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Post by rassama on Nov 18, 2012 10:58:48 GMT
I'm very happy as I got my first headphone amps yesterday. I was eying a V3 on an auction site but when a V1 popped up for €50/£40 I could not resist. Honestly: how was I to resist?! It arrived yesterday and looks really neat except for a nick on top. I had a quick listen with my Denon AH-D2000s and it sounded better than unexpected. Somehow I expected the sound to be poor either because of overuse or old age  The seller was the original owner so I can ask more about the history should I want. In another thread I saw a great post by Mike on what to look for. I will open it up and check the internals and then post pictures. And then it's time to think what to do with it. I'm totally inexperienced with a soldering iron so I'd have to pay someone to recap if I go down that route. But replacing the values does sound like a good starting point. Anyway: I'll post some more listening thoughts later this week and some pictures. |
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Post by rassama on Nov 18, 2012 11:03:05 GMT
This is what I need to do first I guess  Nice one Chong! Be sure to treat that puppy to a pair of brand new valves / tubes... open her up and check the capacitors for bulging... also check the bottom board around the transistors... if the amp has been left on 24/7 for years there will be signs of browning on the PCB under the transistors... this is more indicative of cheap PCB than it is anything else.... if there is scorching then check the pads on the underside of the board as these become very brittle and can lift. Hopefully you've got one with a nice "white" PCB Other things to look for... check the RCA quad socket, sometimes the ground pins snap off... also check the valve sockets, grab one with your hand, turn the board over, start rocking it and make sure the solder joints are not moving... it is ALWAYS a good idea to reflow the joints on the valve bases... people who have rolled a lot of valves over the years find that these joins actually seperate (well, I tell them to look there!) and they have intermittent "crackling" problems... it's simply the joints which have become compromised. Another thing you can do is get a pin and gently lever the connectors inwards on the valve sockets... this will tighten the grip on the valve pins If you are going to use the stock valves for a while then remove them and get some 600 grade wet / dry paper.... remove the surface oxidisation from the pins, this helps.... I can tell you this for a fact, I have measured plenty of valves on my tube imp analyser, a simple cleaning of the pins can change the readings. Best to go with the 6N23P-EB for starters, it's the best allrounder IMO (best VFM, very robust, long life, superb SQ) and it has chromed pins so no worries about oxidisation.... built like tanks and stay in spec much longer than the 6922. You can lose the 10uF input caps, just jumper across the pads... if you want to keep them then replace them for non polar types. The 220uF non polar ouput coupling caps can be replaced with 470uF or 1000uF non polar types (nichicon MUSE are good) this is a good idea if you are using low Z 'phones.... enter your headphone impedance in the "resistance" field and your value of output cap in the capacitance field www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-RCpad.htmAll the best, Mike. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 13:11:57 GMT
Hi Rassama, and welcome to the forum. Before doing any mods, why don't you take a few weeks to get to know how the amp sounds with different types of music and different headphones? Then if/when you decide to upgrade, try doing it in an incremental way so you get to hear how each mod affects the sound. Hope you enjoy RG, it's the not the biggest - but it's the best,
Jeff
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Post by rassama on Nov 19, 2012 15:13:44 GMT
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Post by rassama on Nov 19, 2012 15:21:14 GMT
Hi Rassama, and welcome to the forum. Before doing any mods, why don't you take a few weeks to get to know how the amp sounds with different types of music and different headphones? Then if/when you decide to upgrade, try doing it in an incremental way so you get to hear how each mod affects the sound. Hope you enjoy RG, it's the not the biggest - but it's the best,
Jeff Thanks Jeff! Yes, I need to listen first. Today I got a few hours in and I’m really, really happy. Compared to the headphone socket on (the back of) the B1, it sounds so much better: way better separation and more punch. On the whole it is much more enjoyable to listen to. This is my first ‘valve’ component so I’m not sure how much of the enhanced enjoyment comes from the valves. About the photos: to me this looks pretty good, but then again: I wouldn’t know a faulty pcb if it punched me in the nose and broke itself. - Discolouring doesn’t look to bad, does it? - RCA quad socket ground pins good - valve rocking test: sockets solder joints good - no obvious bulging to me - stock Philips valves - no obvious oxidation on the valve pins to me Anyone care to comment? |
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Crispy
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"Done me wrong," it's the same old song" - forever
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Post by Crispy on Nov 19, 2012 18:25:35 GMT
And now for some pictures    Welcome to the forum rassama. It looks like you have bought yourself a very nice amp there, it looks like it has had very little use.  Have a really good long listen to it first before you upgrade and when you do there are plenty of people on this forum who are always keen to help out. Chris |
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Post by rassama on Jan 22, 2013 19:42:23 GMT
It’s time for a short update. Firstly I am still extremely happy with my X-Cans! The combination with my Denon D2000s is great. I have some cheaper headphones lying around but never seem to get around listening with them. Somehow I am expecting to hear flaws or faults but eh... I can’t Sure the sound is not reference flat but that’s not I want for music listening enjoyment. The X-Cans definitely add vibrance and life to what I listen (alternative rock/indie/world music/folk/pretty much standard John Peel-fare). I have some comparison because I ‘accidentally’ bought a mint Aune Mini USB DAC MK2 SE. I’m sure some of you know here know how these things happen I’ve been trying to listen to it but the experience is not bad but in comparison it remains lacklustre  I should say I already have a modded (not buy me, I’m hopeless) CA DacMagic that I’m happy with so I’ll sell the Aune someday. I understand that as it is stock, there is more potential to be had but tbh I would rather put the modest resources I have in upgrading the X-Cans. I haven’t mentioned yet that I also have a MF X-LPS, which was my first MF purchase. I’m very happy with that too. I’ll post a pic of it soon. I just took the front off (the back is some work to take off) and the caps look good and the board clean to my untrained eye. It too has been modded but I’m not sure what’s been done to the innards but it does have an custom external power supply. Back to the X-Cans, I think a first step might be to get a Maplin PSU as that is a cheap upgrade (Little Pinkie looks tempting! but is a whole lot more). I do live in the Netherlands but have family in the UK to send one over. Anyone know off the top of their head if it is the 9 or 12V one I need? Maybe I should get one for the DacMagic too. PS: I might not post much and my technical skills are non-existant, nevertheless I still enjoy nosing around here at RG. Thanks for having me |
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Post by Seamus on Jan 22, 2013 23:08:17 GMT
I've bought a few things 'accidentally' myself It's the 12v Maplin one that you need, I have one myself and their a good PSU if you don't want the full Pinkie. That was a great price you paid for the V1, glad you are enjoying it |
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Post by rassama on Feb 1, 2013 14:13:21 GMT
Thanks Seamus. A Maplin has been ordered. I'm looking forward to seeing if it makes a difference. It seems I can actually use it on my CA DacMagic too.
I really can't believe how much I am enjoying it. It's a shame I haven't got the AKG K550 anymore as I wonder whether it too would work so well with the Cans.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2013 19:04:43 GMT
Welcome Rassama. I have the D2000 and K550 as well.
Have you got any higher impedance headphones to try? They're both very low and need a lot of current to drive them. Tubes tend to be a bit happier driving harder voltages.
Something like a DT990? Kind of similar to the Denon but higher impedance.
Looks like you got a really good bargain there too. It's a lovely amp.
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Post by rassama on Feb 1, 2013 19:14:25 GMT
Thanks for the welcome Ian. I have been thinking about something to compliment the D2000. High independence, open backed and easy on the wallet second hand. Not sure what it ought to be yet though.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 1, 2013 19:54:57 GMT
That's a very tidy looking V1, glad you are enjoying it Mike. |
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Post by rassama on Feb 1, 2013 20:36:03 GMT
That's a very tidy looking V1, glad you are enjoying it Thanks Mike. To my eye it looks like I’m the first owner enjoying it it looks so good for its age. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 1, 2013 20:41:05 GMT
That's a very tidy looking V1, glad you are enjoying it Thanks Mike. To my eye it looks like I’m the first owner enjoying it it looks so good for its age. Enjoy the music man.... you've got yourself a really nice amp there Mike. |
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Post by rassama on Feb 1, 2013 20:53:53 GMT
Enjoying I am! You know how you want to re-listen all your favourite music? That’s the mood I’m in the last two months. And I didn’t have that with when I plugged the D2000 straight into my MF B1 amp or my iPhone. And like I wrote above: I don’t have that with the Aune Mini USB Dac and D2000 combo either. It’s only with the X-Cans that I have that feeling. And it’s a good feeling, somewhat fuelled by red wine at the mo’  |
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Post by rassama on Mar 27, 2013 19:47:02 GMT
Small setup change. I’ve sold the Musical Fidelity B1. It’s a very nice and musical amp but I felt it might be lacking in definition. The guy that bought it of me also bought my Aune mini USB/DAC, which I found a poorer HP amp than the X-Cans (could be the match with the Denons of course) and the DAC part was a bit colder than my DacMagic. With these funds I bought a (good as new) Marantz PM 7004 to match the CD 5003 I have.
Interestingly enough the HP output of the PM 7004 sounds very, very good. Bass via the X-Cans can be a bit bloomy and wobbly and is tighter from the Marantz. This is definitely first impressions as I got the amp this weekend but it will be interesting how this pans out.
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The seller was the original owner so I can ask more about the history should I want. 
I should say I already have a modded (not buy me, I’m hopeless) CA DacMagic that I’m happy with so I’ll sell the Aune someday. I understand that as it is stock, there is more potential to be had but tbh I would rather put the modest resources I have in upgrading the X-Cans.
