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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 28, 2010 19:59:26 GMT
My second Panda kit arrived this afternoon (still waiting for two more) and I'm itching to get the board populated  The caps they have shipped with this kit are ALL Nichicon types.... Fine Gold, Muse and Gold Tune.... all very nice caps and I think I'll fit the lot of them. I'm going to solder this board with my new favourite "Future" solder made by Warton metals.... it has 2% silver content and makes for beautifully shiny (mirror like) joints. This one is for Ian (Rabbit)... I owe him one so what better way to repay a favour than with a Panda  Anyways, I will take photos of the build from the ground up so anyone late to this thread won't have to hunt through all the pages for the pictures.... the more pictures the better IMO, it makes the build a lot easier to understand and is a good reference point to refer to. Here is the bare PCB and the Nichicon caps:     |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 28, 2010 22:09:55 GMT
Sounds like she is firing on all four I do not know if there is some placebo in this, but I had one of those rare moments, like when you did put on your first decent headphones and you thougth "wow this sounds goooood" Like the first time you go past 200KM/h in a car.. The first time you leap from the 3 meter platform I want more of those moments.. That's a very good sign Claus You could have gone the other way and convinced yourself that the amp didn't sound "good" because there were a few start up problems.... I was very self critical years ago and unless things went "perfectly" I would convince myself that what I had put together was not as good as it could have been. I have learnt a lot over the years and for you to say the finished amp is good really says a lot! Mike. |
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Post by Koolind on Sept 28, 2010 22:14:50 GMT
Mike - So the parts in the kit are now different from the ones in the first ? Did you request this, or is the parts a bit random in that sense?
Mine was shipped yesterday..
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2010 23:05:59 GMT
I do not know if there is some placebo in this, but I had one of those rare moments, like when you did put on your first decent headphones and you thougth "wow this sounds goooood" Like the first time you go past 200KM/h in a car.. The first time you leap from the 3 meter platform I want more of those moments.. That's a very good sign Claus You could have gone the other way and convinced yourself that the amp didn't sound "good" because there were a few start up problems.... I was very self critical years ago and unless things went "perfectly" I would convince myself that what I had put together was not as good as it could have been. I have learnt a lot over the years and for you to say the finished amp is good really says a lot! Mike. Solid State rules ?  A good SS design doesn't have to sound cold and clinical like so many seem to have convinced themselves. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 0:06:16 GMT
Mike I've bought a case and Panda kit. The case arrived today and the packing and quality is great compared to my first case. I've been rereading the thread and noticed that your on/off switch looked a little 'excited' . There should have been a couple of PCB standoffs in the kit to mount between the switch mounting lugs and the fascia which leaves the button flush with the surface in the off position.   Syd |
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Post by mingo on Sept 29, 2010 5:24:50 GMT
Well, everybody is raving, so how good is the Panda compared to other headphone amplifiers?
I myself have got Audio-GD Compass and Heed CanAmp. Are they inferior to the Panda?
Other comparisons are very welcome.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 6:40:24 GMT
Mike I've bought a case and Panda kit. The case arrived today and the packing and quality is great compared to my first case. I've been rereading the thread and noticed that your on/off switch looked a little 'excited' . There should have been a couple of PCB standoffs in the kit to mount between the switch mounting lugs and the fascia which leaves the button flush with the surface in the off position. Syd That's a nice looking box Syd. Looks the business. We'll all be in the Panda club soon and have to wear little bear suits.  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 6:44:09 GMT
That's a very good sign Claus You could have gone the other way and convinced yourself that the amp didn't sound "good" because there were a few start up problems.... I was very self critical years ago and unless things went "perfectly" I would convince myself that what I had put together was not as good as it could have been. I have learnt a lot over the years and for you to say the finished amp is good really says a lot! Mike. Solid State rules ? A good SS design doesn't have to sound cold and clinical like so many seem to have convinced themselves. A good valve design doesn't have to sound warm and euphoric either. I won't mention the fact that perhaps it might cost more though Alex. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 6:48:09 GMT
Ian Name one that has been reviewd in RG in the last 2 years or so that isn't, expect for perhaps an incorrectly biased Indeed/Bravo ? Alex  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 6:58:10 GMT
Some even find glass bottles 'harsh' ... Well, everybody is raving, so how good is the Panda compared to other headphone amplifiers? I myself have got Audio-GD Compass and Heed CanAmp. Are they inferior to the Panda? Other comparisons are very welcome. Don't have any of these amps but my observations based on technical things (schematics) tells me the Audio-GD should sound very similar to the Panda as the schematics. The FET input stage, whole set-up and very similar transistor output stage have a striking resemblance. The Heed and the Audio GD have completely different schematics and quality. IF you can't find huge (sonic) differences between the Heed and the Audio-GD then, for technical reasons, the Panda won't be much of an upgrade presumably, based on these technical facts alone. You can try to change the output resistors of the Audio-GD. This makes sonically-wise considerably differences (as I have mentioned many times before). Like Alex already mentioned, going from bass light to darker sounding. Treble is affected mostly but this can mask the lows and mids as many HD681 modders already experienced when fitting a filter that only drops down the highs. << We'll all be in the Panda club soon and have to wear little bear suits >> There will be more 'Furries' then ... in Panda suits ! ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 7:14:33 GMT
No wukkin furries ! ;D
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 29, 2010 9:09:54 GMT
Mike I've bought a case and Panda kit. The case arrived today and the packing and quality is great compared to my first case. I've been rereading the thread and noticed that your on/off switch looked a little 'excited' . There should have been a couple of PCB standoffs in the kit to mount between the switch mounting lugs and the fascia which leaves the button flush with the surface in the off position. Syd Hold on a minute..... why is the volume knob in the centre of that case? With it in the centre you won't be able to board mount the pot  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 9:37:14 GMT
Mike, that avatar of yours tells it all. Is it you in a furry Panda suit ? ;D All it needs is some cans ... like yellow bear |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 12:05:55 GMT
Maybe everyone with a Panda amp should have a 'bear' avatar? Papa bear could be Mike, but I don't want to be Mama bear. (Who's been fiddling with my volume knob?) Alex - the V2 got good reviews and it has valves. I loved your little pun .... brilliant!!  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 12:21:24 GMT
Hi Mike, love the Avatar! Is he the Panda Club leader? That's a picture of my first case from DavidLouis but my new one has the same standoffs supplied. I didn't notice until I posted the pic that the volume knob is in a different position on the new one, so all is well. The quality of the new cases is several steps up, just waiting on the kit now. Syd mmm now I'm noticing the first case had no visible fixings on the front, he must have got a new supplier. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 18:25:42 GMT
I don't know what I'm doing half the time. I tried to update my avatar to something topical. Gave up!!! I can't help it.  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 20:24:40 GMT
O.K....
Ian's panda kicks a....
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 20:36:54 GMT
First there was "Bamboo Panda" chomps his way through multiple HPs and HP-amps Then, "Kung Fu Panda" really kickin' it out Now, "Panda One" the music police  yes, I'll collect my coat at the door... |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 29, 2010 20:37:33 GMT
This bloody camera of mine is starting to piss me off big time..... If it's a nice sunny day it takes half decent pictures, if it's under artificial lighting the pics are pretty dire..... Anyhooo..... had a couple of spare hours this evening and decided to populate Ian's PCB...... took pictures of the entire step by step process but 80% of them were so badly out of focus that it's not worth uploading them. Panda three arrived this afternoon so I promise I will put it together in daylight hours to ensure some good step by step photos! either that or I'll buy a new camera. One thing I noticed when populating Ian's board was that I had fitted the 47uF cap (in the power section) the wrong way round on my Panda! I have turned it round and she is sounding EVEN better! Amazing that I didn't spot this at the time.... bloody blind old git The Panda three kit also has the Nichicon "Gold Tune" capacitors included so they are obviously shipping the kits with 100% Nichicon electrolytics now (which isn't a bad thing ) Nichicon and ELNA are probably the widest used audio caps on the planet. It was a BREEZE populating the board second time round! I reckon I could get it down to a couple of hours on Panda three (that's motoring through it tho').... the Warton's "future" solder performed beautifully...... tip @ 440C it went in like water and even "domed" beautifully on the other side of the board  I will take a photo of the soldering tomorrow (in good light) it's stunning All I am waiting for now is Ian's enclosure to arrive and I will put the whole shebang together.... I'm also holding off on fitting the ALPS RK27 (Blue Velvet) as I have 18 of them to hand and want to match one to as close as "perfect" as is possible. It's not often that I build amps for other people but, when I do, I want to build them to the VERY best of my ability.... I'm really enjoying putting this Panda together Here are a few pics that weren't "too" bad.... I will take more in the light of day: Bottom feeders fitted first:   The rest of the "step by step" photos didn't make it..... these are the only others deemed fit for consumption:      |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 29, 2010 20:55:49 GMT
The Panda avatar is a nice change but Eric hasn't spoken to me all day..... he is VERY upset..... he thinks I have used him and am now "dumping" him in favour of a Chinese panda.
Not going to happen! I reassured him that he would be back very soon and explained the concept of a "holiday" to him so he is quite happy now..... I have sent him to Morocco for two weeks to the "Yellow bear summer camp".... I put a lot of his favourite Jelly Belly gourmet beans, Bear nuts and duck liver pate in his suitcase so he won't go hungry.
It's the first time he has flown and it was quite sad waving bye bye to him at the airport but he seemed really excited and happy.... looking forward to the Yellow bear summer camp.....
He will ring me as soon as he lands and I'll let you all know how he is doing as soon as I hear from him.
Mike.
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Post by minivan on Sept 29, 2010 21:13:16 GMT
some suggestion for panda avatar  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 21:32:11 GMT
some suggestion for panda avatar Is that the pre and power amp. I hope the pre amp has gold interconnects. ;D Mike, as long as you're ok. Don't do your back/eyes/ear nose or throat. Well, you've got the Bear Necessities on the board now!! I can't bear the waiting now I've seen it. The first piece I'll listen to on it is Bear-thoven's 5th. Bear bear bear BEAR, Still, it's not the bear-all of life and I have my x-Cans and I don't give a 4X for anything else. (It's a Beer verses Bear joke) |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 29, 2010 21:49:40 GMT
Sore "ass" Panda......  Two males can't "do" the reproduction thing |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2010 22:54:37 GMT
I know this is getting really sad BUT, I found one for Mick, once he's finished.....  |
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Post by elysion on Sept 29, 2010 23:08:56 GMT
I like the PANDA thread. I'm still a soldering rookie and have still absolutely no soldering equipment here. Partially, it's because I don't have enough time, but also because I didn't want to spend more money this years and because my current apartment isn't really an ideal place for soldering. This thread already gave me a couple of informations about soldering (I've read also a few tutorials). I think it's a good way to learn something, because it shows common problems that can occur in a very pratical way. I know it's not everything I'd need to know and I need to get real pratice. But still: IMO it's very entertaining thread. The PANDA amp is very impressive. hifidiy.net has also a lot of other interesting kits. AFAIK the AUNE amp has also it's origin on hifidiy.net. en.hifidiy.net/I've never seen a kit for the matrix m-stage amp, but I wouldn't be too suprised if also kits for this amp are available. cgi.ebay.co.uk/Matrix-m-stage-Headphone-Amplifier-Amp-/350369229247?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5193a229bf#ht_9096wt_1139Maybe the Chinese ebay sellers will also offer pre-built PANDA amps. The PANDA kit is a real bargain and I could imagine that a pre-built PANDA could easily cost twice as much as an matrix m-stage. |
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I will take a photo of the soldering tomorrow (in good light) it's stunning 
