Impedence switch boards

[Noskipallwd]

Hey guys, just ordered the Sex 2.1. Just wondering if the impedence switch boards, (ala the Smack), are available for the Sex.

Cheers,
Shawn

[Jim R.]

Shawn,

I believe the answer is yes and no.  Meaning that yes, they are available (I believe the 2.1 I heard at RMAF had the boards in it) but no, because the manual hasn't been written or finished.

There should also be a C4S board coming for this amp soon too.

At least this is my current understanding of where things stand.

HTH,

Jim

[Noskipallwd]

Thanks Jim,
I'll probably only use the amp for my speakers and my AKG K-702s once in a while. It would be nice to have the capability to change which tap your using without having to solder. I will be installing the C4S when available. Will the MQ iron upgrade benefit this version of the Sex?

Cheers,
Shawn

[Paul Joppa]

The technical difference between the Magnequest upgrade and the v2.1 stock iron is not large; however Magnequest materials and workmanship are better - especially if you want nickel-core OPTs. Careful listeners will hear a difference but I'm not going to predict who will like what better.

I have MQ nickel in mine; Doc B has the stock iron in his. Doesn't tell you much, does it?  :^)

[Jim R.]

Hi Shawn,

Me too though I don't suppose I'll be using cans enough to warrant the switch boards myself.  I had been considering the HE-500s, but if the Smack will work with the HE0-400s, then the s.e.x. will be mostly used with a pair oof Orcas -- either in our living/dining/kitchen area or in the mini HT setup.

As for the MQ upgrade, I just don't have any idea as I've never heard them in this amp and have limited exposure to the 2.1 as it is.  For me I'll say probably not and will save the money for some dowdy chokes and a pair of nickel TFA-2004s for the Paramour IIs I am planning to build.  The only thing that could trump that right now would be a pair of shunt regulated 2a3s, but that's probably just a pipedream at this point.  Though the dowdy chokes are very doable and very likely.

And BTW, with regard to the posting replies -- I certainly wasn't trying to point fingers at any individual, and certainly not you.

Take care,

Jim

[fullheadofnothing]

The impedance board manual is 99% done. I've had a couple projects going on at once and it will get wrapped up soon. Good news for you is that you will get the fruits of one of those projects

[Noskipallwd]

Thanks for all the replies guys. The K-702s are rated at 62ohms and 105dB, with the OTs wired for 8ohms it should drive them well, right? Jim, I was just laughing at the way the software pronounced my screen name, and agreeing with you. Reading threads at Head-FI was like trying to swim through peanut butter, I can just imagine what it is like for you.

Cheers,
Shawn

[Jim R.]

Shawn,

Swimming through peanut butter -- I like that, and that pretty much sums it up.

Not having heard it, I'll go out on a limb and say that the 701s will be more than fine with the opts wired for 8 ohms.  As I said, I'm not going to worry about it myself -- the old s.e.x. didn't have this and played nicely with all sorts of cans.  I really liked the 2.1 with my Shure SE 425 iems, and those are about 36 ohms and super sensitive and there was just no problem with noise -- at least that I could detect in the can jam room at RMAF last year.

-- Jim

[Noskipallwd]

Thanks Jim, of course I am going to build the amp stock first and give it some burn in time before I explore any component substitution. You know, any reader software that can't pronounce your Irish name is rubbish(ha).

Cheers,
Shawn

[xcortes]

Hey Jim,

The TFA 2004s would work for that SR 2A3 too (not the dowdy's though!).

[Jim R.]

Xavier,

Understood -- sorry for the confusion as I'm talking about a couple different scenarios here and not being clear on what would go where.  The Dowdys would be for the sr-45 and the shunt-reg 2a3 is not seriously being considered at this point and I'm sure that aside from the dowdys being too low of a current rating, the pt2 will probably not have the voltage or current needed for a shunt reg 2a3.  Thanks for keeping me on track though.  I actually have more than enough projects to keep me going for a while so it's silly of me to even consider what I may eventually be doing with the new pt2s I just bought.

First step is to get moved into the new place, get a basic system cobbled together with a cheapie preamp and cheapie phono stage I have, finish the stereomour as a power amp, then one at a time replace the preamp with the FPIII+ and the pphono stage with the eros... and then I can think about a rebox/rebuild of the sr-45s with the dowdy, new chassis layout, some CuTF coupling caps I have and maybe the driver/shunt reg board from the paramounts or whatever else PJ comes up with between now and then.

The good news is that it is all going to be fun, and the better news is that it should sound fantastic with the Nagas when all is done.

Then in between, there's still a couple of s.e.x. amps to build, a crack to finish, a smack, and I'm not sure how long I can hold off on giving the Quickie a try :-).

I know things seem somewhat helter skelter, but there really is a plan and a goal, and my listening room is priority #1.

-- Jim

[Doc B.]

These puppies are ready!

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bottlehead.com%2Fsc_images%2Fproducts%2F458_image.jpg&hash=656b9ca66eff19f4143142063a61cc4414bd7f7c)

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=224&rn=458&action=show_detail

[Noskipallwd]

That's great Doc, will be placing an order soon!

Cheers,
Shawn

[Todd R]

"Unfortunately balanced operation won't work with the TRS headphone jack on the S.E.X. kit because a TRS jack uses a common ground between the two channels. But it will work on both the S.E.X. 2.1 and Stereomour speaker outputs."

 Substituting a 4 pin XLR jack for the TRS will work for headphones, right?

[Doc B.]

@Todd, yes, getting the grounds separated will allow balanced use.