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Post by mrpharmacist on Aug 13, 2011 17:24:51 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2011 18:44:07 GMT
I watch the X-Cans on Ebay and generally find that the V2 goes around £75 plus postage if it hasn't been modded and is with the original power supply.
You need to use a 'sniper' if you want to get one or else offer a proper price right at the start. The last bid is normally seconds before it finishes - I've watched it happening.
Ian
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Post by mrpharmacist on Aug 20, 2011 15:18:39 GMT
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Post by PinkFloyd on Aug 20, 2011 20:18:54 GMT
The £142 X-Can V2 was a very good price for a mint example.... these things are pretty much Icons in the headphone amp world.... the first "truly" good quality valve based headphone amp to be sold to the masses. Made in England (Wembley), £129 back in the day, totally different to the usual square boxes and STILL outperforms many head amps today. The only weak spots are the capacitors and the valves so expect to pay a bit more to restore the V2 to 100% operational order.... a ten year old V2 (for example) will probably need a recap and a fresh pair of valves.... the stock caps are Jamicon general purpose types and 85C rated.... fine for a couple of years inside the warm V2 but they are prone to bulging and failing. 105C "long life" caps will last for tens of years. Realistically, you are looking at around £150 for a cosmetically nice V2 and probably another £50 - £150 to restore it to it's former glory.... £50 if you "DIY". Still WELL worth the asking price (IMO).... remember, there is no such thing as a revolutionary "new" amp design, they are ALL based on well known designs..... Look after any old amp and it will serve you well and a "re cap" will, generally, inject life back into it. Mike. |
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Post by mrpharmacist on Aug 21, 2011 7:59:02 GMT
I'm with you, though the Little Pinkie I've got for the V3 wouldn't work with that one( or could it with an adaptor?)
I liked your comparison of the V2 and V3 as like a small venue and larger one. I'd like to have a V2 and to get the soldering iron out again, a lot of my music would lend itself better to a smaller-type space.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 8:46:44 GMT
The V2 is one of my favourite amps. I also use a modded V8 with X10 buffer. Really nice.
Cheapest V2 I've seen was £90 recently. I watched it go up during the last few seconds!! It was unmodded with standard power supply. Not perfect but quite good condition.
So it would need modding, change of valves and (imo) the compulsory Little Pinkie!!! The newest version is brilliant.
Ian
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Post by mrpharmacist on Aug 21, 2011 14:57:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 16:09:23 GMT
Sorry, the new Little Pinkie. Really solid power supply.
Ian
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Post by DocRock on Jan 20, 2012 0:00:05 GMT
Trust prices to drop when I want to sell my V2!
What would one be worth now, not modded at all, all original and perfect condition, original MF psu but without original box?
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Post by pcourtney1 on Jan 20, 2012 22:02:59 GMT
you should still get over a 100 quid for it :-)
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Post by DocRock on Jan 21, 2012 1:02:44 GMT
Good news  Thanks. you should still get over a 100 quid for it :-) |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2012 10:45:27 GMT
A mint X-Can will hold good value. You do see a few rough ones on there.
You'll miss it though.
I reckon the presence of RG keeps the prices up actually!!!
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wadiaman
<100
Measure twice.......cut once
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Post by wadiaman on Jan 21, 2012 17:34:55 GMT
I think you are right there !
I reckon a well modded V1 or V2 is pretty hard to beat.I've just finished my 4th (a V1) using Mikes "kit"/ valves plus a few other bits and bobs and the results are terrific with DT 990s.
I prefer the V1,IMO they are more tweakable altho' most are now pretty well used by now so much care is needed on the PCB especially the "hot spots".
For £80/100 plus the cost of parts from Mike the old XCans are up there with the best for value !
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Post by DocRock on Jan 21, 2012 17:52:36 GMT
I'm sure you're right, I'm in two minds about selling it but haven't used it for a while and am selling off a few other bits and pieces to raise some cash just now (Copland CDA288 etc)
Love the sound of it as it is, have resisted upgrading it so far but if I do keep it I'll probably go the mod route
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 21, 2012 21:23:10 GMT
£25.... I'll paypal you immediately  This is not the time to sell, wait a couple of months and the prices will pick up again... everybody is getting "rid" of stuff in January, it's the best time to buy but a crap time to sell.... I'll give you £100 for it but if you hold out you will get more on ebay once the January "lull" has past. I think £100 - £150 is an absolute BARGAIN and am surprised they aren't going for a lot more... they are true classics and if re-capped can compete with most of the stuff that's on sale today... £100 is NO money for what you are getting, a true icon, made in England (London), still a real conversation piece ("what IS that?")... not your usual parts in a square box... this (in my opinion) brought headphone amps to the attention of the masses, if they were to build the same thing "in England" today you'd be looking at quite a price! I wish they WOULD start making them again, a kind of full on "anniversary" edition type of affair with the best possible parts... they don't seem to be doing anything these days in Wembley apart from contract out to Taiwan, it's such a shame... there was actually a bit of "thought" and "imagination" going on when they came up with the original X-series... these days it's just humongous slabs of aluminium being shipped over from Taiwan with a bullcrap "OTT" English speaking marketing team who keep saying A is better than B and C is better than B and D is better than C.... you don't know where you stand. They are all about bullshitting these days and have chosen the revolutionary approach over the old (tried and tested) evolutionary process... everything they introduce is "better" than anything else that has gone before, "different" from anything else etc...... They have turned into a typical company who are majoring on maximum profit / minimum outlay / minimum UK staff / Maximum bullshit.... they have lost the entire meaning / ethic of why they originally came to be... as I say, it's quite sad and it's also evident to anybody who knew what they "used" to be about to see what they have turned into. |
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Post by DocRock on Jan 21, 2012 21:56:01 GMT
Sound advice there, I'm going to hang on to it, too good a thing to sell as you say for little money. Might look at modding it sometime although I do like the fact it is original.
Absolutely agree with all your comments about Musical Fidelity and much of the british HiFi industry in general. I remember when MF started and was in the trade when the A1 was launched to great excitment, had a lot of fun re-assuring customers that it was actually supposed to get that warm! Was a revolutionary company in it's day, never put a foot wrong for many years and although I'm out of touch with it's current range I think I'd rather remember it as it was in the early days. Many happy memories of a 3B Pre-amp and P170 power amp I owned in the 80s.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 23, 2012 22:02:26 GMT
Yes, hold onto it, it would be a shame to let it go for so little. It would be great if they could stay "stock" forever but unfortunately things like capacitors dry up and spoil the party.... I have PLENTY of fresh stock caps, more than happy to send you enough to recap your amp free of charge.... PM me your details.
Mike.
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Post by DocRock on Jan 23, 2012 23:29:47 GMT
Cheers Mike, very kind offer! PM sent |
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Post by muxamed on Jan 13, 2013 21:47:22 GMT
Sorry for bumping this thread after almost a year. I have a chance to buy an X-Can v2, unmodded, used, for £75. Do you think it is a good price? To use with my HD650.
Cheers
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Post by pcourtney1 on Jan 13, 2013 23:14:33 GMT
yes, only £75 is a steal, buy it, and then get the latest V2 kit from Mike and some NOS valves from him too, they are marvellous little amps when given a little TLC :-)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2013 23:34:10 GMT
yes, only £75 is a steal, buy it, and then get the latest V2 kit from Mike and some NOS valves from him too, they are marvellous little amps when given a little TLC :-) The big question "that needs to be asked, is "does it still work properly?" Component and PCB damage may be costly to repair if it also entails a return trip to and from far north Scotland. |
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Post by muxamed on Jan 14, 2013 14:13:42 GMT
yes, only £75 is a steal, buy it, and then get the latest V2 kit from Mike and some NOS valves from him too, they are marvellous little amps when given a little TLC :-) The big question "that needs to be asked, is "does it still work properly?" Component and PCB damage may be costly to repair if it also entails a return trip to and from far north Scotland. It seems to be in good condition. I wonder if it will sufficiently drive my HD650. I had an X-Can V3 earlier and it worked fine with my Sennheiser cans. But maybe V2 is a different beast.  |
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Post by muxamed on Jan 14, 2013 14:24:07 GMT
And another question. Will V2 be sufficient to drive a pair of k501s?
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mrarroyo
Been here a while! 
Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Jan 14, 2013 14:56:54 GMT
Yes, the V2 can drive a K501 to insane volume.
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Post by muxamed on Jan 14, 2013 15:59:23 GMT
Thanks mrarroyo. I heard these headphones a couple of years ago and ever since I have been looking for a mint pair to buy. They are scarce today and often cost a lot (sometimes over $300) Anyway, I would really like to buy a mint pair, even for $300  |
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Thanks. 
This is not the time to sell, wait a couple of months and the prices will pick up again... everybody is getting "rid" of stuff in January, it's the best time to buy but a crap time to sell.... I'll give you £100 for it but if you hold out you will get more on ebay once the January "lull" has past.
