hifiaf
pfm Member
Last summer, I was looking for a 32.5 and a Snaps, and ended up finding someone selling both who threw in a Nap 110 for free. Since I had CB 135s at the time, I didn't even try the 110 until a few weeks ago, in a moment of idle curiosity. And what do you know: I liked the 110 better than the 135s!
No doubt due in part to the peculiarities of my system. Based on advice from @YNWOAN I've gone to an active bass amplification system, so the Naim amps only drive the mids and tweeters on my Yamaha NS1000Ms. It seems the 110s are more than up to the task. I found them "airier" than the 135s, with a more expansive soundstage. They lacked the control of the 135s, but added excitement. It seems I prefer the sound of unregulated Naim amps.
The 110 I got for free last summer (above) had been modified with an Avondale 110 PSU. It seems that one of the boards also had its output transistors changed: Naim 002 on one side, Toshiba 2SD552 on the other. As @nobeone put it, it seems to have "been through the wars."
Reading some threads here on pfm, I thought, if one 110 sounds this good -- imagine mono 110s! I put up a wanted ad on Canuck Audio Mart (I'm in Toronto), and a local seller offered a very nice 110 in original shape. It's got a very low serial number (3435) and the BDY56 transistors. It seems to be totally unmolested. That's it on the left below.
This unmolested 110 doesn't sound as brilliant or airy as the modded one -- most likely down to the PSUs, or the fact it probably hasn't been serviced in 40 years.
My mono-ization plan is to make up matching Hackercap PSUs for both sides, recap the BDY56 boards, and then swap and compare when everything is in place.
My first question is about how to build up the Hackercaps for service in mono 110s. The Avondale MiniCap6 is CLCLC. Is that the best arrangement here? Any suggestions for particular values for the inductors? Particular diodes? Basically looking for a good Hackercap BOM for power amp use.
Thanks!
No doubt due in part to the peculiarities of my system. Based on advice from @YNWOAN I've gone to an active bass amplification system, so the Naim amps only drive the mids and tweeters on my Yamaha NS1000Ms. It seems the 110s are more than up to the task. I found them "airier" than the 135s, with a more expansive soundstage. They lacked the control of the 135s, but added excitement. It seems I prefer the sound of unregulated Naim amps.
The 110 I got for free last summer (above) had been modified with an Avondale 110 PSU. It seems that one of the boards also had its output transistors changed: Naim 002 on one side, Toshiba 2SD552 on the other. As @nobeone put it, it seems to have "been through the wars."
Reading some threads here on pfm, I thought, if one 110 sounds this good -- imagine mono 110s! I put up a wanted ad on Canuck Audio Mart (I'm in Toronto), and a local seller offered a very nice 110 in original shape. It's got a very low serial number (3435) and the BDY56 transistors. It seems to be totally unmolested. That's it on the left below.
This unmolested 110 doesn't sound as brilliant or airy as the modded one -- most likely down to the PSUs, or the fact it probably hasn't been serviced in 40 years.
My mono-ization plan is to make up matching Hackercap PSUs for both sides, recap the BDY56 boards, and then swap and compare when everything is in place.
My first question is about how to build up the Hackercaps for service in mono 110s. The Avondale MiniCap6 is CLCLC. Is that the best arrangement here? Any suggestions for particular values for the inductors? Particular diodes? Basically looking for a good Hackercap BOM for power amp use.
Thanks!