever get a Pinkie as I'd be too busy typing to have time to actually make them ;D Sooooo, the latest update is........ "everyone" currently waiting for a Little Pinkie v3i will have it on their doorstep within two weeks. Some will have it tomorrow, others on Monday etc. etc. but the maximum wait time is now two weeks. Thank you for your patience I make each and every one by hand and I am not a robot, although sometimes I wish I was! There has been a quite extraordinary demand on the LPV3 i of late but I will continue to take my time and make them at my own pace with each one being an "original" as far as I'm concerned.... the day you go down the pile 'em high, ship 'em fast route is the day you lose the plot and begin to cut corners. I have continued to incorporate better and better components into these power supplies and the cost of materials has consequently continued to increase at quite a sharp rate of knots.... the custom made transformers, for example, are 100% more expensive than their off the shelf counterparts. Shipping costs (especially overseas using Royal Mail's "Airsure" service) have become ridiculous with each Little Pinkie averaging £21 to ship to ROW. I'm not in this to make bags of money but it would be nice to make a few quid, as well as making people's listening experience a LOT better for very Little outlay. A lot of people have said the LPV3 i is way too cheaply priced, considering the gains in SQ it achieves and bespoke production methods..... Tell me about it!!! It's not much longer this guy will be viable at £85 and I guesstimate viability will be assured around the £100 price point (shipping extra) there was a time I was happy building the occasional Pinkie for the enthusiast at parts cost but I now think it only right that I should get a few quid for my troubles, especially considering the fact the LPV3 i delivers the goods big time. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2008 20:34:00 GMT
Mike Unfortunately, the strength of the GBP is working against you. At your suggested pricing , as an example, this translates to : £ 121 British Pound (GBP)=$ 262.73428 Australia (AUD) (Includes world wide delivery) Many people would baulk at this price for just an outboard PSU, no matter how good it sounded, and how high the quality of the internal transformer was. Alex |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 8, 2008 20:43:39 GMT
Mike Unfortunately, the strength of the GBP is working against you. At your suggested pricing , as an example, this translates to : £ 121 British Pound (GBP)=$ 262.73428 Australia (AUD) (Includes world wide delivery) Many people would baulk at this price for just an outboard PSU, no matter how good it sounded, and how high the quality of the internal transformer was. Alex Yeh, I know Sandy....... I will be keeping it at the price it is, just everytime you turn to look the prices of components has gone up in the UK I just cannot understand why this should be the case.... they don't call this place rip off Britain for nothing. Take the Jaycar headamp kit for example, if you were to buy all those parts in the UK you'd be talking £25 - £30 for the parts alone. Jaycar supply the lot... parts, design notes, PCB blah blah blah for £8.75 !!!!! Ridiculous. |
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Post by derekrumble on Mar 9, 2008 11:59:03 GMT
I received my PinkieV3i last Tuesday I think. And straight out of the box, cold, it was wonderful. All the usual comments apply and it's hard to find a new thing to say.
The soundstage is wider. Vocals have more presence; a criticism of the X-DACv3 when used with the standard wall-wart is that vocals can sound a touch recessed. The Pinkie cures this. Leading edges of notes are better defined - and this was an area the raw X-DACv3 was good at in any case. Plucked strings, the point at which a violin bow makes contact - all exciting. The raw X-DACv3 is good at micro detail - the Pinkie jacks it up a notch or two without making the sound in any way brighter. Just better.
Here is my only original comment ( I think)... bass notes last for their whole note length. You can follow the note right through it's sustain and way down into its decay - if you follow what I mean.
The Pinkie has been switched on continuously since Tuesday - but I have had no oportunity for any serious listening since then - or indeed to compare it side by side with the standard MF supply - I hope to spend some time with it tomorrow (Monday) so more comments may follow. I have to make time too to try it out on my X-CANv3 - but this is a lower priority for me. Also have just picked up a newish second-hand Mini Cooper - so music may take a back seat for a while!
Thanks Mike... a wonderful job.
Derek
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Post by derekrumble on Mar 9, 2008 12:11:51 GMT
P.S. I am an LS3/5A user - a great little speaker but limited, of course, at the bottom end like all small speakers are. They are designed to sound musical though, with just enough bass to make music enjoyable. The Pinkie PSU seems to extend the bass a lot.... the LS3s sound more extended. I use a sub-woofer to help my the LS3/5As out and I need to experiment now with some new subwoofer settings.
Derek
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 9, 2008 19:46:31 GMT
Thanks for the nice comments Derek I am glad you are enjoying it, I'm sitting listening to a v3 powered by a Little Pinkie right now and improvement over the wallwart is substantial with most noticeable gains in bass extension, soundstage, dynamics and clarity.... you know, listening to this makes me think the v3 "done right" is probably one of best head amps you can get. I know Graham Slee puts large soundstage down to <cough> "poor grounding" well...... if that's the case the X-Can v3 must have shite grounding cause the soundstage is huge!  |
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Post by derekrumble on Mar 12, 2008 11:38:46 GMT
Here we are then, one week later. Pinkie sounds so good - can't say have noticed much burn-in effect but then didnt have to chance to listen much at the start. Was late for work this morning as I coudn't stop sifting through favourite CDs.
As I have said before, I like the X-DACv3 (unlike Krisno! ;-) ) and it certainly upgrades my Denon DVD2900. Having said that, the X-DACv3 improved everything about the 2900 - except for the 2900's bass power and great soundstage. The X-DAC was a little weak in these areas - not in absolute terms, but relative to the 2900. My Pinkie'd X-DAC is now the near-equal of the 2900 in these areas; it's so close that it is of no concern now.
The raw X-DAC was much superior to the 2900 in its resolution of micro detail and focus. Also, good though the 2900 is, it suffers slightly from that common digital 'failing' where the high frequency content, of say a flute or violin, appears to be nearer to you than the main body of the sound. It's not serious with the 2900 - but the effect is there. The X-DAC is far, far better in this respect... and the Pinkied X-DAC is even better.
So - the Pinkied X-DAC has better bass power, better imaging, smoother yet more detailed top end, beter vocal 'humanity', that ability to let you apreciate the full note values as I said before, and more ability to let you hear subtle vibrato effects, better all round. It takes the X-DAC from a credit-worthy "B+ 'could do better' " up to a very solid and well-deserved "A".
I have yet to try Pinkie with my X-CANv3 - there is a story behind that. When re-assembling my system last week I wired in my X-DAC; I hadn't used in a while. But the wall-wart had failed - it wasn't giving out any juice. So I plugged in the wall-wart which was no longer needed for my X-DAC.. and I went out leaving the x-CAN to warm up. When I got back, that wall-wart had failed too. Conclusion? The X-DAC has likely gone faulty and is causing the power suplies to fail. Will be taking the X-CAN plus two not-working PSU's to the repair shop and ask them to take a look.
So I have to do without my X-CANv3 for now, plus a I can't A-B the wall-wart against a Pinkie. So, assuming the X-CAN/PSU gets mended I'll returnn to that topic later.
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The thermal trip is on the load side and, yes, it will trip under a short circuit situation.... it is self resetting..... the primary side is protected by a time delay (T) fuse.
