The Bigblog!

Never buy any dusters though ? 

Exactly.
It's almost always a mistake for me to go back to a previously owned bit of kit.
I know its flaws (everything has them) and they become apparent immediately. 😐 Straight back up for sale.

Some much potential in these, a lot of work of DOB board is required, also on the main CPU board top left, that brings dividens also Oli, my original unit will be on the market in the not to distant furture current owner (who used to run a mid level two box Melco before it) has purchase a replacement unit which was over seven thousand. His X50 imho matches many highly regarded 5K units and it does sound more musically involling than his Esoteric P-05 cd drive

Because...?
My guess is you'd obtained a black one and when a silver one came up at the right price, you decided to switch and will be flogging on the black one?

Yeah, i totally accept your point there, however, that isn't quite how it's worked out here.

My previous black X50D was still equipped with SMPS and was sold before upgrade. I needed cash for the speakers, i didn't love the sound i had with it, so out the door it went. Recently i was starting to think that maybe the Kenwood CDT was a weak link in the chain, or maybe the DAC wasn't as good as i'd thought as certain things just never sounded quite as good as i have heard them before. Remembering CD and X50D comparisons happened with the Etka i had at the time, i asked Alan if i could loan his pimped X50D to compare with the Ken with my Mini Vader now tuned beautifully to the room, which he was of course happy to do.

Comparisons have concluded that Alans X50D walked all over the CDT and here i now am with another X50D which WILL be modified. I won't be selling this one on for a good while now.

Of course, i just need Macca to come and visit with his TEAC CDT and i can finally put the digital front end debate to bed, for me at least.

I will when you get your new speakers. Saves two trips 😉

You could ring Jason up every day and say are we there yet ? It will not make Jason work any quicker but it will wind him up 😂

Soundstage

Transparency and LF detail. The Ken is bouncy and fun, but it seems slightly out of whack over the frequency spectrum At the LF end.

Once I started to pay more attention to that than the music, I did some research. Most people who have used this CDT report "Strong" or "Juicy" bass.

It is exactly what I'm hearing, and neither the X50D with or without SMPS exhibit this.

macca Unlike you and your 'beater' Oli doesn't like it strong and juicy these days.  

Right - so we just have to determine if the Kenwood is bassier/jucier than the TEAC. 

Easy peasy.

It been very difficult to get any serious time with the system in recent weeks. This has played havoc with my ability to actually just relax and get used to changes that have taken place. There have been a few things i have been itching to address. The first was to make sure i have all of the LPSU upgrade parts ready for the transplant into the X50D. Thankfully, it's been a free upgrade. I already had the LPSU PCB, the Traffo's and the Perspex platform it will all sit on, the only thing left to do was perform some minor surgery on the PCB.

The original PCB has some cheap Nichicon caps pre-installed, which i am not keen on. I has a couple of the ones i fitted in the Topping D70s lying dormant, so i fitted those. A nice lift from 22000uf to 33000uf, and then removed the nasties from the output end off the PCB. That saw a change from Nichicon 820uf per cap to 1000uf Panasonic FM. I have also changed the diminutive heatsink from a 24mm to a 50mm, which should be able to cope sufficiently with the cooling requirements.



As you may see, I also removed most of the neg rail as it's not required for this project.

Next up was to swap the spikes on the Stack Auva 100's. When i initially installed them i fitted the short spikes (15mm) as the longest ones i had were 30mm, and i had nothing in-between. That was sorted with a fresh delivery of medium spikes...awesome.

I had noticed that the short spikes may have "dug in" to the floor boards a bit more since fitting and the carpet was now touching the bottom of the foot. Obviously i didn't want that to be the case, so in went the 20mm. They are now perfectly sited and sitting nicely like they hover over the carpet. There was a great recommendation made by Jason's brother regarding lifting the speakers to perform this. I purchased airbags that are usually used for getting into vehicles that have been locked without a key. You can find them here:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09YD6B5BM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

I put some wooden blocks under the speakers and fitted one airbag under the wood either side of the speaker. The gaffer kept them steady and i inflated the bags. Withing about 15 minutes all the spikes were changed and i even managed to slightly reposition one speaker without having to lift anything! For a few quid, i am genuinely delighted at how easy everything became. A bargain!

Next task is to evaluate the Stack EQ's !

Yeah, I thought it was genius. Worked really well and absolutely no back strain, so really happy.

I like clever solutions.

I like it.
My wallet doesn't.

However if it gives the best what's a bit of dosh.

Before Jason comments, the AUVA's are a bit more than 'a bit'.