Consonance Opera Cyber 211 mods

I don't know if 211 design is similar enough to the 800s - check with the distributor regarding similarities in design. It's likely that the 211 is similar to the 845 version because you can buy it to be compatible with both tubes, for an upcharge of course. Mine are straight 211 design.

At the moment I have completed the left monoblock with vcaps, connectors, and hookup wiring, and the right monoblock with all that plus the resistors - so I could hear the difference - which as I said is substantial. If you are interested in that let me know. I will post when I have completed both amps the same, including the pending bridge rectifier rebuild.

I don't know what the big deal with Agon is regarding urls to other sites with information directly related to Agon users. But here is another attempt to show the link to photo's so far.

flickr dot com slash photos slash 80136324@N02 slash

Thanks for the great response to my post on the 845S monoblocks. As for NED KELLY, where have you been? He is only our most famous bushranger hero downunder in Australia (I am in Melbourne), GOOGLE him. I don't think I will get further into these amps as the sound I am achieving now is outstanding to my ears. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who has what I consider a better system and until I do hear something better I will just call a halt. I did make up some mains leads from 15A semiflexible 3 core wire. I fitted an Australian 15A 3 pin plug to one end and a silverplated IEC 15A to the other. I wasn't expecting much as I was already using some fairly heavy shielded ex. computer cables but the sound did improve a little with slightly better dynamics. Darned if I know why!

Regarding my 845S mono blocks, I have now replaced the original Shuguang 845B tubes with Psvane (Pavane) "Hi Fi Series" 845 tubes. These sound far better (to my ears) than the original 845B tubes ever did. Apparently their "Collection Series" tubes sound even better but at considerably higher cost. I believe Psvane make 211 tubes and it would be interesting to hear how they sound in a 211 amp. Has anyone tried their 845 tubes?

Daviddsailor,

Don't waste your money on the Psvane 845-T. Aside from having reliability issues they are a sonic downgrade to the 845B. I had two who actually owned and liked Psvane 845s until I urged them to try 845Bs at which point they promptly sold off the Psvanes.

For those interested, I finally completed the mods to both Cyber amplifiers. Complete upgrade to the signal path - replaced all caps (2 vcap teflon and 2 blackgates), resistors (20 assorted and recommended by Nick at HiFi Collective), wiring (VHaudio teflon OC copper), Eichman binding posts and RCA), new balanced connector (Furutech), IEC (Furutech), and finally the bridge rectifier (4 diodes also recommended by Nick). I moved the RCA and Balanced inputs to a custom designed side panel to get away from the power at the rear.

I did not touch the power supply (other than the rectifier). As I mentioned before, I did these upgrades in three iterations, the improvements are stunning - with the biggest benefit from the resistors, recognizing that the vcaps are about 2/3 burned in, at about 300 hours or so.

As mentioned above re the psvanes, which I'm running now - I'm ready to find some GEs or RCAs.