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Post by dejanm on Mar 21, 2009 7:44:35 GMT
PS: Chicken head knobs, pointy knobs and conventional knobs are also available (as are the high quality rubber feet) as well as high quality gold plated quad Phono sockets (the stock ones are gold on the connectors but tin everywhere else / CHEAP).... this is a great little amp to Turbo charge and it won't take a lot of effort to get it sounding awesome as well as looking awesome! The enclosure is actually not as shitty as What Hi-Fi make out, it's solid and a nice shape, the only thing spoiling it is all that tacky writing on the top... some 800 grade wet / dry paper and an aerosol can of paint is all that's required to get rid of that..... In fact. you could spray it all... end panels, the lot! I'll be spraying mine, just a case of deciding which colour to go for.... black is just Soooooooo yesterday isn't it? What about pure white? a nice mirror finish white would be great and the chicken head knob would look the dog's bollox up against it..... yeh, white  Right, I'm off to get a couple of spray cans of paint.... watch this space  Strange kind of taste ...    |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 21, 2009 11:53:59 GMT
PS: Chicken head knobs, pointy knobs and conventional knobs are also available (as are the high quality rubber feet) as well as high quality gold plated quad Phono sockets (the stock ones are gold on the connectors but tin everywhere else / CHEAP).... this is a great little amp to Turbo charge and it won't take a lot of effort to get it sounding awesome as well as looking awesome! The enclosure is actually not as shitty as What Hi-Fi make out, it's solid and a nice shape, the only thing spoiling it is all that tacky writing on the top... some 800 grade wet / dry paper and an aerosol can of paint is all that's required to get rid of that..... In fact. you could spray it all... end panels, the lot! I'll be spraying mine, just a case of deciding which colour to go for.... black is just Soooooooo yesterday isn't it? What about pure white? a nice mirror finish white would be great and the chicken head knob would look the dog's bollox up against it..... yeh, white Right, I'm off to get a couple of spray cans of paint.... watch this space Strange kind of taste ... It's known as "style" mate  I have no intention of going with the herd and much prefer white and chicken heads over the normal brushed aluminium or black |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 24, 2009 22:59:47 GMT
I'm currently trying the Burr Brown OPA404KP......  VERY nice! Slightly more open than the OPA4227 (not as laid back) with a beautifully taut bass.... extremely musical, toe tapping and involving sound.... leaps and bounds better than the stock MC33079....... this is now starting to sound like a REALLY good amp! OPA4227, laid back and warm.... OPA404 open and more neutral..... the OPA4227 "could" be described as "tube like".... it has a chocolaty signature that suggests more valves than solid state.... both are fantastic, all depends on what sonic signature the end user prefers. I've taken delivery of a batch of SOIC to DIL14 adaptors so will be auditioning SOIC14 chips shortly... I'll report back as and when  Seems I'm mostly talking to myself in this thread and that's a real shame as the V-CANS is one helluva amp when given a bit of attention..... I'm really becomming attached to it in much the same way as I was originally drawn to the X-Can.... bloody good value for money with bags of potential. Being opamp driven there are quite a few quad chips that can be rolled in to give a different sonic flavour, a few simple tweaks such as removing the input caps, fitting non polar output caps, adjusting the gain etc. etc..... it really doesn't take a lot to get this puppy firing on all four. It's too early to say if the V-CANS will become a classic like the X-CAN (it certainly won't in the looks department!) only time will tell.... one thing's for sure, tweak her, spend a few quid on her and you've got yourself a little pocket rocket that will blow your socks off. |
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XTRProf
Fully Modded
Pssst ! Got any spare capacitors ?
Posts: 5,689
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 24, 2009 23:28:42 GMT
Hi Mike, Is that a Quad Op amp as it's 14 legged. Btw, have you tried the 827 just to get your opinion on that new op amp. Thanks.  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 25, 2009 9:07:40 GMT
Hi Mike, Is that a Quad Op amp as it's 14 legged. Yes, it's a quad opamp. I have a few of them kicking about and will mount them onto a SOIC to DIL8 adaptor one of these days.... I'll then mount them on a single to dual adaptor and give them a road test in the SCHA.... pity they don't do a DIP version isn't it? |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 25, 2009 19:26:59 GMT
Mike, not many have made the jump to the V-Can! Perhaps we are waiting for your assesment and perhaps an upgrade kit offering. Miguel, I will be doing a shoot out between a modded V-Can and a DAK NOVO shortly..... both around the same price (with V-CAN mods) and both British amps too, it will be fun to compare them. I am already offering a kit www.rock-grotto.co.uk/musical-fidelity-VCAN-upgrade-kit-mod.html I will be offering different "flavours" of opamps as soon as I have evaluated all of them.... as it stands, I have chosen the OPA4227 as standard for the cap and opamp kit, it's got a lovely balance and does most things right. A great little amp Miguel and, for the money, WELL worth a punt! |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 25, 2009 22:01:20 GMT
Well, I have the Novo board on the way. If I build it ok I may choose to buy a V-Can then I can have my very own shootout. That would be a lot of fun. There won't be a problem sending you my V-CANS to try (along with a 115V supply) but if you'd prefer to buy one then good news for the British economy I'm VERY surprised there hasn't been that much interest in the V-CAN Miguel..... after all, it's a fully operational amp from Musical Fidelity for under a ton... that "alone" should get people interested.... In stock guise it's pretty pedestrian but with a few tweaks it can be transformed into quite a big hitter..... I'm currently powering mine with a DC linear regulated version Pinkie and she sounds pretty much spot on |
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bullpup
Been here a while! 
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Mar 25, 2009 23:05:24 GMT
Hi Mike
Your not being ignored on this - just waiting for the right unit to come along via some disenchanted Ebay offering. In the interim I just picked up this Farnell psu by chance at the last minute - I hope it will be suitable but for £1 plus p&p I thought I couldn't go wrong. What do you think? Ebay item: 260379471507
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XTRProf
Fully Modded
Pssst ! Got any spare capacitors ?
Posts: 5,689
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 26, 2009 0:06:49 GMT
I have a few of them kicking about and will mount them onto a SOIC to DIL8 adaptor one of these days.... I'll then mount them on a single to dual adaptor and give them a road test in the SCHA.... pity they don't do a DIP version isn't it? Yes, they don't do a DIP version for the 827. It's just supply and demand and the market is going towards all smd devices to cut down on cost.  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 26, 2009 11:13:06 GMT
Hi Mike Your not being ignored on this - just waiting for the right unit to come along via some disenchanted Ebay offering. In the interim I just picked up this Farnell psu by chance at the last minute - I hope it will be suitable but for £1 plus p&p I thought I couldn't go wrong. What do you think? Ebay item: 260379471507 99P ?? That is insane! A VERY good find bullpup and, yes, that will power the V-CAN superbly! I have a similar RS supply and they are pretty damned good |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Mar 26, 2009 20:06:43 GMT
Holy crap I need new glasses!!! Got a few SOIC quad chips to try and am starting with the OPA4132.... mounting them on a Wilmslow adaptic SOIC to DIP adaptor:   Already I like this chip, the bass is DEEP, instrumental seperation very good and overall balance very good indeed.... I'll give her a few hours to stabilize and will report back |
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insomniac
Been here a while!
Team Zopiclone
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Post by insomniac on Mar 27, 2009 2:54:34 GMT
I have a few of them kicking about and will mount them onto a SOIC to DIL8 adaptor one of these days.... I'll then mount them on a single to dual adaptor and give them a road test in the SCHA.... pity they don't do a DIP version isn't it? Yes, they don't do a DIP version for the 827. It's just supply and demand and the market is going towards all smd devices to cut down on cost. It also means we need to have very good eyesight and hone our soldering skills to "robot level".... |
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XTRProf
Fully Modded
Pssst ! Got any spare capacitors ?
Posts: 5,689
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 27, 2009 3:44:44 GMT
Yes, they don't do a DIP version for the 827. It's just supply and demand and the market is going towards all smd devices to cut down on cost. It also means we need to have very good eyesight and hone our soldering skills to "robot level".... Righto, man!  Errr................., cost cutting ...................., power cutting .................. and now also solder cutting as we need less solder for SMDs. Unfortunately, sound also cut and SMD PCBs are not meant to be serviced but thrown away as modules. Technicians cut as well as more pollution thru finding ways to dump or recycle those spoilt modules. Poor mother Earth and us living things on mother Earth. Alright, we should support Earth Hour this Saturday.  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2009 15:15:45 GMT
I'm VERY surprised there hasn't been that much interest in the V-CAN Miguel..... after all, it's a fully operational amp from Musical Fidelity for under a ton... that "alone" should get people interested.... In stock guise it's pretty pedestrian but with a few tweaks it can be transformed into quite a big hitter..... I'm currently powering mine with a DC linear regulated version Pinkie and she sounds pretty much spot on MAYBE, because many here already have the Xcan Vn, in various states of modification. Perhaps, after you've settled on a final version of tweaks, you could AB it against the Xcans to see which is most favourable. If the the Vcan is, on balance, better, I'm sure there would be a surge of uptake. Just a suggestion |
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Post by skunkworks on Apr 2, 2009 20:10:08 GMT
I'm thinking of buying one since the price dropped from 175 to 125 euro in the Netherlands. Mike, you mentioned earlier in this thread that the amp doesn't perform to well with a pair of AKG K701 at high volume levels. How high is that level? I mean is it like blowing your ears of level or still within the convenient listening level? Since I only have one pair of decent cans. |
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Post by skunkworks on Apr 2, 2009 20:13:42 GMT
and can one of your upgrade sets solve this issue? |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 2, 2009 21:02:24 GMT
I'm thinking of buying one since the price dropped from 175 to 125 euro in the Netherlands. Mike, you mentioned earlier in this thread that the amp doesn't perform to well with a pair of AKG K701 at high volume levels. How high is that level? I mean is it like blowing your ears of level or still within the convenient listening level? Since I only have one pair of decent cans. It performs very well with the K-701 at low to medium volume levels but, quite simply, runs out of steam when you crank her up...... if you listen at low to moderate levels then it is perfectly good with the K-701 but if you do some serious air shifting and like your pistons a poppin' off their end stops then, no...... The mods, more particularly the opamp mod, address this slightly and seem to give a bit more grunt to hard to drive 'phones.... I'll have a good listen with all the opamps at my disposal and see which is best with K0701. Mike. |
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Post by dejanm on Apr 3, 2009 14:28:38 GMT
This design (it is not really new) doesn't work well with the headphones which have low impedance. Sennheiser of 300 or 600 Ohms will do just fine. Everything under 150 Ohms will be ... ahmmm .. And as PF pointed out AKGs of 62 Ohms are simply a bit to much for this small amp. Grado of 32 Ohms is simply NO-Go ...
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 5, 2009 20:24:35 GMT
This design (it is not really new) doesn't work well with the headphones which have low impedance. Sennheiser of 300 or 600 Ohms will do just fine. Everything under 150 Ohms will be ... ahmmm .. And as PF pointed out AKGs of 62 Ohms are simply a bit to much for this small amp. Grado of 32 Ohms is simply NO-Go ... I agree. Absolutely spot on with the 300 ohm Senns but a bit lacking with low Z 'phones.... not "bad" but certainly not the best, I certainly wouldn't use it with Grados or 60R AKG's but for use with the Senns, it's a very capable amp. |
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Post by skunkworks on Apr 5, 2009 20:44:12 GMT
Fair enough, thanks for the advice. I'll just stick with my X-can V3. 6N1P-EV valves still burning in and with high expectations. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 5, 2009 20:47:29 GMT
Fair enough, thanks for the advice. I'll just stick with my X-can V3. 6N1P-EV valves still burning in and with high expectations. You like the EV's? |
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Post by skunkworks on Apr 5, 2009 20:59:01 GMT
In my opinion they sound a little less muddy than the 6n23p, but not as harsh as the stock jan tubes. And that's the way I like it, so far so good. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Apr 5, 2009 21:13:11 GMT
In my opinion they sound a little less muddy than the 6n23p, but not as harsh as the stock jan tubes. And that's the way I like it, so far so good. Those 6N23P take a good while to kick in and open out quite nicely after 24 hours or so.... the 6N1P-EB are nice though, have you noticed the PSU gets a bit hotter? |
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Post by skunkworks on Apr 5, 2009 21:26:56 GMT
And the amp itself too.
Btw does the X-can V3 need extra ventilation or can it handle the higher temperatures?
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Post by beagle on May 6, 2009 21:38:29 GMT
I've been running her alongside a Graham Slee Solo, a Graham Slee Novo, an x-can v2, a project headbox and the SCHA..... the V-Can comes out top every time Is it worth £95? No..... not at all. Is it worth spending another £150 to make it better? Yes. The stock DC wallwart is a joke, there are a lot of aspects of the amp than can (and need to be improved) be improved.... if you're not DIY inclined then avoid this one like the plague, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty then this one may be for you. A lot of contradiction flying about here. Is the stock VCAN good or not? |
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I have no intention of going with the herd and much prefer white and chicken heads over the normal brushed aluminium or black 
Errr................., cost cutting ...................., power cutting .................. and now also solder cutting as we need less solder for SMDs. Unfortunately, sound also cut and SMD PCBs are not meant to be serviced but thrown away as modules. Technicians cut as well as more pollution thru finding ways to dump or recycle those spoilt modules. Poor mother Earth and us living things on mother Earth.
