Well I just read through most of this thread. Whew! Anyway, I did read several folks commenting that the unit needs 100-150 hours to sound it’s best. Some say it improves up to five hundred hours! I also read that some did find the unit a tad hard, thin, and compressed sounding out of the box. Lastly, Mark the builder, said this ...." There are many comments from me that IMHO our E=C units are thin and a bit hard just as new - but once past 50 hours of use they will get better - and after 150 hours of use they become much better still. "
I hope this is the case and sense it is. Right out of the box I sense this unit can be special. The details and resolution are impressive, just waiting on more composure,refinement and meat on the bones. |
@grannyring, Your CPT unit will jump several levels during the warm-up period. My cords lastly jumped at around 480 hours. |
@grannyring
I have had the E=C 1200 for 9 months now and while it did make solid gains in bass definition, dynamics and image specificity through the first 4 weeks, it never sounded bright or forward at any point in the process. In fact, with the reduction in noise the unit provided out of the box, a certain glare was removed that provided a smoother, more relaxed sound while revealing more detail.
When reading your post about the forward, bright sound you are experiencing with your CPT 150 connected to your integrated amp/powered DAC, I remembered reading somewhere that you should keep the power consumption of the components connected to a balanced power unit to less than half the capacity of the unit for the best performance. If this is true, then the components connected to a CPT 150 should draw less than 75 watts for best results.
I have a turntable, phono stage, preamp and amplifier connected to my E=C 1200, but in total they only draw about 380 watts or less than one third the rating of the unit. I wonder if your integrated amp might be drawing enough current to exceed what the CPT 150 can optimally deliver and be causing the forward, bright sound you are experiencing. |
Thanks for your post. I use a Lyngdorf 2170. Seems some 35 watts max. It is Class D. The real issue is better stated as a lack of full bodied sound and a leaning out of the music....detailed for sure, but thin. After about 40 hours it is still too thin sounding for my liking. I like the improved resolution and detail, but not the way it is being done. By that I mean the details are more obvious because the meat is missing from the bones. I did read of another person experiencing the same thinness out of the box. I wonder how much of this is the sound of the hard wired cable vs the electronics? Well the only electronics inside is a transformer. I do think the cord plays a role in tonal personality.
I say this because initially I hooked it up this way;
Shunyata Hydra 2 - CPT 150 - Lyngdorf
This was too thin sounding.
I then did this,
CPT 150 - Hydra 2 - to Lyngdorf
Still a little thin, but better for sure. I like the Furutech powercord going from the Hydra 2 to my Lyngdorf. I bet it is a more full bodied cable. I noticed this when I first purchased the Furutech power cable.
The 150 straight into the Lyngdorf was far too thin sounding and whitewashed.
I will I’ll give it more time. Thus far the Hydra by itself is best. I did email Lyngdorf to confirm watt usage at full volume. |
This is a sleepy thread and I wonder if owners are still happy with CPT? Still have them? Sold them?
I imagine you all still have them and are very happy. Well my little 150 has changed personalities over the past day. It changed for the better in such a dramatic way that I decided to place my Hydra 2 in front of it and have the 150 feed my Modified Lyndorf 2170.
Ok now I am hearing some very special things. Spooky imaging with instruments in a wide and deep stage. Powerful and more articulate bass. I am hearing details never before noticed on my favorite recordings.
The stage depth is something that must be mentioned. So deep as to give the performance a life like 3D image.
I looked inside the unit, as I am an avid DIY modifier, and just had to look. 🙂 Just a breaker and transformer. That’s it. Amazing what this simple device does for an already dialed in system.
The body and weight is now there, but now with everything mentioned above. I will end with this. I have tinnitus and must be careful with volume as I am very sensitive to upper mids and highs. This little transformer enables me to turn up the volume without setting my ears off. I also like to listen at moderate volume levels of say 75db and the clarity and "thereness" of the music is wonderful.
Great unit. Simple design that just plain sounds great. My experience is these units do take some time to sound as they should. Enjoy!
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grannyring, thanks for the update.
I wonder what the 150 (etc) would sound like with Blue (Furutech) power cords attached?
I thought about it, however, decieded not to mess with it.
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Ha! We think alike. Funny you said that as I am going to do that and a couple of other mods. Constrained layer damping of chassis, ERS tape in critical areas and brass bolt with wood top ring for tranny clamp losing the top metal plate.
I will use Star Sound Audiopoints footers also.
Great unit. |
I too dampened the chasis with dnyamat and swapped the outlets for furutech rhodium , and think it sounds even better. Expectation bias? Will try grannyrings idea of changing the metal clamping plate. Thanks for the idea!
oleg |
Doesn't surprise me grannyring! Espically after reading some of your other threads and having seen what you did with the Yamamoto Dac ;-)!
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grannyring also modded his Lyngdorf TDAI-2170 for the better, he just can't leave anything alone. LOL I believe Mike Garner of Tweek Geek was one of the very first to mod the E=Q cevices, upgraded wireing and recepticles. |
@klh007
I modified my wife last week. I cannot give the details here for fear of sensorship, but let's just say I am pleased with the results. |
I've got an Equi=Core 300 on order, can't wait to hear what it does in my system. I’m going to run it from the wall to my Tara Labs Powerscreen strip. It will be powering my CEC TL5 belt drive CD Transport, Audio Note Kit 1.1 DAC, and Antique Sound Lab Tulip 2A3 SET amp (my pre is an ASL autoformer passive).
Question for you DIY/modder types who have opened one up; is there room inside the 300 for a Bybee iQSE? I have one that is currently sitting on top of my Powerscreen, and I'm thinking of putting it in the 300.
I also have a High Fidelity MC 0.5 in the wall duplex where the 300 will go. I'm loving what it does, and am hoping for some good synergy with the 300.
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@tommylion, I believe the Bybee iQSE will fit inside the 300. Please let us know if you hear any improvement. |
Yes, let us know. I will be modding mine next week with....
- cork under the tranformer
- entire inside layered with constrained layer damping
- wrap the entire tranny with copper and EMI, RFI blocking cloth tape
- Stillpoints ERS tape around the cable inside the unit
- nylon bolt and wooden top ring for tranny
- Furutech power cable on the side plugging into the gear |
Yes, let us know. I will be modding mine next week with....
- cork under the tranformer
- entire inside layered with constrained layer damping
- wrap the entire tranny with copper and EMI, RFI blocking cloth tape
- Stillpoints ERS tape around the cable inside the unit
- nylon bolt and wooden top ring for tranny
- Furutech power cable on the side plugging into the gear
You beat me to it, I was going to suggest a nylon bolt, per Ric Shultz, but your latest post has it. What type of constrained layer damping are you applying? |
Does a nylon bolt work better than a brass bolt?
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I didn’t know that Ric was suggesting a nylon bolt? Best to remove any and all types of metal from the transformer mount. That is the complete reason I am using nylon. That will impact the sound for the positive!
I will send you a link to the material I am using for damping. I purchased it from eBay as Surplus military goods. |
Actually there’s no reason at all for bolting the transformer down at all except for shipping. Bolts of any kind couple the transformer solidly to the chassis. So, ideally one would want to isolate the transformer as much as possible from everything and to isolate the printed circuit boards from everything, too. If one were worried about it he could simply loosen the bolts so the energy is not (rpt not) so tightly coupled to the chassis and loosen the screws holding down printed circuit boards or get rid of all or most of them. Since vibrations are carried to the printed circuit boards via the screws.
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I agree 100% with what you just said. Problem is I will be standing the unit up on its side and will need to secure with nylon bolt. I will not tighten it much at all, just enough so it doesn’t slide. All great points. |
I have been thinking of removing the power cord from the 300 and replacing it with an IEC so that I can try different power cords.
ozzy
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I think that is a good idea because I believe the power cord does influence the sound of these units quite a bit. I find the unit just a tad too lit up for me. That is why I am putting the Furutech cord on mine. The particular cord I am using has nice warmth while not losing any of the detail.
This is all subjective of course as the unit unmodified sounds absolutely tremendous. I'm just looking for that last little bit of warmth and body. |
Correction on my last post. I need to install an ac inlet (not an IEC) in order to plug a power cord into the CPT 300.
ozzy |
Ok finished the mod today. What I did is really not for a novice I think. Have it back in the system and will report back. I found a lot to do and we will see. I took lots of pictures and will post soon.
- constrained layer damping throughout the entire case. I used two layers with copper tape sandwiched in between
- nylon bolt, washers, nuts, and a round plastic top plate
- 1/4 inch of cork under the tranny....the cork is over the layers of CLD described above
- I replaced the power cord going from the 150 to the component. The female connector end. I used a wonderful Furutech cord. The cord I replaced is shielded as is the Furutech. The shield is connected at both ends of this female side of the balanced cord. That is it is hooked up inside the unit and the female IEC plug.
- wrapped internal tranny cables with ERS cloth
I did not like all the rather flimsy Wago terminal blocks/splices used to make all the connections. They are made by Wago. They are fine, but I much prefer direct wire to wire connections. I discarded all these Wago connectors and soldered all connections directly. They were used because they are so easy to use and make for quick assembly. They will not sound as good as direct wire to wire however! |
Ok here is a link to the pics. Need to start from the end, page two, and go backwards for the right order. For some reason the site loaded the finished pics first? The two wire soldered connections are obvious from the pics. You can see the old Wago connectors vs direct soldering. The shots that may confuse you are the shots of a nylon bolt clamping three separate O ring terminations. This is what I did to replace the six wires going into a large Wago block strip splicer. I have three O rings clamped tightly together using the nylon bolting system shown. I did not want to use a sound degrading metal bolt for this. Not even a thick copper bolt. Each O ring has two wires feeding it. These six wires originally went into the large Wago block splicer. http://s1097.photobucket.com/user/grannyring1/library/CPT%20Model%20150%20mod?sort=3&page=1 |
grannyring, thanks for the explanation and pictures. Looks like excellent workmanship as usual!
Please keep us posted on the progress and break in sound! |
Thanks Lak. Initial listening to familiar tracks indicates nice gains in low level details, smoothness, stage depth, imaging, and improved texture. Just more musical and less electronic or recorded. After 4 hours the gains are very obvious and the cord still needs to settle in more. The improved separation of instruments and vocal performers is something that struck me on several occasions this evening. I am also hearing and experiencing the fullness of mid and deep bass that I hoped for. In my rig this little mod seems to be just the ticket.
The bones of the unit are great, but these units can be improved nicely with a little effort. If the builder took the extra time and cost I did, then these would go up in price! Here are the parts....
- 3 feet of Furutech FP-S022N 14 AWG Power cable - $58 on sale at VH Audio
- 4 feet of Tech Flex outer black mech for power cord - $4
- SoundCoat damping sheets from Parts Connextion or Sonic Craft $13
- nylon bolts, washers, nuts - $5
- cork from Hobby Lobby $4
- solder and heat shrink on hand
- copper tape - $10 from Amazon
- ERS tape 3 feet - $11.85
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Hum...
Just think what you could do with a Equi=Core 1800 mod...;-)!
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Just got got my Equi=Core 300 yesterday. Wow! I am hearing the same improvements described by others here right off the bat. Looking forward to it getting even better as it breaks in.
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Have you guys (lak and ozzy) recieved your Deep Core units yet? I haven't read anything about . |
@yoby, still patiently waiting...seems like it's beem forever... :-(
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Hopefully Mark will get on and give us an update on them....:-) |
yoby,
Still waiting...
ozzy
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Just put a Bybee iQSE inside my 300. Very easy to do, and I seem to be getting some really good synergy, so far. Definitely worth trying.
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Please keep us posted tommylion.
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Just listened to "Sowing the Seeds of Love" by Tears For Fears. It's amazing all the things going on at the same time in this song. With the iQSE in the 300, they are all resolved, distinct, and easy to follow. |
Dear Friends...
I have finished the first of two medical procedures that hopefully will improve the quality of my life... One more procedure tomorrow.
I want to clearly state my appreciation to all of you - your patience and kindness sustains.
Trying to be as brief as possible for now - but for those that waited so patiently I am especially thankful... you will see here very shortly.
Deep Core will be ready next week once I am able to answer phones again so I can deal with the questions :) :) :)
More to follow -
Thanks all,
Mark |
Lots more to follow up on here in this thread... will do so over the weekend if I'm able...
Thanks again
Mark |
grannyring --- awesome...
Bravo...
More to follow - but a huge thank you for now...
Best wishes,
Mark |
Thanks Mark, for the updates on yourself and Deep Core. We all expect the procedures to be successful, and that you will be healthy again soon. We know you will update us with more information as soon as you feel up to posting and talking. Until then we will wait for you to feel better, especially excited about the release of the much anticipated Deep Core which promises to be a game changer. |
Mark, Hang in there and you're in my prayers. You heal up sir. |
@tommylion
I was informed by Bybee that 3 IQSE inside your house power panel is by far superior to installing inside of components; said results benefited whole house... I will try at some point.
Wig
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Wig,
I am using ERS cloth on the inside cover in my breaker box.
ozzy |
I am going to try that soon! |
I have a CPT 300 coming in Wednesday. Used one. I will mod it exactly like the 150, but not put a Furuteck cable on it just yet. Want to see how much of the improvement is due to the cable vs. the other mods. |
@grannyring, I think thats an excellent idea!
I like to know what percentage of improvement id due to your modifications vs the Furutech cable.
I trust your ears... |
Hang in there Mark. I know how debilitating and frustrating Parkinson's can be as my father had it. Thank you for making these wonderful products available to us at such a reasonable price. It has helped to give me a system that performs better than I ever thought I could afford. I have a spot reserved in my rack waiting for the Deep Core when it is ready. |
-->
Just updating briefly…
I’m back at work today – at last. That’s the good part…
The bad is I managed to crack a rib on Saturday due to a
failed air mattress – very painful… hurts to breathe
Our Logistics company failed us and now we are scrambling to
find a home for the last 11 pallets that should have left yesterday. I’m loathe
to name this company as they have done a real good job to date for us
personally as well as Emerald Physics
In any event – that’s not stopping shipments which are
moving again. We will be out of the building tomorrow – but we have already
secured a nice 250 square foot space for us to build and ship until our new “warehouse/office”
is ready to move in to.
I’m feeling just ok – the medical procedures both went well –
but I will need time to heal.
Deep Core is coming shortly – Peter Madnick had to go to
Toronto for ELAC/Alchemy and he will be home late Wed night. I plan to be in LA
Friday through Sunday to launch…
Thank you all for your patience and kindness as always…
Mark PS - special letters to those that have waited so patiently through this time. I will of course keep my word about a very special Deep Core price due to the kindness and understanding we have been shown. |
I do plan to come back to this thread and the other current thread with comments once I am a bit more settled.
Thanks all
Mark |
I just received a used CPT 300 and put it on my music server/computer. Just outstanding is all I can say. Everything folks have already said. I then did the modifications I have already outlined but kept the power cable stock. I did not change the cable out for the Furutech Alpha Nano bulk like I did on the 150. - double layer of constrained layer damping throughout the inside and on the underside of the chassis. - removed metal tranny bolt and metal top plate and replaced with nylon. - removed all Wago connectors and soldered all connections instead. Here are the pics. More comments to follow. http://s1097.photobucket.com/user/grannyring1/library/CPT%20300%20mod?sort=3&page=1 |
grannyring, I just built a 2' Blue power cord (Furutech Nano-Ag-Au, 12 gauge with the imported Copper Rhodium Plated US AC Power Plug Carbon Fiber Connector Adapters) that is powering my Hemisphere. I'm hearing some nice improvements in tone and timbre. the power cord isn't long enough to use with my CPT 1800. |
