X-CAN V3, X-DAC V3, X-PSU V3 problems

[pinguin2]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought the X-CAN V3, X-DAC V3, X-PSU V3 second hand.
I did listen to it before buying it and did not here any problems.

After listening a bit longer at home the left channel started cracking. It has quiet some noise and when turning of the power, the left channels starts cracking really loud.
Any idea what this could be? I didn't swap the tubes yet.

When touching the X-CAN V3 I can really hear this quiet loud. I suppose that is what they mean when they say that a tube is microphonic?

Touching the PSU connecters in the back also gives quiet some cracks in the sound. From a product with such a reputation I do expect differently!

At the moment it is connected to a DVD/CD/SACD player from Pioneer (cheap one). For CD's its OK but I can not listen to DVD and SACD. With DVD there's just loud cracks and with SACD it doesn't lock. Could it be that the player doesn't activate its SPDIF with DVD? In the menu I could select 2.1 audio for SACD, thats all.
In the future it will be connected to a squeezebox.

Any tips for buying new tubes with a bit more bass respons? And where to get them? (I'm in Belgium)
I'm using Senn's HD280

thanks,
D.

[Deleted]

pinguin2
A partial answer. Try swapping the tubes over into the other channel, and see if the fault moves. There will be no lock when playing SACD, because the paranoid Record Companies decided to prohibit Digital output via SPDIF and Toslink.

SandyK

[pinguin2]

Thanks SandyK for the fast respons.

I just finished swapping the tubes and the problem did indeed move along with the tubes.
I remember reading about possible oxidation of the tube pins, so I sprayed some contact cleaner on the pins of the tube and gone is the problem!! wonderfull!
Turning of the unit doesn't give the loud cracking anymore either!

The same for the DC connectors, that was also an oxidation problem. I suppose the unit wasn't used for quiet some time?

Apart from the noise level, I think the sound is already astonishing. I might order the upgrade if I get the time to do it. Do you think it is worth it? By that I mean the time and risk to execute the change? I studied electronics and was an amateur DIY. I used to be quiet good at soldering and think (hope) I still am ;D

Anyway, if you have tips for rolling the tubes to something with more bass respons, ur welcome !

Thanks a lot, I hope to find more info on this forum for my equipment.

Pinguin2

[dejanm]

Yes the upgrade is every penny worth. You will be surprised ...

Concerning tubes ... Try to find on eBay some Russian (Reflektor) 6N23P-EV tubes. I just installed them and they are really terrific. Excellent upgrade too ...