Panasonic SA XRS Digital amplifier/HT Receiver

_scotty_ · « **Reply #180 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 02:45 am »

ABEX,are you using optical or coaxial digital inputs. The type of coaxial or toslink cable you use will impact the sound as well as the power cord on the Phillips. Something to spend More money on. Try DARUMAS under the Phillips and about 10lbs of sand in doubled, zipper style freezer weight
baggies 1qt. size. It takes about 4 1qt. bags full of sand to equal around 10 to 12 lbs. I know its tweaky but it will make the bass tighter and help the imaging big time. The DARUMAS are essential! Don't cover up the ventilation slots in the top of the player.

edited for dyslexic typing

ABEX · « **Reply #181 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 03:44 am »

DARUMAS?
OK,I found them.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue1/daruma.htm
Will try,but for now I will just isolate with just superballs or something underneath the Phillips to ward off vibration.

I'm using a 1m run of Belden 1695A COAX I believe the # is. I have an Optical Cable I can use after I dig it out tomarrow.I saw it the other night when going through a box of connector's.

I never stack something directly on units that give off heat and are sensitive to vibrations. I have always given the Philly adequate ventilation because it does heat up.

Thanks!

Dmason · « **Reply #182 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 04:32 am »

I second Scotty's suggestion, as he made to me some time ago, and the Darumas make a huge difference with the Panny, and a worth the expense, true keepers for the long haul. I consider it essential for this particular piece. Equal to the PC upgrade, the two of which bring the 45 up to a whole'nother thing. To all you out there, after six weeks of On, and lots of play, the thing is sounding very grown up, and not at all harsh with the Dyns.

ABEX · « **Reply #183 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 05:06 am »

Darumas I read make the most dramatic difference under the CDP. I will try a number of Tweeks I have been putting on hold to see what happens.

The PC Adaptor should be here tomarrow.So that should provide a substantial improvement. The unit still has a long way to go before fully broken in.If I had a few 5ohm load resistors I coul have had the unit broken in within 3days using the Hagerman FryKlean Unit.

Later

grendel · « **Reply #184 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 04:00 pm »

Hmm...perhaps this should be obvious, but since the panasonic is a completely digital device, why would Darumas help? What makes the box vibrate at all? (and what inside would be sensitive to those vibrations?)
Sorry, I don't mean to sound skeptical, just ignorant. I completely understand their use under a disc-based player; a very clever idea.

Unrelated question -- has anyone had success in finding the AC connector (called a IES320-C7, I think) to make a PC specifically for it (that is, make a cord that goes from wall plug to the back of the pan. without needing an adapter)? This is assuming that the most economical way to do a power cord would be to get a plug and Belkin wire, a la the Asylum recipe, and just use the proper plug instead of the standard IES plug. Is there any reason to use an IES plug and an adapter, if I'm building from scratch?

Thanks!

_scotty_ · « **Reply #185 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 07:55 pm »

grendel, electrolytic caps can be microphonic,and there is a power transformer in the chassis as well as a number of circuit boards that are not vibration isolated from their mounting points in the chassis.
The bottom line is, it seems to sound better with some sort of vibration
isolating mechanism in place under it. Being a cheap skate I would try the cork and rubber footers from Mapleshade or the Panda footers to see if they worked better than the DARUMAS under the XR45 first before buying a second set specifically for it.
As far as the part you are referring to I have not been able to find it .I bought a cheap laptop power cord and cut the end off producing a 3in. pig tail that I soldered my DIY powercord to.

grendel · « **Reply #186 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 08:27 pm »

Scotty, thanks a lot for the reply.
The vibration isolation does make some sense...I can easily chalk it up to "electrical phenomena slightly beyond my understanding." And I will definitely try something like rubber feet or similar before springing for the darumas. If you happen to notice any difference between cheaper and more expensive vibration dampeners, let me know. That may get off-topic, though; I'll check around the forums for other accounts.

Excellent idea about the power cord. I have a printer cord that would work; I briefly wondered if that would be effective. Glad to hear that it worked for you; I'll go that route.

I'm jumping the gun, of course; I haven't actually gotten the panasonic yet.

[begin digression]
Darn this forum! I was set on cheaper gear; I'm now barrelling toward a SA-XR45 and nice speakers....
[end digression]

ABEX · « **Reply #187 on:** 12 Nov 2003, 09:25 pm »

grendel
If you find something bettter than the adaptor or have a source for the connector ends let us all know.

Jason at Red Cobra Cables is where I got mine from,just received it today:
http://www.redcobracable.com/

BTW Jason mentioned something else he is working on concerning the 3prong cord.

Good Luck!

Wayne1 · « **Reply #188 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 01:49 am »

Quote

If you find something bettter than the adaptor or have a source for the connector ends let us all know

How 'bout no adaptor

I received my SA-XR45 this afternoon.

After removing it from the box, I put it right on my bench.

I have been thinking about the "problem" people have mention with the power cord. An adaptor really is not a good solution. Adding more connections is never a good idea. The inexpensive connector into the receiver might also contribute to the harshness.

The best thing to do is to replace the power connector with someting a bit better.

I used a Furutech direct gold plated IEC.

I have it hooked up now in my 2 channel rig and will let it run in overnight and then hook it up to a couple of 8 ohm 250 watt resistors and let the FryKleaner play into it for a hundred hours or so.

I received the service manual yesterday. It appears that there are three electrolytic caps in the signal path of each analog input.

Next week, I will see if I can come up with some other mods

Brad · « **Reply #189 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 02:17 am »

Wayne,

How about hardwiring a Bolder power cord into the unit?
Bypass even the IEC connection

Let us know how the mods go.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #190 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 02:45 am »

Brad,

That would be the best way to go. However the power connector that is stock on the Panasonic leaves a hole that is a bit too big for most strain reliefs.

Also, for some reason, most folks tend to like detachable power cables.

JoshK · « **Reply #191 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 02:51 am »

brad & wayne,

I was thinking the same thoughts recently. I was thinking if it is possible to find a IEC cup that you can cut to fit a strain relief into so you can hardwire a power cord to. I would like to hardwire some PCs into some of my gear but allow it to be reversed down the road if need be, so being able to fit the IEC back in would be cool. I agree with what Wayne implied, that hardwired would be better, even if not popular.

AphileEarlyAdopter · « **Reply #192 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 07:27 pm »

Quote from: Wayne1

Brad,

That would be the best way to go. However the power connector that is stock on the Panasonic leaves a hole that is a bit too big for most strain reliefs.

Also, for some reason, most folks tend to like detachable power cables.

Wayne,
Do you have any plans to check out the Sony all-in-ones or their new digital receivers ? I will be interested in these. Since I have an analog rig, I like the DSD conversion in the Sony's vs the PCM conversion in the panasonic.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #193 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 08:06 pm »

I have no plans to look at the SONY products at this time.

I have quite enough things on my plate at this time.

That does not mean that things won't change.

One obsevation I have made with the Pannasonic is that adding a Bybee Quantum Purifier in the digital line makes a HUGE difference. There is a bigger difference with the Panasonic than with any other piece of gear I have added a purifier to.

ABEX · « **Reply #194 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 09:26 pm »

Wayne's idea looks like the best way to go about it.

Did you have to do any cutting Wayne?

The Adaptor might not be the best solution ,but it does make the unit better sounding.

I got mine from redcobracables.com and saved on the ludicrous S&H that is asked from a few places. Thanks Jason! And I will try one of your PC's,but will not have time for the breakin to post for awhile. I'll probably run it through my computer for a few weeks.

Will be trying a few different PC's to see what difference they make. Could not get an optical cable to work that might have been damaged due to long stroage and being thrown around over the years.

grendel · « **Reply #195 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 09:37 pm »

The advantage of the adapter, though, is keeping the warranty intact. For those of us that are cheapskates, that might be a factor. Although Wayne's looks like the most efficient solution, definitely (short of attaching the cable directly).

Wayne1 · « **Reply #196 on:** 13 Nov 2003, 10:03 pm »

No question that the warranty is voided with the IEC installed. Just about any mods will void the warranty.

The chassis does have to be cut and drilled and the circuit board needs a little "tweaking" to fit back in.

ABEX · « **Reply #197 on:** 14 Nov 2003, 03:54 am »

I do not think there is much in the way of creating fatal error here or damage the the unit beyond return. Yes the warranty is void,but if it going to fail I bet it will happen after the 1yr. exp. anyways if untouched.

I think where a fatal error is going to occur is when playing with the board not with the power wiring. I'd take the chance,but I will not seeing that I am satisfied at this point with just the adaptor,but to those who want the most Waynes option is the way to go!

The next step I guess is to improve the lousy Analog performance.Good luck Wayne!

Branwell · « **Reply #198 on:** 15 Nov 2003, 09:16 pm »

Hello,

If you want a power cord for the Panasonic that fits without modification or adapters, you might consider the Audioquest NRG1.

Branwell

ABEX · « **Reply #199 on:** 16 Nov 2003, 12:04 am »

I have had this unit inserted in my system for over a week now and I think I can now rate it even though the break-in period is not fully over with.
First off I was more than disappointed in the performance when first trying it out. I did not know what was wrong the first 4days ,but I knew that if this was what to expect I was not going to be giving it more than a rating of 1.The sound was sterile lacked weight and was just bland! After reading the high regard others had using it I knew I was missing something.

NOTE:”GET RID OF THE STOCK POWER CORD!” That cannot be stressed enough IMO!
Wayne of “The Boulder Cable Co.” has the best solution which is to install the IEC Receptacle in the back so you can by-pass using an Adaptor all together. He is also working on improving the Analog Input Section. Look ½ way down pg. Here:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=4991&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=180

I knew others had touted it as being close to Krell in performance and I will not go that far. After receiving a Power Cord Adaptor and using my trusted DIY PC from my reference B&K Power Amp everything came in. I also used the Bass\Treble controls to adjust the sound to my liking. I'd advise others experiment with them also .Many people overlook such features.

Being 43 my hearing might not be what it use to be. Dialog and vocals are important aspects which I needed to be clear and focused without the glazed or glaring which I hear in alot of mid-fi stuff\junk. Soundstaging and Bass were good. Not as liquid as my reference Passive setup, but I did not think I'd want to send the unit back in any way. It did have a more forward sound which does help my speaker presentation I feel. I am not an HT enthusiast and used 2ch. Playback to test. If it did not hold up there it was not worth testing for HT. The 2ch. Playback is well beyond acceptable IMO for a $300 unit. People say that the Digital Chip or switching Amps are not worthy yet, but it seems they have closed the gap.

Very highly recommended at a selling price of $300 through J&R's Music World. I shall do a follow-up for HT after getting the rest of my speakers in place.

Only reason I gave it a rating of 4 as a very good product at AR is the fact I do not listen to receivers and bought the piece after reading that it was highly regarded.

Thanks for reading!

System:
Speakers: Modified NEAR M50’s
CDP Phillip’s CD-80
DVD Generic Mitek model
Power Cord Adaptor & Bob Crump DIY PC—(RedCobraCable.com)Thanks Jason)Review Forthcoming
Speaker Cable and IC's--NEAR SOTA OTA Cable(lawrencegrac@aol.com)