Neurochrome Modulus 686 Monoblocks

[Qwin]

Kevin/Martin I think every person I've talked to, who's heard these Amps, either in dual mono (single Case) or monoblock form, has said something similar.
Seems to be universal praise for their sound, or lack of it!

[Qwin]

Update



This is R19 a surface mount resistor of 1kohm value, I removed it from each of the Amps.
Removing it reduces the gain and by doing so, gives a better gain structure overall, while lowering the Amps already low noise floor even further. It's a recommended modification by the Amps designer Tom Christiansen, as an improvement, if your not concerned about THX gain compatibility, which I'm not.
Its a fiddly little sod to remove, but it's a fairly quick and free modification.
I found it gave an even clearer window into the music.
In my set up, the lower mids and upper bass became fuller and richer.
I think this was because my Pass Pre Amp was now contributing more into the overall gain structure and its character was coming through more.
This really is a cracking amplifier set up and my end game.
Big thanks to Ali for a heads up on this mod.

[Jimbo]

I thought you were going to say you lost a filling Ken!

[Qwin]

I wish they were that small.

[Macca]

That's alien implant small.

[Ali Tait]

Aye a bit fiddly to get to and out, but well worth it as Ken says, a free upgrade!

My end game amps too Ken, not heard anything I'd swap them for other than Nick's amps, but having heard them side by side, I couldn't hear any difference.

[Barry]

IMO the gain balance between preamp and power amp should be that for your normal listening level, the volume control on the preamp should be about halfway around its travel. That is, if it can rotate between 7 or 8 o'clock (where it is 'off', or at its minimum) and 4 or 5 o'clock (where there is full output), the volume control should be around 12 o'clock.

[Ali Tait]

Another reason for me doing this is because of the stepper on my Graaf pre, not enough control on volume- one step being a little too quiet, the next a little too loud. Doing this has solved it. Saves me buying a stepper with 47 ways to swap for the 30 step Noble it comes with.

[Qwin]

IMO the gain balance between preamp and power amp should be that for your normal listening level, the volume control on the preamp should be about halfway around its travel. That is, if it can rotate between 7 or 8 o'clock (where it is 'off', or at its minimum) and 4 or 5 o'clock (where there is full output), the volume control should be around 12 o'clock.

My thoughts as well, no point in attenuating the hell out of your source signal.
The Pass volume isn't a single rotation.
If I remember correctly 89 on the display is unity gain (0dB)
Reasonably loud listening is now at 50 on the display, where it was 40/42 previously.

[killie99]

I’ve had mine set like this since day one as I couldn’t see the sense in that resistor being there - if memory serves me right this sets the gain to 20db?