improoving the cd player for the Xcans

[garycake]

Hi
I seem to have done all the main upgrades for the Xcans V2 ,I have fitted the panasonic fm capacitors and new russian valves alps pot and headphone jack and also a upgraded power supply and I must say it is now sounding superb ,now i am thinking would it be a good idea to replace all the capacitors in my cd player. they are what you call those horrible sounding capacitors that musical fidelity use.Thinking if you have done it yourself i own the musical fidelity x ray model 1, and i have opened it up and noted the capacitors 4 16v 100uf, 3 50v 10uf ,
7 16v 47uf, 2 35v 1000uf, 2 16v 4700 uf, 1 25v 2200uf and non polar 16v 47uf, would you have these values, in stock in panasonic fm thanks

[mrarroyo]

You could also add an MF Tube Buffer.

[aurum]

I'd personally use Black Gates in a CD player, & leave it on constantly. A tube buffer is a very good idea.

[sometrolls2]

Aren't MFs tube buffers very close the XCans, so it would be like putting a signal through 2 sets of voltage amps after the player's own output section, before hitting the 'phones? That can't be the best possible setup.

Some modders think that the key weak area for CD players is the power supply for the digital sections( cheapish upgrade), with other general tweaks and clock upgrades an option. With clocks it is far from clear that there is any benefit from getting the most expensive, based on reviews, reported measurements and anecdotes. A problem you have is that the XRay will not have been as often modded as the Marants 63/67s, for which tons of info exists.

The easy alternative is a budget DAC which are clearly upgrades on cheap players but are not faultless: the NOS DACs can have a weird combination of improved detail yet sounding as though playing through a veil. Getting lucky on a used higher end DAC can happen, but don't expect a bargain over Christmas, Ebay goes nutty then.

4 options: Buffer, DAC, mods or change spinner. I'd bet on mods or DAC as the best bang for your buck approach.

[mrarroyo]

The MF tube buffers are supposed to add no gain. www.musicalfidelity.com/products/smlx/x10v3.html

[Deleted]

sometrolls2
Miguel is correct . A good buffer stage can usually improve the performance of many less sophisticated CD players. As for the rest, I tend to agree with you. Improvements to PSU regulation , combined with transport mechanism sound deadening techniques etc. are usually a cost effective improvement , and often as effective as expensive reclocking options.
I know that many learned forum members will vehemently disagree with me on this issue !

SandyK

[sometrolls2]

I'd assumed that garycake was looking at the old model not the new ltd ed muvista V3. The V3 is a different level product and possibly a future classic that should hold its value very well, especially if some spare tubes are acquired. Perhaps much of the XRay's lower end output stage could be bypassed and the muvistas do the work rather than opams or whatever.

Obviously modding the XRay makes future resale awkward.

[mrarroyo]

sandyk said:

sometrolls2
Miguel is correct ...

SandyK

I am saving this post.