$75.00 Sharp SD-EX111 : SOLD OUT

eric the red · « **Reply #220 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 04:53 am »

FYI-Sharp was trading at $16.08 when I made the initial post. Today it closed at $15.50.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #221 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 05:00 am »

It feels like the decision to make the "alarm" feature hard to use was a deliberate attempt to make it not a "cheap" radio alarm doohicky and set it apart from that class of product. People aren't as likely to pay $500 for what appears to be a radio/cd alarm clock that doesn't even come with speakers!

The emu1212m uses the top of the line akm dacs. It's fairly good as far as studio cards go. I'm hoping my new dac will be a very big improvement.

KT · « **Reply #222 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 05:15 am »

Vinnie,

Did you experiment with changing out the diodes for Hexfreds or other ultrafast soft-recovery types?

I replaced the 8 diodes near the top of the unit with MUR-860's. I'm guessing that these are the bridges for the power supply, but I didn't take the whole thing apart to trace out the circuit (no time to do that, really). I didn't see any other big diode bridges, though.

The original diodes in this position were 2A02, which are 100v 2A diodes. I don't think they're of the ultrafast or soft-recovery type.

I didn't see anything else that looked like a diode bridge aside from one at the very bottom of the unit. I wasn't able to access these by just taking off the cover and I didn't want to pull the whole thing apart, but these diodes looked much smaller. I would guess that this is the bridge for the CD player?

Anyhow, it's too early to say how the sound has changed, but I'll keep everyone posted.

I'm really interested in your impressions if you've tried it.

Best,
KT

Richard U · « **Reply #223 on:** 17 Mar 2005, 06:33 pm »

Does anyone know how the Ex-111 compares to the SD-SG11 that was all the rage here a couple of years ago? Thanks.

Richard

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #224 on:** 17 Mar 2005, 07:22 pm »

Quote from: KT

Vinnie,

Did you experiment with changing out the diodes for Hexfreds or other ultrafast soft-recovery types?

I replaced the 8 diodes near the top of the unit with MUR-860's. I'm guessing that these are the bridges for the power supply, but I didn't take the whole thing apart to trace out the circuit (no time to do that, really). I didn't see any other big diode bridges, though.

The original diodes in this position were 2A02, which are 100v 2A diodes. I don't think they're of the ultrafast or soft- ...

Hi KT,

I haven't tried swapping diodes yet. There are a few different diode bridges. The ones for the power amplifier section are not discrete diodes..they are one of those bridge packages with 4 legs.

I have found the stock power supply to be very clean and spent most of my effort on the other sections that needed work...especially the preamp board. But I am curious if you can hear a difference.

Keep us posted! Thanks

doug s. · « **Reply #225 on:** 17 Mar 2005, 07:44 pm »

well, airborne express yust dropped off one big box at the orifice today w/my name on it - two li'l sharp boxes w/ex-111's in 'em.

the next coupla weeks oughta be interesting...

doug s.

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #226 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 11:25 pm »

All,

I'd like to share my experience today:

Today I connected the AUX input of the Sharp (I tried the stock unit and modded unit) to a Sony Wega TV's analog outputs. Using the AUX input of the Sharp, there is a HUGE HUM!.

I also found that even if I connect my Toshiba 3960's analog outputs to the AUX input of the Sharp, the same hum is present as soon as I connect the video cable of the Sony TV's into the Toshiba.

Simple solution

Get a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter to break the ground loop between the Sharp and the TV. For example, something like this:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F009%5F001%5F003%5F000&product%5Fid=61%2D2720

I'm sure the electrical section of most hardware stores sell this as well.

I doubt that this problem will be present with every TV out there, but it was pretty nasty with mine and if the volume of the Sharp it turned up, it can easily destroy a pair of speakers

Hope this helps,

TIC · « **Reply #227 on:** 20 Mar 2005, 11:48 pm »

Vinnie, Vinnie, Vinnie,

You totally missed the "hum" part of this post back on pages 11&12. Someone had hum when using the "aux", I suggested a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter, problem solved.

How could you have missed that?!

Now, skip forward a few weeks, I decide to buy a Sharp before the supply dries up. Guess what? Hum! I was using the Audience PowerChord PC that was in that spot on my rack. I added the prescribed abapter, hum gone.

Yesterday I moved the Sharp and connected a different PC(still not the stock one) without the adapter and I don't notice any hum. Well, I've also connected less efficecient speakers, so maybe the hum is just less apparent, but I put my ear up to the speaker and don't hear any hum.

Hummm, what's causing the hum.................

Enjoy,

TIC

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #228 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 12:10 am »

Quote from: TIC

Vinnie, Vinnie, Vinnie,

You totally missed the "hum" part of this post back on pages 11&12. Someone had hum when using the "aux", I suggested a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter, problem solved.

How could you have missed that?!

...

Hi TIC,

Doh! I just read it! I must have been too wrapped up on my own circle

The hum is the result of a ground loop. The ground prong (third prong) is internally attached to ground of the Sharp. When connected to certain other devices via the AUX port, the outer (ground) part of the RCA jack ties to the other device's ground, and the loop is formed. The 3 to 2 prong adapter breaks this loop.

Anyway, looks like this is old news and I've been living in a Red Wine bubble!

Thanks,

TIC · « **Reply #229 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 12:39 am »

Vinnie,

I too was in a "red wine" bubble this weekend! My head still hurts, but the Zin was very tasty!

BTW, my Sharp hummed without any other external connections, just the PC.

TIC

JackStraw · « **Reply #230 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 02:56 am »

Quote from: Vinnie R.

Hi TIC,

Doh! I just read it! I must have been too wrapped up on my own circle

The hum is the result of a ground loop. The ground prong (third prong) is internally attached to ground of the Sharp. When connected to certain other devices via the AUX port, the outer (ground) part of the RCA jack ties to the other device's ground, and the loop is formed. The 3 to 2 prong adapter breaks this loop.

Anyway, looks like this is old news and I've been living in a Red Wine bubble!

Thanks,

Vinnie -- for fun, try plugging this back into the TV so that it hums. Then unplug whatever cable / satellite signal is feeding your TV. I would bet that the hum stops. This is a common problem, and there are a couple of $100 products out there to fix it.

But, another fix is to drop the amps ground like you suggested. I've been doing this in various setups for years, but I've always wondered how safe it is. Do you have any perspective on that -- you seem pretty comfortable with it and you definitely know the innards of the Sharp well.

Vinnie R. · « **Reply #231 on:** 21 Mar 2005, 11:38 am »

Quote from: JackStraw

But, another fix is to drop the amps ground like you suggested. I've been doing this in various setups for years, but I've always wondered how safe it is. Do you have any perspective on that -- you seem pretty comfortable with it and you definitely know the innards of the Sharp well.

Hi Jack,

I'm as comfortable with not having the ground plug on the Sharp's plug as I am with all my other equipment I've owned over the years that did not come with a ground plug (CD players, DVD players, Amps, Preamps, TV, etc).

Regards,

staggerlee · « **Reply #232 on:** 25 Mar 2005, 03:28 pm »

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4288074?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
Anyone checked this unit out yet..DVDa/and SACD..

nature boy · « **Reply #233 on:** 29 Mar 2005, 01:11 am »

Holy Crap,

I was listening to the Sharp SD-EX111 last night thru the headphone output via my Alessandro MS-1 headphones. Truly an outstanding experience! Looks like the Sharp may be headed for night time CD & FM listening in my bedroom, instead of becoming an office system.

The Usher loudspeaker test CD never sounded so good! Deep bass, gobs and gobs of detail, no digital harshness, and smooth as silk.

I encourage anyone with a decent set of headphones to give a listen. You'll need headphone with a miniplug termination or a miniplug adapter.

NB

P.S. I did substitute a cyro VH Audio flavor 4 power cord for the stock power cord and you can really hear a difference.

sleepkyng · « **Reply #234 on:** 29 Mar 2005, 01:48 am »

nature boy,
have you ever used any good head amps to compare the sharp to?

just curious

cheers

nature boy · « **Reply #235 on:** 29 Mar 2005, 03:09 am »

Well, it sounded better to my ears than direct output from the Eastern Electric Minimax CDP and on par with my friends Corda HA-1 MkI using a my APL modified Pioneer 563.

These are the only two comparisons I have been able to do.

NB

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #236 on:** 29 Mar 2005, 06:53 am »

I took a brief listen with my senn px200 (because my hd600 are currently loaned out) and it did sound quite decent, fwiw. Haven't heard a good headamp since I sold my wooaudio-I.

Buck Naked · « **Reply #237 on:** 6 Apr 2005, 11:54 pm »

I'd just like to post the 15,000th hit on my original post

Thanks everone for playing

-from the artist formerly known as Eric The Red aka Steve Buck

eric the red · « **Reply #238 on:** 2 May 2005, 01:48 am »

A question for Sharp owners: Does your remote control fast forwarding on CDs? Mine does not seem to want to do this, although all other remote functions work just fine. TIA

ellogan · « **Reply #239 on:** 2 May 2005, 03:11 am »

Eric the Red:
First of all, thanks a lot for this great find and letting us here at AudioCircle know about it. I bought two units in great part because of this thread. In relation to the Sharp remote controlling the fast forward when a CD is playing, none of my units have any problem doing this. Your remote or your unit may be defective.
Take care.