AudioCircle
Other Stuff => Archived Manufacturer Circles => Music Reference => Topic started by: kenkirk on 20 May 2014, 05:08 pm
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Hi,
I know many of you, including the designer Roger, do not much believe in power cords. I have heard them make a difference with some gear. Others, no. But I really love my RM9MKII and preferred to leave it stock. But my good friend wanted to add a socket to his RM9MKII and wanted me to do it for him. So I did mine first so as not to screw up his if I ran into trouble or did not hear any difference. I had no trouble, and we both thought the bass was better after using a Cardas Golden power cable. Here are the pics that sort of show how I did it. Also, after I was done, I used shorting plugs to check for hum or noise. My gosh, these amps are just freakishly quiet! I had to put my ear on the tweeter of my Sonus Faber Amati's to hear anything. I use all Ram tubes. Roger is one incredible tube amp designer. I have never heard a quieter amp. Incredible. Oh, of course the sound of the amp is state of the art. After all of these years, there are few amps that can compare. I also own CAT Jl-1's. I only hook them up to drive my Sonus Faber Extremas, which don't mate well with the RM9MKII. I probably just need another RM9MKII and wire them into mono and then I could ditch the Cats. I also have a RM 10 MKII for the summer. Great little amp! Anyway, here is the process. I have done two of them and both look and sound great. To me anyway. :D
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99646)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99647)
practice first before routing the frame!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99653)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99649)
checking for room for wires
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99650)
wire chosen. I like cloth covered wire on tube amps and I had this left over from some Dynaco restorations
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99655)
I chose this audio grade IEC connector. I needed screw down connectors so the wood base could be removed if necessary without unsoldering.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99651)
wired up, note that the screw that holds the bottom plate and foot under the new socket will need to be a new shorter one to keep from screwing into the socket and causing a short!
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99656)
note the hole plug where the old cord was removed
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99657)
she is alive!
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nice pic and a nice job. yes a good power cord does make a difference with the MK2. i had roger put a IEC connector on my RM9SE though he did it a bit differently. he cut the standard power cord leaving about 6 inches and then installing the connector. i am using a cardas clear beyond power cord on it now. i have used a JPS AC+, Kaptavator and golden reference cord in the past. the clear beyond is the best so far.
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nice pic and a nice job. yes a good power cord does make a difference with the MK2. i had roger put a IEC connector on my RM9SE though he did it a bit differently. he cut the standard power cord leaving about 6 inches and then installing the connector. i am using a cardas clear beyond power cord on it now. i have used a JPS AC+, Kaptavator and golden reference cord in the past. the clear beyond is the best so far.
I wish I had a RM9SE! I started to add a pigtail with socket, but after looking closely at the power cord I thought leaving even 6 inches was defeating the purpose. Its a decent cord, but I wanted a more robust connection all the way to the board. But I certainly understand Roger's reasoning to just add the socket in a pigtail fashion. To remove the wood base I will need to release the wires from the socket. Also I doubt Roger wants to mess with routing out a nice wood base. Also there might be legal reasons for not modifying the original design. But I do think my way is the way to do it. So I just wanted to document the procedure for others that might want to modify these classic treasures.
Ken
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i thought of doing the way you have done. i even ordered up some connectors. the way you did yours is the best. mine is about 90% as good.
enjoy.