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Post by PinkFloyd on May 27, 2009 15:42:32 GMT
I've got an absolutely MINT X-Can v2 which I am going to modify with a view to selling it.... this will be an absolutely kick arse v2 and here is what I propose doing to it:
Fit 18,000uF on the PSU board (in place of the stock 10,000uF) using the new Panasonic FK series of capacitors. Fit UF4001 Ultrafast diodes. Replace the 470nF DC input film cap with a whopping 4.7uF film cap.
Remove the 10uF input caps and replace with radial ferrite inductors. Remove the 2 x 220uF output caps and replace with 2 x 470uF Black Gate non polars. Replace electrolytics on main board with Nichicon Fine Gold types.
Replace the stock Philips 6922 valves with 1974 vintage Russian 6N23P types. Replace the stock potentiometer with ALPS potentiometer and fit "mil-spec" knob (the same type of knob as found on the X-Can V3).... replace red LED with Purple LED. Fit Jalco pro grade headphone socket. Perform the gain mods with 47K resistors. Powered byh Little Pinkie v3i PSU.
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Post by krisno on May 27, 2009 20:06:06 GMT
Sounds amazing.... your blue LED btw is nicer in my opinion.
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 27, 2009 20:16:33 GMT
Sounds amazing.... your blue LED btw is nicer in my opinion. May still fit a blue LED, to be decided, I just want to give this one the FULL MONTY and make it stand out from the crowd... I'll pull out the stops on this one  |
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Post by krisno on May 28, 2009 18:06:57 GMT
Does the power transistor mod really change anything ?
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 28, 2009 21:47:59 GMT
Does the power transistor mod really change anything ? Nothing major... subtle at best..... they only cost pennies so I will do that mod also  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on May 28, 2009 21:48:57 GMT
Yup  |
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Post by clausdk on May 28, 2009 22:25:49 GMT
how would such a beast compare to the V8 ??
And is the 275 £ incl. a little pinkie ??
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Post by krisno on May 28, 2009 23:10:55 GMT
V8 is a very good amp. On low ohm phones it might be the best. But it lacks some details with the built in DAC atleast. I have had both......
I think that V2 might allready be sold...
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Post by idc on Jun 3, 2009 21:29:47 GMT
I can confirm that the modded V2 will sound almost as good as, and sometimes better than the V8! This will be a cracking buy.
As for the DAC in the V8, I have read elsewhere that it is a Burr-Brown PCM 2706 USB DAC. According to MF it is a starter DAC and is not meant to be as good as the V-DAC.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 9, 2009 19:06:09 GMT
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insomniac
Been here a while! 
Team Zopiclone
Posts: 938
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Post by insomniac on Jun 9, 2009 20:35:03 GMT
Looks like you've really gone to town on that V2 Mike, I'm sure it sounds fantastic....and it looks brand new.
The new lucky owner will be very happy.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 9, 2009 21:17:56 GMT
Looks like you've really gone to town on that V2 Mike, I'm sure it sounds fantastic....and it looks brand new. The new lucky owner will be very happy. Yeh, it's pretty much mint condition.... IMO "still" the amp to be reckoned with..... Miguel concurs...... I've YET to find an amp that sounds better at ANY price.... the V2 is a true classic |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2009 9:03:41 GMT
Ooh mama, what do you think of my big knob? |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2009 22:09:38 GMT
The V2 is a killer amp and one I enjoy on a regular basis, like right now! V2 to Ultrasone HFI-780. Oh yeah baby! I still, after all this time, reckon it's the best headphone amp on the planet bar none.... £129? You cannot be serious man! I, as you know, have heard quite a few amps (as have you) and I always end up going back to the V2 (well, I actually prefer the "V1" but let's not be picky) the V2 is a true classic, no doubt about it. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 10, 2009 22:34:25 GMT
Decided to keep this one it's just toooo good to release into the public domain  It will join the other 9 x V2's I have.... You can never have too much of a good thing |
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Post by dejanm on Jun 11, 2009 6:44:56 GMT
Hi Pink,
I did nearly the same mod as you did. In addition I upgraded the reg on the bottom PCB by putting stronger ZTX's and instead of UF I used Telefunken SF4001 and the combination of Panasonic FM and Blackgate Standard electrolytics. For the bottom PCB I bought from you these things that you also used in your mod, except that I replaced some resistors as well (mainly by putting Caddocks instead of metal-oxyds). The only difference is that at the output I used Blackgate Nx 220 uF, 16V but in e-cap configuration. That means, that I put two in parallel per channel (longer leg of one soldered to the shorter leg of the other). This second pair of BG Nx's I soldered on the bottom of the lower PCB. And they are giving me some hard time ... Ah, I also put two NOS Telefunken E88CC instead of the original tubes ... Ah, the external transformer is 12VA.
What I experienced with these BGs at the output is that they need a lot of time to burn in. After several hundreds of hours they begin really to sing. I was happy. Than I haven't heard this small amp for some time and when I started it again I remarked the same effect as when they were not burned-in. It seems that BGs Nx must be driven all the time in order to perform at its best. And it seems that having the amp switched on is not enough - they need some current going through them as often as possible.
I asked some more experienced guys about this phenomena with BGs Nx caps and they confirmed to me that they have such behaviour.
Anyway, interesting issue ... It seems that we should use these caps only in circuits that are permanently under load, if we want to get the best out of them.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 11, 2009 18:47:31 GMT
Hi Pink, I did nearly the same mod as you did. In addition I upgraded the reg on the bottom PCB by putting stronger ZTX's and instead of UF I used Telefunken SF4001 and the combination of Panasonic FM and Blackgate Standard electrolytics. For the bottom PCB I bought from you these things that you also used in your mod, except that I replaced some resistors as well (mainly by putting Caddocks instead of metal-oxyds). The only difference is that at the output I used Blackgate Nx 220 uF, 16V but in e-cap configuration. That means, that I put two in parallel per channel (longer leg of one soldered to the shorter leg of the other). This second pair of BG Nx's I soldered on the bottom of the lower PCB. And they are giving me some hard time ... Ah, I also put two NOS Telefunken E88CC instead of the original tubes ... Ah, the external transformer is 12VA. What I experienced with these BGs at the output is that they need a lot of time to burn in. After several hundreds of hours they begin really to sing. I was happy. Than I haven't heard this small amp for some time and when I started it again I remarked the same effect as when they were not burned-in. It seems that BGs Nx must be driven all the time in order to perform at its best. And it seems that having the amp switched on is not enough - they need some current going through them as often as possible. I asked some more experienced guys about this phenomena with BGs Nx caps and they confirmed to me that they have such behaviour. Anyway, interesting issue ... It seems that we should use these caps only in circuits that are permanently under load, if we want to get the best out of them. Hi Dejanm, I agree with you re: the Black Gates, one reason I seldom use them.... perfectly good in low heat generating amps which are "always on" but a pain in the arse in high heat "cookers" which are better off switched off when not in use. For general usage I prefer the Nitai / Suntan non polars... they have virtually zero insertion loss and don't require to be permanently fed with a signal to perform their best! Sure they are "cheap" but expensive doesn't always equate to best sound quality What value of panasonic did you use? In this incarnation I have adopted the new FK series 1800uF and the extra capacitance seems to be paying dividends in both soundstage and bass departments. I've experimented with quite a few V2's (probably over 100) over the years and it's all about striking the right balance, just throwing uber expensive boutique parts in willy nilly does nothing.... these puppies have to be "fine tuned" and it's oh so easy to over egg your pudding. Telefunkens have a nice sound but, again, are expensive for what they are.... have you tried the Reflector 6N23P? I'm running a pair of 1969 vintage 6N23P in her at the moment and ooh la la they are GOOD! Great little amps though, aren't they? |
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Post by krisno on Jun 12, 2009 20:33:28 GMT
Hi mike...
That amp is your best piece of art! Amazing looking... it really was mint condition as you said.
Regarding that knob, well the metal knob you sell in your store is good I guess. I don't think the plastic is very nice looking .
How does the blackgates sound?
... you don't want to part this v2 to me it seems ... regarding your post above.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 12, 2009 22:14:32 GMT
Hi mike... That amp is your best piece of art! Amazing looking... it really was mint condition as you said. Regarding that knob, well the metal knob you sell in your store is good I guess. I don't think the plastic is very nice looking . How does the blackgates sound? ... you don't want to part this v2 to me it seems ... regarding your post above. Hehe... I was winding you up Kris.... it's yours if you want it I have the little knurled aluminium knobs in stock and think they will be more "appropriate"... the V3 knob is a bit bigHow do the Black Gates sound? They "don't", and I believe that's the idea of them.... the insertion loss is pretty low but they DO benefit from constant power up as has been discussed here.... let me assure you that this V2 is absolutely SPOT ON in every respect. There is "slight" browning of the board where the TIP110 transistors are fitted but this is part and parcel of the amp and the type of board.... transistors give off heat, "fact" and the characteristics of the board MF use mean that the board will discolour slightly.... perfectly ok, it does not indicate a fault.... I have supplemented the TIP110 with small heatsinks to dissipate more heat.... you DID ask about this and most V2's will have this discolouration around the transistor area. If the transistore "weren't" running warm I'd be more worried I've slotted in a pair of UBER rare 1969 vintage 6N23P (see here: rockgrotto.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=q&action=display&thread=4269 ) and the amp will ship with these installed Please let me know if you still wish to proceed. Mike. |
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Post by krisno on Jun 12, 2009 22:55:24 GMT
mike. we are at go !
those tubes seem interesting. Are they the best suited you think, of those you have... is it those with the purple markings?
K
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 13, 2009 0:38:18 GMT
e-mail me The BEST I have in stock... YES, those with the purple markings..... 40 years old GENUINE NOS..... trust me, you won't hear better They are absolutely SWEEET as a nut |
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Post by krisno on Jun 14, 2009 9:44:57 GMT
I just spoke to a guy which had a X-can V8P shipped to MF for factory 'upgrade & tuning'. .. they replaced the tubes in the V8, do you know what tubes they installed?
Russian 6922's.......
so obviously MF also think these are a good choice for the x-can series.
I have send you mail mike, both on your virgin and gmail adress.
K
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Post by krisno on Jun 14, 2009 9:47:20 GMT
Anyone tried a wooden knob on the x-canv2?
K
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jun 14, 2009 10:09:25 GMT
I just spoke to a guy which had a X-can V8P shipped to MF for factory 'upgrade & tuning'. .. they replaced the tubes in the V8, do you know what tubes they installed? Russian 6922's....... so obviously MF also think these are a good choice for the x-can series. I have send you mail mike, both on your virgin and gmail adress. K That guy ended the auction because the V8 stopped working ;D MF seem to have copied all my mods to the letter (even their choice of low ESR caps and Russian valves) and then have the cheek to warn people against aftermarket mods.... hell, I've been doing these for years It doesn't surprise me that the MF modded V8 has stopped working  |
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Post by krisno on Jun 14, 2009 10:15:13 GMT
I totally agree Mike... They are a total fraud........ It's your mod, 100% infringement. Maybe you can file for lawsuit ? hehe.
Mike, just one thing, what are those two black capacitator's on the PSU board, they are somewhat smaller in value than the panasonics, and they are also shorter.
It is just such a perfect piece of work that V2 there... excellent work!
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It will join the other 9 x V2's I have.... You can never have too much of a good thing 