Mod your Beresford 7520

[Alexxus]

Is anyone saving up to buy a new amp or set of speakers since buying a Caiman?

Err, yes, I am Except I didn't buy a Caiman, I bought a 7520

[Gazjam]

Stan,

I know I wont be upgrading my Source again.

TWEAKING it yeah, but FLACs/Squeezebox played thorugh my Beresfords as good as I'm ever gonna need.

Better rewards spending money elsewhere, where I'm sure the Dac will sound even better.


G.

[Gazjam]

Err, yes, I am Except I didn't buy a Caiman, I bought a 7520

Alexxus,
this might mean nowt to you , but your Avatar...is that a ZBrush sculpt?

[Alexxus]

Better rewards spending money elsewhere, where I'm sure the Dac will sound even better.

Yep, amp and speakers. To use the DAC to better advantage

[Alexxus]

Sorry Gaz, our posts crossed. Not sure what the avatar is, I think I picked it up from the cover of some graphics software. I just liked the way it looks, great upper body there, innit?

[Gazjam]

Great stuff chaps-I will try the 5532 in the HPA tonight (if I can find it). One thing I really like and would hate to lose is that expansive soundstage that the 2132 creates. The 2107 sounds interesting. I may order one.

Jerry,
also try the 2132 on its own WITHOUT an opamp in the Headphone socket.
That might surprise you too, I perceived a difference between 2132/5532 and 2123 on its own.

It sounds even better to me, soundstage more 3d and solid.
Its more "direct" sounding...

Gaz.

[Covenant]

[QUOTE=StanleyB;70697]Is anyone saving up to buy a new amp or set of speakers since buying a Caiman?



Yes Stan, I think the amplifier is the weak part of my system despite sounding very good. I thought about valves but decided against them at the moment. I want to get monoblock Class D amp made for me once I have decided which manufacturer to buy from. Not the sort of thing you can demo so very much opinion based.

[lovejoy]

Ooops, sorry Gaz, and everyone. I'm probably in the wrong thread as I'm performing these experiments on my Caiman. My 7520 is also Wolfsoned but has been filtered down to another system so doesn't get my full undivided attention these days.

Well, it's funny Eddie should mention the 4032, as I've just dug mine out. It's not been used for a while and I don't think I'd tried it in the Caiman before. From memory I don't think it was compatible with the MLC5/6 mods, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway, and yes, without MLC5/6 in place, although very nice, there's something not right about it. It's just a touch unnatural with a bit of an edge.

... That was until I popped the 100nf/33K pairs back in.. Now we're cooking on gas. A 4032 in the line out socket, and a 2132 in the headphone socket. I think I've struck gold but it's a bit early to say for sure yet. I'll report back after a couple hours more listening, plus I'm also mindful that this 100nf/33K value is optimised for the 4562 - This was the reason for my trip to Maplin this morning - A couple of SIL sockets so that I can try some different values.

I'll be back..

[Alexxus]

Now we're cooking on gas.

Gaz got it right about the opamp rolling getting crazy. But then again, it's a lot of fun too, innit? I gotta get a 100nF cap and a handful of resistors now and get crackin', see what else I can get out of it

[lovejoy]

Don't get me started on amps. But yes. I hate choosing amplifiers.

It took me ages to get the last lot sorted out. Luckily, at the time I was still doing a Saturday job at Sevenoaks so could audition plenty. I was perfectly happy with my John Shearne Phase 2 ref before it blew up. I had a set of MF A3 pre and power amps on loan whilst it was away for repair which really didn't work with my Shahinian Arcs at all, but then strangely when the A3.2 was released they worked very well and I ended up with those (after going through a pile of other amps in the meantime).

I guess that ultimately Dynavector is the logical choice for the Arcs, but they never seem to be around when I've got the money spare for them.

On the other hand, the amps have a new lease of life by virtue of the fact that I completely dismantled and rebuilt the system the other day and by some ruthless discarding of some cabling (I won't mention the culprits names *cough* Supra mains cables *cough*) the amps are sounding pretty damned fine again.