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Post by electronumpty on Jul 16, 2021 17:31:24 GMT
Mahoosive caps there, these are my VCap ODAMs for comparison. Had to heat shrink them as the cans are conductive.  ODAM's are supposed to be the danglies as reported by a few. Would love to hear some one day. I think I will write something up on how things sound sometime. This will have to be along the lines of how the system sounds overall though, as I have made a few key changes recently . New cart, ODAM caps and diy Tannoys. Plus some valve tinkering. No doubt the ODAMs had a major effect though. Was listening yesterday and have to say I am very happy with the overall sound as is now. 🙂 |
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optical
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Post by optical on Jul 17, 2021 7:11:58 GMT
No but they look slick. I do have some very Soviet looking capacitors in my new phono stage which look as if they've just been uncovered in a bunker. Oli, just a thought, have you considered going the Musical Paradise style (although I know others do it) design of having two screw terminals incorporated into the design so cap swapping can be done at will. At least maybe just on a prototype to get a feel for the sound of the caps? I know they won't sound as good as when soldered to the board but if you find they sound great in the BB3 you can spec builds with them after you've tried them on a 'jig'?? www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=87Yeah, i have a shed load of soviet caps. PIo ones, and they are very good for £4 each. alan reckons they really come on song with a little bypass cap on them. The way MP have mounted those caps is interesting. if i could find something Copper, that could allow that type of test arrangement, i would give it a go, as i am fed up of having to rebuild my phonostage every few months. Oli, I'm going to have to know how these sound. I'm really in the very final stages of tweaking my "main" system. There is nothing missing I'm just playing around which is where I believe 'specialist' caps and tubes can really come into play to hone that specific sound. A lot of people who have my Musical Paradise preamp (and the phono stage) use bypass caps, specifically cornell dubilier 940c - 0.01uf ones. Never tried it myself but some say it's worth doing. The main caps in my preamp are Mundorf Silver/Gold/Oil 4.3uF but I can and would like to use slightly smaller (physically) ones but they MUST be an upgrade on what are already some of the best caps I've ever heard. Shame there isn't a Cap library scheme.... |
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Post by optical on Jul 29, 2021 12:15:15 GMT
Update - got enough wire to finish this time . . . . was literally 20cm short as I doubled up the gauge on all the connections so had to order more! Old wiring:   New wiring: (bypassed those horrible little tags which connect the main driver leads). Secured new wire with tip ties to allow enough slack for the drivers to move to their maximum throw length. Tweeter tags remain.    Soldered in the old caps (took some advice) as I also wanted to hear the difference just changing the wire made to the speakers. I may solder the Jantzens in at a later date as I can just cut the wire and solder them on further up on fresh wire.  Reattached all wires into the new binding posts. They are only screwed down at the moment in case I have messed anything up (highly likely) or want to change the caps. If I'm 100% happy I'll solder them to the posts.  Viola . . . . Speakers look exactly the same bar the binding posts from the outside, haha. I'm hoping they will be significantly better on the inside now though!   Will update on how they sound tonight hopefully! |
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 29, 2021 14:54:28 GMT
Update - got enough wire to finish this time . . . . was literally 20cm short as I doubled up the gauge on all the connections so had to order more! Old wiring: New wiring: (bypassed those horrible little tags which connect the main driver leads). Secured new wire with tip ties to allow enough slack for the drivers to move to their maximum throw length. Tweeter tags remain. Soldered in the old caps (took some advice) as I also wanted to hear the difference just changing the wire made to the speakers. I may solder the Jantzens in at a later date as I can just cut the wire and solder them on further up on fresh wire. Reattached all wires into the new binding posts. They are only screwed down at the moment in case I have messed anything up (highly likely) or want to change the caps. If I'm 100% happy I'll solder them to the posts. Viola . . . . Speakers look exactly the same bar the binding posts from the outside, haha. I'm hoping they will be significantly better on the inside now though! Will update on how they sound tonight hopefully! Keep us informed. |
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Post by optical on Jul 29, 2021 15:29:39 GMT
Also just gave em a ruddy good oiling! I'd forgotten how lovely the finish is on them actually. In a lounge on matt black stands they score very highly on the WAF.....    |
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 29, 2021 15:47:43 GMT
Also just gave em a ruddy good oiling! I'd forgotten how lovely the finish is on them actually. In a lounge on matt black stands they score very highly on the WAF..... They look bang tidy! |
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Post by firebottle on Jul 29, 2021 16:41:01 GMT
Hmm, I'm not sure I like the idea of soldering directly to the cone connections.
Those flexible connections are flexible for a reason.
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Post by optical on Jul 29, 2021 17:45:43 GMT
Hmm, I'm not sure I like the idea of soldering directly to the cone connections. Those flexible connections are flexible for a reason. Yes it was certainly considered, they can still move back and forth as much as they did before. The cone barely moves at all even with relatively high SPL's. Although they are never played loud. Should the worst happen I actually have a spare set of drivers which I would connect back as standard but after an hour or so it's only positives for the speakers so far..... |
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Post by optical on Jul 30, 2021 6:49:45 GMT
Having had a decent listening session last night I can at least say . . . . I haven't made them any worse (sounding) . . .
Honestly though they actually sound really 'nice'. By that I mean they aren't going to shake the walls, they aren't going to thump your chest or give you that lower or upper octave of any performance.
They are rolled off and a little coloured perhaps, but the full midrange is simply there, floating around the soundstage, sympathetic to any recording wherever you are in the room. The horn loading helps spread the soundstage around too, it adds some dramatic reverb where it is present on the recording and really gives texture to voices and instruments.
The reason I've been drawn to them for years though, is their ability to just make you listen. Jazz and vocals are particularly well portrayed, reed and wood instruments also sound honest and accurate.
The main accolade I can pay them is that even when going in the system after some much more expensive (and indeed physically intimidating) competition, they are never a let down and often actually serve to highlight what many speakers expensive, cheap, big, small, ported or whatever are missing. Sheer musical ability. For that these are a 10/10 . . . the rest, it doesn't really matter when you hear them!
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 30, 2021 7:01:49 GMT
Having had a decent listening session last night I can at least say . . . . I haven't made them any worse (sounding) . . . Honestly though they actually sound really 'nice'. By that I mean they aren't going to shake the walls, they aren't going to thump your chest or give you that lower or upper octave of any performance. They are rolled off and a little coloured perhaps, but the full midrange is simply there, floating around the soundstage, sympathetic to any recording wherever you are in the room. The horn loading helps spread the soundstage around too, it adds some dramatic reverb where it is present on the recording and really gives texture to voices and instruments. The reason I've been drawn to them for years though, is their ability to just make you listen. Jazz and vocals are particularly well portrayed, reed and wood instruments also sound honest and accurate. The main accolade I can pay them is that even when going in the system after some much more expensive (and indeed physically intimidating) competition, they are never a let down and often actually serve to highlight what many speakers expensive, cheap, big, small, ported or whatever are missing. Sheer musical ability. For that these are a 10/10 . . . the rest, it doesn't really matter when you hear them! It always amazes me how so much stuff is listenable and enjoyable. My garage system is like that. Miles off the level of the main system, but yet I blast through album after album and have a great time listening.....whilst working 😁 It was all free gear too, so that's always a bonus. Well done on the refurb. You can see how much you like them by the care you've taken. |
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Post by optical on Jul 30, 2021 7:12:30 GMT
Very true. It's probably where you actually get on with enjoying the large majority of music I'd imagine. I feel because you are not expecting to 'critique' any particular part of the system and aren't testing any new cables and such, your brain is in a more lucidly receptive state and happy to just listen along.
With my main system I found myself usually listening out for a certain passage to see how the latest change has effected it. I've actually tried to curb this of late (to an extent) by listening for longer after making any changes (unless it's blindingly obviously detrimental) and getting through entire albums where possible.
It's a fine balance between tweaking (something that I clearly MUST do, aarrrgghhh!) and sitting back and enjoying your work. Luckily I'm doing more of the latter lately.
Nothing better than some cheap (or indeed free!) kit sounding better than it has any right to . . . but also frustrating knowing how little effort and cost it took to put together compared to the main rig, which sometimes only sounds a few steps better . . . although deep down hopefully its capable or a darn sight more.
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