EXPIRED: Musical Fidelity V3 X-Ponents - Cans, phono, DAC and PSU

[dirktoggler]

Item: Musical Fidelity V3 Xponents – phono & headphone amps, DAC and PSU - and a Little Pinkie SE power supply.

Location: Brisbane

Price: $800 for all 4 X-Ponents with a few steak knives thrown in, or prices per item - see below.

Item condition: all in good condition but not perfect.

Reason for sale: Simplifying my set up

Payment method: Pick up – cash, Paypal, COD.

Extra info:

 

For sale are 4 x MF Xponents – X-LPS V3, X-CANS V3, X-DAC V3 and X-PSU V3 – and a Little Pinkie V3 PSU.

I have progressively accumulated these X-Ponents over the years but I have decided there are too many boxes not seeing enough action to justify having anymore.

 

Please take note:

 

I only have one of the original wall warts for these components. The X-PSU can power 4 units at once which has been fine for me, but if the set is to be broken up it represents a problem.

Hence first preference will be for the sale of the X-PSU plus one or more of the X-Ponents (all units in one sale will trump split offers). Whatever is left after that can be powered with the remaining wall wart and Pinkie.

The Little Pinkie is an external power supply for a single unit and is a significant upgrade on the stock wall wart and equivalent to the PSU. It is for sale as a separate item.  If you own more than one X-Ponent, the X-PSU is more practical. Made by Mike at rockgrotto.co.uk.

 

So with the conditions out of the way, here are the units.

 

X-CANS V3 – I bought this off a UK seller and had it shipped to Mike at rockgrotto.co.uk and had him give it the full mod package and new valves in 2011. I bought the Little Pinkie V3 power supply off Mike at the same time and when it arrived, the original wall wart was not in the box.

A good can amp that has driven my Sennheiser HD 650’s very well, it is reported to have enough juice to drive most cans with ease. Used sparingly initially, it has seen little action in the last three years, just the odd late night movie. Definitely sings combined with the X-PSU or Pinkie vs the stock wall wart.

In good condition, some minor marks. $220.

 

X-LPS V3 MM / MC phono pre-amp. When I bought it came with original box and wall wart – UK plug + AU adaptor. I have used this with both MM and MC cartridges and it performs well with both. Better clarity was achieved by replacing the wall wart with a Pinkie and then PSU.

In good condition, some minor marks. $220

 

X-DAC V3 – purchased with no box or wall wart. The absence of the wall wart was the reason it was up for sale. I had a spare connection on my X-PSU so no problem. It works fine with both optical and coax inputs. Reviews at the time of its release regarded the unit well. It was suggested it took the performance of the matching X-RAY V3 CDP to another level. It is outperformed by my Audiolab M-DAC but not by a long way.

In average to good condition, has some obvious marks on the front fascia from some type of tape and some scratches. $175

 

X-PSU V3 – this power supply unit can feed up to 4 Xponents – 4 original cables included. Takes the sonic signature of the each of the above to a higher level. If you own more than one X-Ponent, it is worth having.

In good condition. $300

I do have an additional pair of Russian tubes for the can amp that I bought off Mike at some point. They are still in their boxes, unused. If the buyer of the can amp is interested, they can be had for an additional cost. I will need to locate them to identify their particulars so we can negotiate a price – they cost a bit from memory and were sought after.

If someone buys all of the components, I’ll throw them in for free. Otherwise they will go up on the classifieds at a later time.

If buying the X-PSU and another component I will throw in a pair of longer cables (2m) that I also bought through Mike. These permitted a greater sprawl of boxes around my cabinet as the four stock cables are all the same length (<1m).

 

Little Pinkie V3: in good condition. Worth the upgrade on the wall wart for a single X-Ponent. $150 if as a separate sale, if combined with an exponent $100.  These sell for $135quid / $260 before shipping from the UK. 

 

I have photos of the sides of the units which show a few scratches here and there. I'm not trying to hide them, I just didn't want to bore everyone with lots of side shots. Happy to send them to you if you are interested.  

 

If there is a split I will need to discuss power supplies with interested parties.

 

Postage will be at buyers expense.  

 

Pictures:

[pdcoo7]

I’ve heard a few tuning forks in my day. How would you characterise the sound of the steak knives?

[dirktoggler]

@pdcoo7 The sharpness of the steak knives usually cuts through better than tuning forks.

The hook up cables are a mild improvement on the stock cables from memory - I didn't A/B them much as I just needed longer cables. 

As for the tubes, they are still in their boxes - I had to open one this morning to find out what they were - Russian 6H23n (russian n / also referred to as P).

I personally can't say they sound better as I haven't used them BUT these are still for sale on rockgrotto here

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/x-ccessories.html

And there seems to be a consensus that they are a solid improvement on the stock tubes.

There may well be a pair of these already in the can amp - I cannot find my correspondence with Mike from 2011 to determine exactly what tubes he put in when he upgraded the amp - that would have 3-400hrs max on them already.

[Batty]

$800 is a bargain, someone should grab this quick.

The PSU is so hard to come by.