Ground wire update, recent Ultra and T8 preamps

avahifi · « **on:** 19 Jul 2007, 04:02 pm »

This grounding change, already done on newer units, takes the residual background noise of the line stage down from about 4-5 mV broadband to 1-2 mV broadband. In most systems you will never hear the difference, or hear background noise (soft white thermal noise) at all. However, if you want to look and do it yourself (or send it back for us to do - no charge except $28 return shipping) then do the following:

Remove cover (six screws on top, three on each side). Unit unplugged from AC and the system of course!

Looking at the main pc card from the front, the best ground point from the back panel to the chassis is into an eyelet at the far back-right corner of the board, almost underneath the innermost AC outlet. Note that if the unit does NOT have remote control, there will be a second thinner ground wire from the mute relay at the back of the board to the back chassis ground lug too. This stays in place. If the unit does have remote control, there will be a second thinner ground wire from the back panel lug to under the board to a connection on the front panel remote board. This stays in place of course. If the heavier black ground wire from the back panel ground lug is going to the board into a different eyelet than described above, unsolder and move it if you are comfortable doing this.

If not, send the unit back to us and we will do it.

Frank Van Alstine

Wayner · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Jul 2007, 09:46 pm »

Here is a photo of the new ground wire location, if any of you are interested. Frank has verified the location as being correct.

Wayner

Wayner · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 09:41 pm »

I got home early today and moved my ground wire. It took about 10 minutes. All you need is a pencil style soldering iron (mine was 23 watt) and some electronic solder (I used Kester 60/40 rosin core).

This is the wire to move.

I unsnapped the outlet to move it out of the way. (DISCONNECT THE AC PLUG FROM THE WALL!!!!!!)

The wire is soldered into the new location and the outlet is re-installed into the cut-out.

Sounds nice and quite, though I've only heard FM so far.

Wayner

dB Cooper · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Jul 2007, 10:30 pm »

helluva nice macro lens, wayner

Wayner · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 12:41 am »

Frank, are you sure this small upgrade only affects line stage? I have a lot of moisture on my chin from the last three albums. Damn.

martyo · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Jul 2007, 01:07 am »

Nice job wayner.

avahifi · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 02:03 am »

It affects the phono stage to the extent that the phono stage is ahead of the line stage and plays through the line stage too, thus a quieter line stages means quieter phono performance too.

Wayne, thanks much for the accurate photos. Note that the Ultra hybrid ground change is essentially identical.

Frank Van Alstine

plaf26 · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 03:51 pm »

Does this ground wire change apply to the older "small box" T8 as well?

martyo · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Jul 2007, 07:29 pm »

Quote

Frank-
When exactly did you start making this change yourself?

It would be after 4/2/07, the date my T8 was made.

avahifi · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Jul 2007, 10:40 pm »

The ground wire move only applies to new large chassis Ultra and Transcendence Eight preamps made before June 1, 2007. After that is has already been done here as a running production change.

It does not apply to units in the short (12 inch wide) earlier AVA preamp chassis.

Regards,

Frank Van Alsitne

Wayner · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Jul 2007, 12:06 am »

Time for a review of the ground wire change.

This is a significant upgrade! I have been listening to LP's for a few days now and the wife has made comments like "more dynamic", stuff like that. Well, when the noise floor goes down, you crank the volume up...right? The T8 now has even more incredible dynamics for both LP and CD playback. I didn't realize the capabilities to the fullest extent until I played more old favorite CD and LP's. Good God, this thing cranks like crazy. I now realize studio ambiance and tonality at a new and unheard level! This is a simple upgrade. If you own a T8 and are capable...do it your self. If not, let Frank do it..... the results are the reason Frank held back his sample to the Absolute Sound, just because it was that big of an improvement.

The system is:

AVA T8 pre-amp with all upgrades
AVA 170ex power amp
Dynaco A25XL speakers
Empire 598 II turntable
Audio Technica AT440MLa cartridge
Marantz CD-5400 CD player.

avahifi · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Jul 2007, 07:27 pm »

Thanks for the kind comments, photos, and instructions Wayne.

I would suggest that we did not hear the same kind of improvement here that Wayne did. Don't be disappointed if the ground wire change does nothing for you at all.

Frank Van Alstine

Wayner · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Jul 2007, 09:40 pm »

Oops! Sorry Frank, I sometimes forget that my system is not a typical install. I have this system in a studio environment with the speakers above ear level in a near field listening set-up. The combination of speaker placement, room size and speaker efficiency gives the system a very high resolution. I also listen within feet of each speaker (maybe 5 feet). I have heard a noisy resistor in the T8 that Frank replaced and I recall him saying that it was probably the first one ever. My Dyanco's have a 91db rating so they really don't require much power at all. I perceive the noise floor to be lower by the modification because I have been playing the system louder, with the volume control at about 9:30 as aposed to the usual 9 o'clock position. This certainly has increased the dynamic impact that I am experiencing because I have the volume set higher, higher because I feel the noise floor is lower. Perhaps that is all relative. I have played some cds that have actually scared me because they came from a jet black background and then had a sudden attack. This has put the listening experience for me to a new level.

If I lead the readers on with my enthusasm, I appologize.

Wayner

martyo · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Jul 2007, 10:26 pm »

Yeah Wayner,

Since I checked and my ground was in the WRONG place,

and with all your comments I haven't been able to enjoy my set.