Cary Audio CAD-280SA V12R
The Hexfreds just added a little faster/tighter bass in my former V12R. I felt having the right coupling caps and interconnects was most rewarding. Overall, the stock EL34 Ruby (Shuguang made EL34BSTR) tubes were great. If you change too many things at once you'll never know. As for the manual, the last version was never updated for fuses. |
decooney264 posts04-21-2020 7:58amThe Hexfreds just added a little faster/tighter bass in my former V12R. I felt having the right coupling caps and interconnects was most rewarding. Overall, the stock EL34 Ruby (Shuguang made EL34BSTR) tubes were great. The stock valves are good, really good, I agree. The 18.00 dollar upgrade was just too hard to pass up..LOL I have a working schematic now. Cary was actually rude. Not the Cary of old, or what others said about them...I'm convinced at this point they do not have a schematic. Probably a handwritten scribble on a paper grocery bag. I found a lot of this type of stuff in overseas, based companies. Thank goodness it's just a valve amp, not something complicated. I don't know maybe there is some secrete recipe in the way they wind their transformers. I don't think so though..I use to wind transformers in HS for god sakes. HiPerFreds are on the way. My time is limited now, I can only tolerate this amp in the spring, winter, and fall, I can see summer is out, unless we have a lot of cool nights..So I'll do my little UGs and look forward to a few cool nights and the upcoming fall. My class Ds are already giving me the "what did I do wrong look".. They will be back in service, in the next day or two..Nice and cool.... Regards |
I just received Solen 700 v 2. uf silver polyprops in the mail for the V12. Signal coupling caps. They are some good caps, The new upgraded PS with the Superfred. I used turret board and alu angle for the mount.. ;-) The Silver/gold supremes went from coupling to decoupling and EVO supremes silver/gold went into the coupling cap position, for the power valves. Every change has made a difference. I'm breaking in the EVOs now. they are still a little wonky. A lot of difference from the ones that were broke in...Couple weeks at least, 100-150 hours start sounding really good. What a fun little project, easy to work on.. Sound is truly reference quality and just getting better.. The only thing I haven't done that I think would make a big difference is the wire in the signal and power tube side. Cary now does the upgrade with Kimber wire.. I have some pure silver #20 SC PTFE, I know is better wire.. This is when amps go from 3-5000.00 to 5-10,000.00 in SQ. 400.00 worth of parts, total. This amp is burned into my head, I think I could work on it blindfolded. I've also started rerouting wire, what a rats nest.. looks better.. Sloppy sloppy work... I guess they are all this way.. Sure sound good. Now looks better under the hood too. ;-) Regards |
Check this out, I swapped out the 2.uf 400v signal caps (4) with Solen 2.uf 700v silver poly props. I let them break in for 20 hours or so.. I found a bad tweeter, behind the swap. I actually had a burn spot in AC FST ribbon. Couldn't hear it before. Sure could with the signal cap swap.. They are like razors.. Sharp, clean, brilliant, these are word that describe the poly props with silver. This amp is voice with EH EL34s the least expensive I could get. They just sound wonderful. I started with no changes. the EH valve was a little hard on the ears. Rubies had them hands down. Now.. They sound like the Rubies did, and the Rubies, sound like my Volvos did. I haven't tried the Volvos again.. WHY? It sound so good... Almost done with this V12, one LED need repair. Filter caps, and two bypass caps.. 560 uf x 400v and the bypass are .22uf 600v. All new. What an enjoyable project, and an even better outcome. It's burn into my head now.. ask away.. Signal path SC silver looms or straight wire point to point on turret boards.. Sure look nice on turrets, next on the list... Regards |
