Buy X-can V3 or modify V2

[charlie]

Could really do with some good advice on whether to upgrade my X-can V2 or buy a S/H V3.

I use them with a MF A3.2 Cd, X-150 amp and Sennheiser HD600 and sound is OK but a bit lacking expression/warmth on vocals, not so much bright as hard, compared to sound through my Mission 781's.

Would probably send the V2 up to Mike to modify but would like to now which order to adresss
1. Changing PSU to Little Pinky
2. Fitting new valves
3. Mikes PCB mods to caps etc.

Would new valves and perhaps caps produce an amp as good as the V3 or is it better to just sell the X2 buy the V3 and then add a Little pinky to the latter
Thanks
Charlie

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2010 18:55:07 GMT charlie said:

Could really do with some good advice on whether to upgrade my X-can V2 or buy a S/H V3.

Would probably send the V2 up to Mike to modify but would like to now which order to adresss
1. Changing PSU to Little Pinky
2. Fitting new valves
3. Mikes PCB mods to caps etc.

Would new valves and perhaps caps produce an amp as good as the V3 or is it better to just sell the X2 buy the V3 and then add a Little pinky to the latter
Thanks
Charlie

I personally prefer the modded V2 to the V8. I don't have a V3.

Maybe get the Little Pinkie for now.
Upgrade later.

Personally, I'd do the lot in one go.

Ian

[charlie]

Thanks for the input Ian

The little pinky sounds like a must have, if my wallet is up to it.

I quite like the sound of the Budget Elna Kit to add a bit of warmth.

Is Mike still offering an upgrade service and how much does he charge approx - My soldering skills are not up to scratch. I diid Email him a few days back but no reply.

[bullpup]

I would do the mods first in conjunction with an upgraded but relatively cheap external power supply upgrade (£10 or so) then when funds allow go for the Pinkie.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2010 18:03:24 GMT charlie said:

Thanks for the input Ian

The little pinky sounds like a must have, if my wallet is up to it.

I quite like the sound of the Budget Elna Kit to add a bit of warmth.

Is Mike still offering an upgrade service and how much does he charge approx - My soldering skills are not up to scratch. I diid Email him a few days b :Dack but no reply.

The cheapest way to 'change' the sound is the tubes. (Mike has them too if you look on the front of Rock Grotto) The Little Pinkie would give a deeper bass and make it sound a little more airy. It's a lot beefier in build than the one that comes with it. Also it has a switch on and off, saving power and heat and it really doesn't hum or run hot.

Mike is the fairest guy I've ever met. Rip off isn't part of his vocabulary. In fact I think he tends to be over-generous with people. His work is stunning.

He got a second hand V2 for me and modded it, along with the tubes and power supply and when it arrived, I thought that there must have been a stash of new ones up there in Scotland.

The case was cleaned up and looked new and the insides were unbelieveably neat and tidy.

The V2 is now one of my favourite amps. It has a generous, bold sound that is so clean, you just can't stop going back to play something else. I prefer it in some ways to the V8 that I have which has a slight edge to its sound in comparison.

It's a good looker too.

Ian

[bullpup]

Ian I agree having Mike do the work is the ideal - he did my V1 for me and it is fantastic. The reason I suggested the internal upgrades first is that it replaces all the low budget and tired/ worn out original components which in the case of the caps can be dangerous.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2010 20:13:17 GMT bullpup said:

Ian I agree having Mike do the work is the ideal - he did my V1 for me and it is fantastic. The reason I suggested the internal upgrades first is that it replaces all the low budget and tired/ worn out original components which in the case of the caps can be dangerous.

OK. I was just asuming that it's working fine in which case a tube change wouldn't harm and it's dirt cheap.

Ian

[PinkFloyd]

Jan 28, 2010 20:13:17 GMT bullpup said:

Ian I agree having Mike do the work is the ideal - he did my V1 for me and it is fantastic. The reason I suggested the internal upgrades first is that it replaces all the low budget and tired/ worn out original components which in the case of the caps can be dangerous.

I agree bullpup, some of the caps on these amps can fail dramatically.... they were never intended to last (general purpose Jamicon 85C types) and it's best to fit some 105C rated Panasonic FC (or 105C ELNA).... these caps are much better suited to the task and will last for many, many years..... plus, they are low ESR and sound shitloads better than the Jamicons

The cap mods give the biggest bang for the buck and, as bullpup says, ensures your amp is pretty much "back to new". It's also well worth changing the valves if they are a few years old.... I have seen some pretty catastrophic damage caused by valve failure and, believe me, you don't want to go down THAT route

The Little Pinkie is the icing on the cake but if your finances are not up to one may I recommend this PSU It is an excellent "plug and play" replacement for the 500mA MF wallwart and the performance is incredible for £8.50

Here is what one of my customers had to say about that PSU (which I recommended to him):

"Hi Mike,

Bought a Rapid PSU and a set of Reflector tubes from you in december. It took some time before i could really try the mods................ also had a really nice Denon cartridge waiting to be fitted and tried. Parallel projects take a bit of speed out of each other it seems ;-)

Anyway; all is well!!! I promised I would let you know, and I'm very pleased. First I tried the PSU; that was a stunner... tried it first with the stock Philips 6922 tubes, and the difference was huge. Much much quieter backgrounds (blacker), better channel seperation, wider soundstage. All together a clearer musical picture so to speak. Best upgrade twenty pounds could buy!

After that I fitted the Reflectors. Had to give those a bit more time... They maybe needed some breakin' in, and started to get better every day. Truly wonderful tubes indeed. They are very detailed and neutral. I'm not completely sure about the match with my cans though. I have an AKG K701 which is very detailed, but maybe a bit bass-shy. Maybe I would like a slightly 'warmer' tube in the X-Cans. Probably that's a matter of taste though!

I now fitted an older pair of Siemens 7308's (e188cc) which i used in my cd player before. I took those out of my set last year because they were a bit too 'smooth and tuby' which took a bit of 'life' out of my system. Haven't really listened tot them in the X-Cans, just put them in yesterday being at home with the flu..........

(silly story: I thought I blew up the reflectors.... saturday all of a sudden the X-cans gave NO sound......... oops, what happened??? the power switch i put in the mains wire does give a pretty loud 'thump' in my speakers, thought that might have killed the tubes. so i took out the tubes and changed them for the Siemens, then the X-cans still didn't make a sound. then looked to other solutions; turns out i had to change a setting in my receiver; some settings were reset when i callibrated the speakers saturday night......decided to leave the Siemens in for a while, who knows... Maybe I'll try the Reflectors in my cd player at some point, they are good tubes!!!)

Well anyway, i see it's becoming a very chaotic story.... so to sum up;

the PSU is a GREAT upgrade!

the Reflector tubes are really good, just getting used to them and trying to swap 'em around a bit, but also a solid buy!

thanks for all your advice and service,

cheers!

Paul Delissen
Tilburg, Netherlands"

Probably done myself out of a sale here but at £8.50 you just cannot ignore the Rapid PSU if you want a massive improvement in SQ at a very low price.

Mike.

[charlie]

Thanks Mike

It sounds like it would be best to have my X-can V2 sent to you for checking over and Elna caps upgrade plus valves if dodgy, before spending lots on a PSU.

What is the procedure I need to follow? Also can you supply the budget Rapid PSU at the same time.

From all the comments here it seems like a modded X-can V2 can hold its own with the V3.

[charlie]

Any thoughts on why MF only supplied a 500Ma PASu with the X cans if one with a higher rating produces such an improvement. Am I correct in thinking a PSU does not "push current but only supplies as much as the device requires and if this is more than the 500ma in the stock MF case it can go into overload and overheat?

Does the xcan v2 actually want to pull more than 500ma or is it a case of the bigger PSU having a more steady supply at this load and pehaps getting less hot than the MF one as it operating under less strain?

[charlie]

Could not resist buying a used v3 on ebay and although not cosmetically mint, the sound quality blows away my V2 when used with Hd600's.

Will have to send V3 up to Mike, as this will then be one superb amp, especially with upgraded PSU as well, but then what to do with the V2.

I reckon the slightly thin sound may be due to caps or valves on the decline so a check over and basic upgrade may be an idea or I could sell it as a mint condition base for full mods.

Has anyone kept a V2 after buying a V3

[PinkFloyd]

Has anyone kept a V2 after buying a V3

Quite a lot have bought a V3 and then sold it in favour of the V2..... if you don't want your V2 then PM me, I'll make you an offer for it or you could exchange it for the full monty mods to your V3

An amp will only draw the current it requires, correct. The 500mA wallwart is sufficient to do the job but a bigger transformer gives you better regulation (amongst other things) and doesn't struggle like the wallwart does. Don't think that a 2500mA PSU will run "cool" either.... my Little Pinkies can get quite "toasty" at times

[mrarroyo]

I owned the V2 and the V3 concurrently, both w/ the PinkFLoyd mods. Sold the V3 and kept the V2.

[charlie]

It could just be that the X can V3 suits the Hd600's much better or perhaps the V2 is below par in some way.

I will send them both up to Mike and see what he comes up with.

I probably dont need both so you may have a deal there Mike

[krisno]

Nice thread to read. Answers alot...

May I ask guys. Is it possible to fit the transistors type from the V3(more powerfull) in the V2? Anyways - I am just waiting for a new soundcard and I will try with foobar + flac + asio.

it sounds good and will never sell it.

Btw: Mike. I like doing 'small' investments. Where can I buy a carton of 6922 reflector 6H23P ? NOS NIB. Preferbly the later editions, 1980 or something.... or for instance jan phillips 6922? Who sells sealed cartons of these?

thanks

Kris