X Can v3 PSU + Valves

[Deleted]

I have had a top end system sitting here for quite an extended period Kris.

I don't give a rats for the reviewer. At least with your advice, try to give a more considered opinion rather than this horse-blinkered view you have based on some reviewer.

For all you know, you may be talking to a reviewer now. Yes, I have been on reviewer panels for hi fi and yes, they are swayed by all sorts of things!!!!

[PinkFloyd]

Nov 19, 2010 15:11:23 GMT bingcrosby said:

Geez, I wasn't trying to start a religious war ...

Yes, crossfeed slightly narrows the soundstage, but it is further narrowed by the stock X can v 3 as opposed to the onboard chip amp.

In terms of better sound straight from the sound card and it getting worse into the headamp, I said that some details were obscured slightly, like for instance, a pianist hitting the keys with their fingernails by accident. Also the soundstage was slightly narrowed. However, overall, it was more pleasant to listen to because of a smoother top end. Ideally, I'd like a combination of the two.

Mike, I'm not sure what you mean't by listening through the front panel headphone out and what I was supposed to ascertain by this?

About listening to poor quality, old recordings, say even 1900-1950, I find a more revealing setup actually sounds better in that, while it also shows more of the crap, it also shows more detail of the original performance that is masked on poorer gear.

I didn't want to start a mud wrestle, I just posted to ask a simple question that if adding a better PSU to the x can v 3 would improve its soundstage and detail, in conjunction with any good source and any good headphone.

I also asked if the reflector valves were still available? And one valve is certainly broken because there is static in one channel and swapping the valves around switches this static.

If anbody wants to recommend me an off the shelf crossfeed device, or a solid state amp or dac, feel free to do so and I would appreciate your opinion.

Thanks and kind regards,

Peter.

Hi Bing,

Assuming you are not using a "laptop" as source then, yes, a decent PSU will bring out the best from the V3.... the stock 500mA wallwart really does strangle the sound quality.

I don't have any 6H23N-EB in stock but I have plenty of early 1970's 6H23N with "EB" frames in stock.... all new (NOS) original cartons / never used.... if you'd like a pair please PM me.

Mike.

[krisno]

i will btw do my own review of the Matrix M-stage vs Xcanv2 + mullard and paste here. I am truly shocked of the one-side opionions here. It seems like religion. Is that what is it?

Somebody show me the tube amp that can compare to the burson in the regards i am writing about heere.

And if SandyK suddenly changed his mind and now believe that tubes has wider soundstage than solidstate, then we truly have a church going here. Just TRY IT for yourself Ian. TRY IT!

[Deleted]

Nov 19, 2010 22:48:22 GMT @krisno said:

Let me paste from Headfonia.com, the reviewer: "This WooAudio6 comes with the PDPS upgrade from WooAudio, and it’s already a very fine amp to begin with. However, I really wouldn’t compare it to other amps in the $1,000+ range, as the WooAudio6 can’t compete with the higher priced amplifiers in terms of refinement, details, imaging, et cetera."

And that is a very fine tube amp. I can't believe you guys are even saying it. Try it for gods sake. AKG into tube amp, and then AKG into solidstate - the Panda, or Matrix or whatever your choice. You will see a tremendous difference in microdetails and soundstage.

But I dont want to argue with this. Whatever you are hearing..fine. But I will never accept such a statement. If tubes was better than SS in all regards, why are people using SS then??

Tubes have superior musicality, realism and depth. But it comes at a cost.

Krisno
I trust reports from a friend in NYC, as well as Miguel about a couple of the Red Wine Audio valve amplifiers. They make gear like the Isabella and Isabellini.
Geoff in NYC is able to readily pick differences between comparison
.wav files that I have uploaded, and can even hear differences between clean and dirty CDs after being uploaded.
That tells me that his gear, as well as his hearing is very good indeed.
Because of his occupation, Ian has been exposed to some of the finest gear around. Gear well outside the affordibility of most of us here. However, these very good valve amplifiers often use circuit techniques more akin to good R.F. practices, so that distortion is vanishingly low, and no longer predominantly of the warm sounding even harmonics.
Let's leave it at that ? I have NOT sold out, just achknowledging that SOME valve amplifiers ( not many) can mix it with the best of SS in many, but not all, respects.
Alex

Tubes have superior musicality, realism and depth. But it comes at a cost.

In my experience that is also incorrect. However,some special valve amplifiers can come very close to the very best of SS.

[PinkFloyd]

Nov 19, 2010 22:58:50 GMT @krisno said:

i will btw do my own review of the Matrix M-stage vs Xcanv2 + mullard and paste here. I am truly shocked of the one-side opionions here. It seems like religion. Is that what is it?

Somebody show me the tube amp that can compare to the burson in the regards i am writing about heere.

"One sided opinions"? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!! It is YOU who thinks in mono, speaks in mono and talks out of your arse in mono! You just don't seem to digest anything (other than your own crap) you ask a question, you get several answers then you disagree with the answers..... if you know the answer stop asking the same question over and over and over again!

I've had it with you mate, see you in Coventry

[mrarroyo]

I have read bullshit over and over the net and it is really getting annoying to see the kind of crap you Krisno are posting. Headphonia, based on reviews i have read is not a place I would trust plus your sweeping general statements are not only annoying but pissing me off. I wish there was a way in this site to block you posts so I would not have to read them.

[krisno]

I think you are free not to read my posts mrarroyo, are you not?

Do you think its less frustrating to hear all this crap that tubes are just as supreme as solidstate in every way, when OBVIOSLY that is not the case when one listens oneself.

It is totally crazy, and I have had it with most your comments. I am leaving now and not returning back. Actually, one of the last things i listened to speaker wise was McIntosh amp. Using tube at output stage. IT IS THE SAME THERE. Tubes excel at "magic" and realism, but lacks in just what I have described.

I just cant stand this one big gang, all saying the same, all meaning the same. But noone able to think for themselfes. It is complete madness, and some people here must really have their hearing damaged.

BYE.

P.S. The comment of the brute "I like tubes" does NOT mean that "I like the widest soundstage, the most dynamic sound, the most details".... where the heck did that type of reasoning come from except the brute?

[bingcrosby]

Looks like I wise the last straw ...

If tubes can't reproduce details and have a wide soundstage, why would Quad and Stax use them for what are praised as some of the most accurate systems around?

SandyK : Would you classify the X can v 3 as a high end tube amp?

Mike, I notice you charge about 30 pounds each for the top of the line mullards. They cost about 130 US dollars each on tubestore.com.

Maybe I would be better off getting these from you?

I trust all these valves weren't stored along with sub critical masses of uranium during the cold war ?

Would you recommend cap upgrade or little pinky first? Also, sorry to ask again, but is there something a little cheaper than the pinky around?

Academic question: could two 12 V rails on a computer PSU be used to power the X can v 3? I'm not going to actually try this.

Thanks for your help guys.

[Deleted]

SandyK : Would you classify the X can v 3 as a high end tube amp?

NO !

If tubes can't reproduce details and have a wide soundstage, why would Quad and Stax use them for what are praised as some of the most accurate systems around?

Because Stax headphones. like most other Electrostatic headphones. need very high driving voltages, as well as high polarising voltages. There are some good SS amplifiers capable of driving them, but they normally use power transistors designed for TV deflection circuitry.
These types of transistors with their high voltage capabilities have trade offs in other areas compared to types normally used for audio.

[bingcrosby]

Why?

What source was Krisno using btw?

[Deleted]

The X Cans represent good value and the sound is relatively easy to manipulate. RG is kind of expert at getting good sound at low cost. Some of the recommendations you'll see here are amazingly cheap. For instance, the superlux headphones. Then the experts on here can find ways of improving them that really do work. However it's not top end hi fi but amazing for the cost.

[bingcrosby]

[/quote]

Because Stax headphones. like most other Electrostatic headphones. need very high driving voltages. There are some good SS amplifiers capable of driving them, but they normally use power transistors designed for TV deflection circuitry.
These types of transistors with their high voltage capabilities have trade offs in other areas compared to types normally used for audio.[/quote]

Similar to the reason why they still use tubes in some broadcast towers?

I like good VFM btw.

[PinkFloyd]

I am quite sad that Kris decided to delete his account... what can I say? One two three four...

[Deleted]

Good riddance. Bloke was a deaf prat anyway!! Never listened to any advice given and then corrected everyone when they answered him.How long has that one thread been going now? Then turning up in other threads. The guy has a fixation and not a clue.

I was beginning to think it was just me being a grumpy old man but he's no great loss.

[elysion]

Looks like the last chapter in a never ending story...

I still can't understand why Kris was immune to all good advices.

[Deleted]

Nov 20, 2010 12:05:41 GMT elysion said:

Looks like the last chapter in a never ending story...

I still can't understand why Kris was immune to all good advices.

In a way, I feel kind of responsible because I had noticed that he kept logging on after the last blow up so I emailed him and said that it would be a good idea to just let it all blow over his head and return.

Trouble is, he started playing the same record again.

He just wasn't very open to suggestions and was fixed on valves for some reason.

[elysion]

Yes. He didn't like valves because he thinks they are lacking in some departments. It's kind of schizophrenic that he wants exactly those valves to give him what he is missing.

His order of the matrix m-stage was the first attempt to look beyond his own nose.

It's the headphone/amp/source combo that is most important in the end. Not the amp, the source or the headphones alone for themselves.

IMO there's also not that big difference between solid-state and tubes. In the end the only thing that matters is what you are hearing through your combo. I like both solid-state and tube amps, both have their advantages and disadvantages. I don't care about SS/tubes as long as it sounds good.