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MHDT Orchid or Lampizator Amber 3?

I’m considering one of these. Please share your thoughts, especially if you’ve heard them. I will be streaming 70% and CD’s 30%

Jazz, R&B and classical in that order are my listening habits.

My room is 20x30 and very nice acoustics.

Current system:
Dali Epicon 8, Luxman 509X, PS Audio NuWave DSD, Cambridge CXC, Shunyata interconnects & Nordost speaker cable

Thank you!!!

jzzmusician
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,517 posts
 
The WE tube is known for the mids, but does have rolled off highs and less defined bass.  

As far as upgrades.  I have done some 14 units for Agoners now.  Replace the output caps to Vcap Odam 2.2uf/400v. You can add Vcap Cutf .01uf in a bypass position for a little more top end sparkle and air. 

Replace 8 key resistors around the tube with a mix of Vishay Nude Zfoils, Audio Note and Shinkoh. 

You can uograde the fuse to SR Orange.  If using USB make sure you have a nice cable. 

All of this will open up the sound and improve the resolution and articulation top to bottom. 
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quanghuy147
79 posts
 
Thank you Grannyring! I will try the SR Orange and 7308 tube first. 



decooney
2,119 posts
 
@quanghuy147
"I just got my own stock Orchid with WE 369 tube. The mid range from it is the best I have ever heard in years. Very detailed, smooth and musical.

However, there are some areas that I wish it can improve: the dynamics, high and bass. Do you think that Orchid should be more dynamic, the bass should be tighter, and high should be more airy? I believe these areas can somehow improve by upgrades..."

quanghuy147, try the Tesla 2C51/6CC42 tube in the Orchid instead (if) your main preamplifier and amplifier are already smooth sounding. The WE396 does have nice mids, partly at the expense of rolled highs and less dynamic, exactly +1 what @grannyring said about it.

The Tesla 2C51 in the MHDT Orchid is right between the stock GE 5670 5-Star Triple Mica and the softer WE396A. If you want to brighten up and get back some detail on the top/bottom end, actually the stock GE 5670 5-star triple mica is not bad, but I prefer the Tesla with my particular tube preamp and mono block tube amps. It’s like spices on a meal. A little here and there, not too much.
jazzman3
2 posts
 

I bought the Orchid dac after reading this tread .I whish to make all the upgrades recommanded,   (Vcaps,Duelund,orange fuse,resistors,cv-181) . I need some help to complete the upgrade :The main question I have before making these mods concerns the resistors .I cannot identify the brand of the different resistors. 

Audio Note ? Vishay ? As recommanded by Grannyring :


R38, R52, R36, R54 -- designed value 100R 1W

1WR34, R58 -- designed value 400K 1W

R37, R53 -- designed value 4K7, 1W

Also my old Arc sp3 preamp has a 100ohms input what would be the best value (mf) for the Vcaps ?

For the moment The sound of the stock Orchid is close to the sound of my LM 502ca , hope that the upgrade Orchid will best it .

Thanks for all the good work .


grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,517 posts
 
Do not use the cv181 tube and adaptor as it is not the best combo for sound and can sound bright.  No Duelund caps needed.  
Vcap Odams on output 400v 2.2uf. Add Vcap Cutf .01 uf as bypass for more detail and air.  Not a must, but a nice option. 

Use a mix of resistors for best sound.  Vishay Nude ZFoils for the 100R. Audio Note non-magnetic tantalum and Shinkoh for remaining positions. 

Careful desoldering the old parts. Easy to lift pads if not careful on this unit. Very easy! You can ruin the board. 
Use WBT silver solder. 
1/2 watt resistors are fine. Audio Note leads on 1 and 2 watt resistors will not fit in the pad hole. 
I do these units for customers and at a price close to what you will do it for. I can do this for you if you are not skilled with desoldering etc...

Other upgrades can be done for a tad more improvement. 
Take care. 
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