Good price on V-CAN / Free mod tips

[PinkFloyd]

Apr 2, 2010 21:15:52 GMT @clausdk said:

Does it still fit the enclosure ??
With all those towers standing there

Yes, perfectly

Mike.

[PinkFloyd]

Apr 2, 2010 21:15:52 GMT @clausdk said:

Does it still fit the enclosure ??
With all those towers standing there

I am trying to "max out" the V-CAN but also keep it real.... I detest these "mods" which involve cutting holes out of the enclosure to make room for the obscenely large (and mostly unnecessary) "boutique" parts...

Some of my mods are a "tight fit" but always within the capabilities of the average DIY'er..... no point redesigning the wheel Claus, I prefer evolution over "revolution" and try to keep my mods as sympathetic to the original design as possible.....

Of course we could fit HUGE caps in the X-CAN V2 circuit but it would no longer be an XCAN V2 as you'd have to lose the enclosure..... as soon as you start bastardising the aesthetics to improve the function you have lost the character of the whole design and may as well buy something completely different that more suits your requirement.

I am confident that the X-CAP mods are "kick ass"

Mike.

[knireis]

I have a v-can, modded with your 'all the way' kit. How much improvement gives the X-CAP V-CAN?

[Deleted]

OK.... enough of me waffling on, I will send the X-CAP V-CAN around the Rock Grotto circuit so other "ears" can have a listen. First up is IanCraig, it will be with you next week Ian.

Thanks Mike.

I really look forward to that. As usual, it looks fantastic and it'll be a great opportunity to compare the stock directly with it, which is the best way of hearing the differences.

Even in the 70's, the MF speaker amp was regarded a s a good 'n. I never had one but always fancied a listen. Everyone in those days went the Linn/Naim route so everyones' systems sounded the same!! (Apart from room differences)

There was a description that you used which perfectly describes how I hear the V2 - 'organic'. That's such a good description of a sound.

When I listen to hi fi stuff, I listen out for 'electronics' getting in the way. ie if it sounds 'electronic', especially as you turn up the volume. The V2 sound grows without turning edgy or electronic which is one of the reasons that I really gel with it. The stock V-Can isn't up to that as is but there is an inner clarity in the sound that is still reminiscent of the X-Can.

Extra depth/body with the enormous clout that the X-Can gives would totally transform the amp onto another level as you have found, it seems.

I can't wait to hear it!!

I wonder if the next guy will notice whether they receive another stock amp? (Not really!!! I don't think I'd be THAT bad)

Ian

[PinkFloyd]

Apr 3, 2010 8:36:17 GMT @iancraig10 said:

I wonder if the next guy will notice whether they receive another stock amp? (Not really!!! I don't think I'd be THAT bad)

One step ahead of you there Ian I have booby trapped the interior so if you try to open it you will be sprayed down with pepper dust.... I have also WELDED a different knob on so, even if you do survive the pepper attack and "still" want to swap boards you better be good with an oxy acetylene torch

The X-CAP V-CAN is the one with the "Big Daddy" knob..... the OSCON V-CAN is the one with the top hat knob

[Deleted]

Oh shite. So I won't get away with a little knob then.

Ian

[PinkFloyd]

Apr 3, 2010 6:48:29 GMT knireis said:

I have a v-can, modded with your 'all the way' kit. How much improvement gives the X-CAP V-CAN?

Hi Knireis,

The actual sonics are much the same but there is added "scale" to the presentation, more weight, better seperation more "grunt". I will be incorporating the larger caps in my V-CAN kits from here on in..... as you have only recently fitted your kit I'll be happy to send you the larger caps free of charge. Please PM me your details and I will get them in the post to you.

All the best,

Mike.

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2010 20:32:13 GMT @iancraig10 said:

Oh shite. So I won't get away with a little knob then.

Ian

Rumour has it that you have been getting away with a little knob for years. !

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2010 20:38:00 GMT @sandyk said:

Apr 3, 2010 20:32:13 GMT @iancraig10 said:

Oh shite. So I won't get away with a little knob then.

Ian

Rumour has it that you have been getting away with a little knob for years. !

I know. It's just too sensitive and comes up all at once at the bottom end.

Also don't forget, it's Winter over here.

Ian

[knireis]

Apr 3, 2010 20:32:39 GMT PinkFloyd said:

Apr 3, 2010 6:48:29 GMT knireis said:

I have a v-can, modded with your 'all the way' kit. How much improvement gives the X-CAP V-CAN?

Hi Knireis,

The actual sonics are much the same but there is added "scale" to the presentation, more weight, better seperation more "grunt". I will be incorporating the larger caps in my V-CAN kits from here on in..... as you have only recently fitted your kit I'll be happy to send you the larger caps free of charge. Please PM me your details and I will get them in the post to you.

All the best,

Mike.

Thanks, I appreciate that.

[Seamus]

I've been listening to the one I got too, and have to say I'm impressed with it so far. I have to agree with Ian's description of it's sonic character, though I have no experience of the X cans in comparison, but the advertising blurb's description of an uncoloured sound seems accurate to me. It feels like an honest representation of whatever source you feed it. I think Musical Fidelity should sue What HiFi , that muppets review would give the impression of a harsh, clinical, fatiguing listen which is not what I'm getting (but maybe I'm a detail freak). I only have the Goldring DR150's at the moment but I have a pair of AKG K501's on the way which have a reputation as being hard to drive, I wonder how they will sound with this?

Maybe while they're only £60 I should get another one and keep one stock and have one modded a la PinkFloyd ( keep up the good work Mike ).

[Seamus]

One more thing , that V-can logo , it looks like it was the same graphic designer who came up with this masterpiece:

[Deleted]

Mine has arrived, had it playing to itself all day, and listening for 2hrs now, this is one SERIOUSLY GOOD Amp, £60 are they mad, is someone on drugs, or not taking there pills, sounds as sweat and clear as any Amp i have heard, totally amazing with my Senn 250 lineer11`s, the Bass i can feel in my chest, and the clarity of mid-highs is astonishing, and my 701`s, have never sounded so good either, this Amp is better to my ears than my fully moded V3 already.

Its going to Mikes for the Magic touch and hopefully a Pinkie on Thursday, i am sure this will be my favourite Amp when it comes back, cant wait.

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2010 20:47:23 GMT @heliharris said:

Mine has arrived, had it playing to itself all day, and listening for 2hrs now, this is one SERIOUSLY GOOD Amp, £60 are they mad, is someone on drugs, or not taking there pills, sounds as sweat and clear as any Amp i have heard, totally amazing with my Senn 250 lineer11`s, the Bass i can feel in my chest, and the clarity of mid-highs is astonishing, and my 701`s, have never sounded so good either, this Amp is better to my ears than my fully moded V3 already.

Its going to Mikes for the Magic touch and hopefully a Pinkie on Thursday, i am sure this will be my favourite Amp when it comes back, cant wait.

Yours took a little while Mick. I've had mine since Wednesday. Love it. Good clean sound. Mike's sending a souped up version for me to hear since he thinks he's hit jackpot with it. When you get it back, you're going have one helluva 'n amp.

A real bargain buy. I bought mine on impulse but I'm seriously gald that I did. I have a feeling that the one Mike sends is going to make it sound poor by comparison though!!!

Ian

[Deleted]

Ian
How does it sound in comparison with the Bravo/Indeed varieties ?
Alex

[PinkFloyd]

Glad you guys are liking it..... I must confess that I, also, prefer it to the X-CAN V3.... it has a much more "honest" sound.... listening to Focus right now (Focus 8) and the presentation is almost holographic in places.

Seamus, you are right, MF "should" SUE that wank mag What Hi-Fi.... they give "5 stars" to middle of the road amps (that don't hold a candle to the V-CAN IMO, sonically OR technically) that cost a lot more yet they award this little cracker "3 stars" ?.... something WELL wrong there!

Anyways, that's by the by, I haven't subscribed to that joke of a magazine for over 20 years.... they can stuff their "awards" up their rectums, their "recommendations" are not worth the paper they are written on.

Ian.... I'll try and get the "X-CAP" V-Can over to you on Thursday.

Mick.... I will find time for your V-CAN so just send her up.

[PinkFloyd]

Apr 6, 2010 21:14:24 GMT @sandyk said:

Ian
How does it sound in comparison with the Bravo/Indeed varieties ?
Alex

Very similar to the SCHA.... nice and neutral, superb seperation, dynamic, almost "3D" in places... beautifully balanced....

Nothing like the Bravo / Indeed amps

[Deleted]

Mike,

Don't bust a gut. Unfortunately, I'm working away from home next week. If it arrived, I would take it with me but don't go running around, honest. Take it easy.

Ian

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2010 21:14:24 GMT @sandyk said:

Ian
How does it sound in comparison with the Bravo/Indeed varieties ?
Alex

Alex, you're reading my mind. That's exactly what I did because it's now in the kind of same price level.

In all honesty, the V-Can is more extended and seems more even over the frequency whereas the Bravo series has more of a character.

Thing is, it depends what you're listening to if I'm honest which one I prefer. The stock V-Can is a very clean and pleasant listen and is more accurate imo. The Bravo puts guts into the music which is really good for some recordings.

However, I suspect Mike has put the guts into the V-Can so I may well veer towards the V-Can if it gives a bit more weight. For me, it's just a tad middle of the road but clean as a stock amp.

I suspect that once Frans has modded the Bravo, it will get closer to the V-Can and sound like a different amp.

Ian

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2010 21:14:24 GMT @sandyk said:

Ian
How does it sound in comparison with the Bravo/Indeed varieties ?
Alex

Alex,

I don`t entirely agree with Ian`s summery, i feel the V-CAN has a far more detailed sound than the standard G2, Bravo, and Miridiy, with a nice warm feel to the music too, dont get me wrong, i love the sound of the afore mentioned Amps, but to my ears, this little V-CAN, does everything so well in such an accomplished way, and as such feel it to be an even bigger bargain for the money, than the Chinese offerings.

Really looking forward to the Mikes Magic modes, i would put a lot of money on it being the must listen to Amp of the year, when completed.

Mick.

[leo]

Interested to see how they using that quad op-amp

So is this amp like a single rail version of the SCHA?

[PinkFloyd]

Apr 7, 2010 22:48:34 GMT leo said:

Interested to see how they using that quad op-amp

So is this amp like a single rail version of the SCHA?

Will be on it's way to you after Ian Leo

Mike.

[Deleted]

I can't wait to hear it Mike.

Don't forget Mike, I'm 'Flyin' Friday'. Won't be gone til middle of the night but if you haven't got round to it, then send it to Leo first because I won't be back til the next weekend.

I get these busy periods and other times when I'm doing what I like. That's why I love the portable setups!!

Ian

[Deleted]

Now I have the modded V-Can and had an earwig .... it's good. Really good.

I instantly noticed a wider soundstage. The sound seems to open out much more and that was confirmed by just going back to the stock version which feels quite a bit narrower in headstage.

Then when I went back to check the soundstage again, I noticed that there was more depth in the overall sound and the modded version is a more relaxed sounding amp than the original. It goes up without without getting nasty, whereas I found the stock amp a little gritty in the treble. Not any more.

It's quite surprising how it shares a similarity of sound with the V1/V2. Now it has deep bass, they all sound fairly close. I would be hard pushed to choose between any of them.

Still, the V-Can has come to life for me and my own feeling is that it's a far better amp than it was. I was happy with the original but felt that it was just a little 'middle of the road' in sound. I preferred the Neco portable!

The mods are worth it and take it to another level.

[PinkFloyd]

Jun 18, 2010 16:19:51 GMT @iancraig10 said:

Now I have the modded V-Can and had an earwig .... it's good. Really good.

I instantly noticed a wider soundstage. The sound seems to open out much more and that was confirmed by just going back to the stock version which feels quite a bit narrower in headstage.

Then when I went back to check the soundstage again, I noticed that there was more depth in the overall sound and the modded version is a more relaxed sounding amp than the original. It goes up without without getting nasty, whereas I found the stock amp a little gritty in the treble. Not any more.

It's quite surprising how it shares a similarity of sound with the V1/V2. Now it has deep bass, they all sound fairly close. I would be hard pushed to choose between any of them.

Still, the V-Can has come to life for me and my own feeling is that it's a far better amp than it was. I was happy with the original but felt that it was just a little 'middle of the road' in sound. I preferred the Neco portable!

The mods are worth it and take it to another level.

Hi Ian,

Glad you like it, sorry I didn't return your call but I was in Wick all day without my phone.... I've got your number now so will get in touch.....

With the V-CAN, leave it on for best results.... it doesn't generate any heat and performs it's best after being powered up for a good few hours.... plus the caps / opamp in your modded V-CAn only have about 20 hours on them so still quite a bit to go before they are fully formed.

IMO your observations are spot on.... it is a smoother listen with better soundstage, a much cleaner presentation too so you can crank the volume up without fear of it become edgy.

Mike.