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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 7:47:49 GMT
Tabriz utter tat? Never read of any one else complain about it's build quality. Will admit it doesn't exude a sense of high quality engineering. The one I got I only paid £150, I think, which compensated somewhat. I don't understand the prices it normally goes for. I wouldn't buy one at the typical going price.
As for the Nima. I've seen a couple of photos of it and again I didn't think it had that sense of quality engineering; looks a bit toy-like to my mind. I'd rather have a go at making one myself.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 8:00:24 GMT
Tabriz utter tat? Never read of any one else complain about it's build quality. Will admit it doesn't exude a sense of high quality engineering. The one I got I only paid £150, I think, which compensated somewhat. I don't understand the prices it normally goes for. I wouldn't buy one at the typical going price. As for the Nima. I've seen a couple of photos of it and again I didn't think it had that sense of quality engineering; looks a bit toy-like to my mind. I'd rather have a go at making one myself. That’s what I think about the Nima too, but it’s only when I look more closely. I think I probably fell victim to Gromit’s pics. I’ve sold him a few bits over the years and always saw the thing I’d sold in a new light when he put pics up. I will still be interested in having the Nima. Only when I have it in my hands will I really know if I want it. It was the arm tube on the Tabriz I hated most, it felt so “tinny” and the pressed headshell was hideus to me. I also didn’t like the counterweight stub and the off-the-shelf arm lift. I’d imagined a more substantial item. Apart from the wretched wiring and plugs, I liked the build of the RB300. In comparison to the Tabriz it felt much more substantial. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 8:15:19 GMT
The morning after the night before......  |
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Post by macca on Apr 20, 2019 8:58:44 GMT
Broken kit all over the floor - looks like my living room.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 9:04:45 GMT
The fireplace makes the room look like the floor's been lowered.  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 9:07:58 GMT
At least I’m more chipper about it today, Johnny is taking care of the Rega by fitting one of his own leads. I’m still I sure whether to replace the parts in ten XPS1 myself. It’s a doddle to leave the existing legs for the caps and power resistors and solder onto them but I don’t think I could live with that, Removing the parts and fitting new ones always risks stripping solder tracks if you lack experience, so I”m wary
I could take to Jez or Maugham for replacement parts but there’s no guarantee it will work.
Buying a new XPS-7 is the best route but I never buy new. I might just DIY the XPS-1 and wait for a used XPS7.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 9:09:23 GMT
The fireplace makes the room look like the floor's been lowered. Yeah I hated it and said I’d rip it out first day, Then I got used to it and appreciated the floor space. It may go one day but it’s a nice piece of Granite and I don’t like losing space. |
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Post by macca on Apr 20, 2019 9:12:01 GMT
Get a Technics SL1200, fit the Rega arm to it (after you've got it working again) and be amazed. None of those belt drive things will even come close. And it will work first time every time.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 9:12:57 GMT
So this is the inside of the Xerxes XPS1 PSU. It still powers up and it will spin the motor without belt, but it’s obviously suffering from years of heat and use. My question is, does anyone know if it’s serviceable by an electronics engineer without having to supply the deck too.     Roksan used to take forever and charge hundreds so that’s out. My alternatives appear to be..... Get it repaired locally? No idea if anyone is willing or capable of fixing it. Buy a used one. Might take time to find one and even then will it work for long? Buy a later style PSU. More money and they sound worse but they are reliable. Sell the damn thing and give up on vinyl. Any thoughts? Can anyone advise what wattage of wire wound resistors I need please? I can see 330 ohm but the rest is gobbledygook. Better still, and EBay link to some UK ones I can use would be great. Oh and I can see the capacitance value on the caps, but what about voltage? Again an eBay or Rapid link would be very much appreciated. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 9:29:19 GMT
Get a Technics SL1200, fit the Rega arm to it (after you've got it working again) and be amazed. None of those belt drive things will even come close. And it will work first time every time. Xerxes still beats a PS-6750 in a straight comparison with the same cart. It doesn’t even lose out on pitch stability. Folk say the Sony betters the Technics, but I don’t know for sure. There’s something soulless and unappealing about the Jap DDs I’ve come across but it could just be listening with my eyes. I couldn’t live with live with the looks of a Technics although it is better than the Sony. I like the arm on the Sony, but the rest is horrid. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 9:29:32 GMT
The wirewound resistors are probably the least likely items to have failed. They don't look discoloured from overheating, so I'd bet they don't need changing.
If you take the caps out, the voltage will be written on them somewhere.
I still think it's worth getting Alan to take a look.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 9:53:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 10:34:57 GMT
You have a meter. Check them. Desolder one end and set your meter to lowest resistance range and measure them.
It's unlikely for them to change in value if they are actually wire wound. Decades ago Maplins sold that very type of ceramic wire wound resistor. Up to a certain value they were wire wound, and above that value they were metal oxide in construction. Always seemed a bit odd to me to still list them as wire wound. Anyway, only likely to have changed in value if metal oxide.
They're look like 7 or 10w. More like 10w.
There's the other 4 capacitors as well.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 20, 2019 11:58:22 GMT
You have a meter. Check them. Desolder one end and set your meter to lowest resistance range and measure them. It's unlikely for them to change in value if they are actually wire wound. Decades ago Maplins sold that very type of ceramic wire wound resistor. Up to a certain value they were wire wound, and above that value they were metal oxide in construction. Always seemed a bit odd to me to still list them as wire wound. Anyway, only likely to have changed in value if metal oxide. They're look like 7 or 10w. More like 10w. There's the other 4 capacitors as well. I have no tech knowledge so using a multimeter isn’t something I understand. I’m not really confident in soldering/desoldering onto a PCB either. My options are replace the bits, replace the PSU, or sell th deck as spares and buy another working one. I’m leaning towards option 3 as I have the Mantra up and running, |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 13:00:03 GMT
Take a photo of the screw connections remove the board and post it. I'll do it. If you can post just the board it'll be less for postage. I've had a broken arm for the last 3 weeks but might be just about able to use a desoldering pump. It will only cost the postage.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2019 13:09:36 GMT
Do you have a Linn pattern Armboard for the Deck?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 21, 2019 15:10:43 GMT
Sorry, I’m I see your question. Nope, but I could make one if I end up keeping it. I’m still a big Xerxes fan so I will probably end up with another workimg one and the Mantra will probably make way,
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 21, 2019 15:16:25 GMT
I’m really looking forward to trying the Penaudio speakers which I will pick up Friday afternoon. On paper they look too small but I have a hunch they may be special. Can I live with conventional speakers though?
Sitting here today I’m getting the urge to go back to Cyprus, whatever Brexit holds. I can feel the urge to be out of Britain building again. Thing is, I really love this house. Can’t see me renting it out and keeping two places is just too costly.
Time will tell, I guess.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 20:48:29 GMT
Westie, how are you getting on with the Byron CD Player? How does it compare to your past CD Players?
My father bought a Byron way back in 2003, but sold it on sometime in 2009. He wasn't very keen on it. He found it a little bit too 'detailed' sounding.
S.
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 21, 2019 21:01:15 GMT
Westie, how are you getting on with the Byron CD Player? How does it compare to your past CD Players? My father bought a Byron way back in 2003, but sold it on sometime in 2009. He wasn't very keen on it. He found it a little bit too 'detailed' sounding. S. I liked it before I bought the Dryden DAC but the latter has made it a world beater for me. It adds quite a bit of definition and gravitas. I have no plans to ever change the CD player or amp. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 21, 2019 21:03:53 GMT
I bought some better quality earbuds and didn’t really expect much. I’m surprised how much I like them and now often they are getting used. They are fantastically clean sounding and ideal for YouTube’s etc, the cable never tangles either so it’s a great result.
They are Kennerton Algiz. Anyone tried them? Any owners?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 21:05:55 GMT
Westie, how are you getting on with the Byron CD Player? How does it compare to your past CD Players? My father bought a Byron way back in 2003, but sold it on sometime in 2009. He wasn't very keen on it. He found it a little bit too 'detailed' sounding. S. I liked it before I bought the Dryden DAC but the latter has made it a world beater for me. It adds quite a bit of definition and gravitas. I have no plans to ever change the CD player or amp. Glad to hear you are happy with the results. Just don't listen to anything else then, if you never want to change! But it's understandable if you move up to the Alabaster/Orton etc. S. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 22:00:06 GMT
Take a photo of the screw connections remove the board and post it. I'll do it. If you can post just the board it'll be less for postage. I've had a broken arm for the last 3 weeks but might be just about able to use a desoldering pump. It will only cost the postage. Do you want help with power supply then? One thing you can try: remove the board and reheat the wire wound resistor joints. One I looked at had one that had a dry joint. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2019 22:58:09 GMT
Cost you about £5 for those Elco caps.. Want doing anyway so you cant loose
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 22, 2019 0:00:31 GMT
Take a photo of the screw connections remove the board and post it. I'll do it. If you can post just the board it'll be less for postage. I've had a broken arm for the last 3 weeks but might be just about able to use a desoldering pump. It will only cost the postage. Do you want help with power supply then? One thing you can try: remove the board and reheat the wire wound resistor joints. One I looked at had one that had a dry joint. Hi, I’m really sorry but somehow I missed your earlier post and kind offer. Frustratingly I did a deal earlier tonight with a mate for about half what it’s worth. I’m getting a DAC and a few quid in return for the Xerxes. Doh! I thought it easier to just let it go and pick up a working one. If I hadn’t had the Mantra, I would never have done that. What with exploding phono stages, two defective Rega arms and the stricken Xerxes, I’m really wondering why I bothered getting back into vinyl. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 0:08:50 GMT
o well at least it less hastle now. I recon if you could get that Logic arm on the Mantra you will have miles better arm.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 22, 2019 0:14:00 GMT
o well at least it less hastle now. I recon if you could get that Logic arm on the Mantra you will have miles better arm. I’m defo selling the Nima straight on, because I only bought it for the Xerxes. That leaves me with an R200 and an AO rewired RB250:with Origin Live structural upgrade, You reckon the Logic will see them both off? Cart is likely to be the Mayware MC-2V for now. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 0:21:18 GMT
I hate those arms with a passion. you should be fine with the Mayware. i was a Mayware fan boy when their stuff came out. You see my post about their T24 SUT. Better than using a dedicated MC stage imho.
Looking at the listing, looks like the mounting bolts need to be shorter as you know the Mantra armboards are only about 3/8" thick board. or it might be hes screwed em right out.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 22, 2019 0:24:49 GMT
I hate those arms with a passion. you should be fine with the Mayware. i was a Mayware fan boy when their stuff came out. You see my post about their T24 SUT. Better than using a dedicated MC stage imho. Looking at the listing, looks like the mounting bolts need to be shorter as you know the Mantra armboards are only about 3/8" thick board. or it might be hes screwed em right out. Cheers for that. I have been looking for the T24 off and on but they don’t come up often, I was lucky to get the MC-2V |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2019 0:33:18 GMT
Have you tried replacing the thin Hardboard base board on the Mantra for a thicker one? The plinth itself is only made from Half inch MDF but there is nothing you can do about that.
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