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Modulus 3/3A owners.

74.214.45.198
Posted on June 20, 2015 at 03:32:49
Opus 33 1/3
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Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 I'm thoroughly enjoying my factory refurb M3. Very detailed, dynamic.

I've tried both outputs, the direct and the one with a 270-Ohm resistor in series. While the direct output can border on bright with a few of my LPs I find output 2 to have less "air" around instruments and vocals, almost a bit closed in sounding. Is this the general consensus? I much prefer Output 1. Down the road I may have Wheezer's mod done to allow the use of a warmer sounding 6922 (JJs?), but for now, I'm happy.







Opus 33 1/3

 

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RE: Modulus 3/3A owners., posted on June 20, 2015 at 05:29:05
Jerry P
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Posts: 897
Location: NE Ohio
Joined: June 17, 2000
 I used the tape in on my M3A as that sounded best to me.

Jerry P

Edit: tape out to tape in

 

Uh, isn't the tape out a fixed level output? Most tape outs are., posted on June 20, 2015 at 06:25:47
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 You would need another volume control unless the power amp has level controls.





Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Uh, isn't the tape out a fixed level output? Most tape outs are., posted on June 20, 2015 at 07:15:02
Jerry P
Audiophile

Posts: 897
Location: NE Ohio
Joined: June 17, 2000
 My mistake as I have not used the M3A recently.
I used the Tape In input as it bypasses the
source switch and sounded best to me. Also,
I switched the caps out but I do not know if
you have that option.

Jerry P

 

Doesn't the 3A have DiP switches inside behind the line stage 6922s, posted on June 20, 2015 at 09:10:42
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 that can be used to alter capacitance? Does the 3 have these? I don't remember seeing any when I opened it up on delivery to be sure the tubes were still seated properly after shipment.





Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Modulus 3/3A owners., posted on June 20, 2015 at 09:15:30
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 1356
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 I have owned the Modulus 3, 3A and now the 3B. I have never heard any brightness using these preamps.


"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the
most of us...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."


 

RE: Doesn't the 3A have DiP switches inside behind the line stage 6922s, posted on June 20, 2015 at 11:17:51
Jerry P
Audiophile

Posts: 897
Location: NE Ohio
Joined: June 17, 2000
 I think only the M3A has the cap switches.
Check out the M3A thread below for comments
from Ozzy and rich121 on tape in input.

Jerry P

 

Burn In, posted on June 20, 2015 at 19:47:31
RedM
Audiophile

Posts: 138
Location: midwest
Joined: July 22, 2004
 Grab the Purist Audio Burn In Disc if you can. run for 8 hrs, music for 8 hrs. then burn in for another 8. May tame the high end.

 

Wish I was set up for that., posted on June 21, 2015 at 03:04:28
Opus 33 1/3
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Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 But I live in a one room (albeit a large one) efficiency apartment above Nephew No. 4's detached double garage. So, my listening room, living room, home office and bedroom are all one in the same room.

The sound out of the box was certainly good, just tilted a bit toward the top, and bottom for that matter (excellent bass).

I can certainly live with it as it stands now.

Thanks for the suggestion any way.







Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Doesn't the 3A have DiP switches inside behind the line stage 6922s, posted on June 21, 2015 at 08:54:39
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 1356
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 The M3A and M3B both have the dip switches. The M3 does not.


"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the
most of us...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."


 

RE: Wish I was set up for that., posted on June 22, 2015 at 06:15:54
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 That sounds a lot like my NAD gear. Lottsa top and bottom end. Not much in the ever important upper bass lower midrange.

charles

 

Not the upper bass. The bass, overall, is outstanding., posted on June 22, 2015 at 07:10:21
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 But yes, the lower mids could flesh out a bit. That's where using something like the JJ 6922s either in the phono section or line stage could really help.









Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Not the upper bass. The bass, overall, is outstanding., posted on June 22, 2015 at 07:40:08
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Contact Jim McShane. Maybe he can point you in a better tube direction?

I have a Genalex 6922 on order for my Conrad Johnson.

 

RE: Not the upper bass. The bass, overall, is outstanding., posted on June 22, 2015 at 08:42:19
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 With the stock setup, I don't believe any tubes other than the NOS Russian 6n23p-ev or the current production EH6922 can withstand the load the M3 puts on the tubes. Most others fail in relatively short order. Jim says the EH is the only one he recommends for AI preamps. There is a modification for the M3 which facilitates tube rolling, but I'm trying to live with the original AI setup.







Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Not the upper bass. The bass, overall, is outstanding., posted on June 22, 2015 at 09:49:50
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4385
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 I have an M3 - not A or B, and have been using EH tubes for the entire 20 years that I have owned the unit - two sets of tubes-
I have not noticed this 'Consumption' of tubes-

A note regarding the second out put- referenced in the OP-
This was originally intended to drive a subwoofer - hence the 270Ohm Resistor-

The tape section is quite good - using Violet series SS bits-

Happy Listening

 

Try anything but the EHs or Russian 6n23p-evs and see how long they last. , posted on June 22, 2015 at 10:24:41
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 My first M3, purchased from Galen in the mid 1990s, did fine with the stock tubes. After a few years, I tried some JJ 6922s. They lasted about 8 months.







Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Modulus 3/3A owners., posted on June 22, 2015 at 10:37:53
wheezer
Audiophile

Posts: 4309
Joined: January 24, 2001
 Hi Opus,

Output 2 is typically used for subs (470R).
This would create greater impedance mismatch with your next stage.

Output 1 is 470K. If this sounds "bright" it could be due to the above.
What amp are you running and what is the input Z?

Cheers,
W

 

Owner's manual says Output 2 has a 270-Ohm resistor in series., posted on June 22, 2015 at 11:54:03
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 Emotiva specs input impedance on the XPA-200 as 47K.





Opus 33 1/3

 

It also says that the purpose is to compensate for, posted on June 22, 2015 at 15:42:36
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 20316
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
 "glare" in some tubes. FWIW - I currently use #2 even with long (MI-330) interconnects - and Mitsubishi 7DJ8's in the phone stage and EH 6922's in the line stage. Best combo yet to my ears. The EH's are current production 6H23-EBs
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain

 

#2 takes too much "air" out on top to suit me. The bit of an edge I first heard, posted on June 22, 2015 at 16:07:45
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 is starting to mellow out a bit. I can certainly live with it. I'll check out the 7DJ8s.







Opus 33 1/3

 

Where is the volume attenuator/s set for , posted on June 22, 2015 at 17:29:49
M-dB
Audiophile

Posts: 295
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: June 26, 2014
 your normal or serious listening, 9-10 o'clock?

 

Actually a bit lower. Between 8 and 9 is ample. /nt\, posted on June 22, 2015 at 17:57:41
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014




Opus 33 1/3

 

RE: Owner's manual says Output 2 has a 270-Ohm resistor in series., posted on June 22, 2015 at 18:05:29
wheezer
Audiophile

Posts: 4309
Joined: January 24, 2001
 All the M3/M3A pre-s I've seen have 470R. Not that it's worthy of concern.





Interesting.

 

I stand corrected.It is a 470-Ohm resistor in series with Output 2/ /nt\, posted on June 22, 2015 at 18:21:57
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014




Opus 33 1/3

 

So many other variables, posted on June 22, 2015 at 18:43:59
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 20316
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
 so trust your ears - ;). Also - you're probably experiencing some break in.
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain

 

To clarify if I may, posted on June 22, 2015 at 23:56:43
kavakidd
Audiophile

Posts: 20316
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: April 15, 2004
 I am - perhaps - compensating for a bit for my Shure V-15-VxMR/Jico SAS combo that has a bit of a rise in frequency response. I tried the 7DJ8's in all four positions and was disappointed. This combo, for me, is thrilling. Note that I also have my Vandys set for - 2db in the tweeter. Obviously - YMMV.
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain

 

Stepped attenuators or pot/s?, posted on June 23, 2015 at 00:00:03
M-dB
Audiophile

Posts: 295
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: June 26, 2014
 Not familiar with the 3.

I'm a has been M3A owner that went trough their attenuator repair and the main board 2000 update. Without getting into service issues both the old and new M3A stepped attenuators proved to be major point of dissatisfaction regardless of the internal dip switch settings.

If you can resist attenuation to use the 11-2 o'clock area you might find what you're looking for. Unfortunately, there are very few amplifiers that require such a high amount of preamplifier gain.

If you ever get an opportunity to spend time with the Bruce Moore design you'll experience how the AI should work.

http://www.rbaudio925.com


Best of luck

 

RE: I stand corrected.It is a 470-Ohm resistor in series with Output 2/ /nt\, posted on June 23, 2015 at 08:05:15
wheezer
Audiophile

Posts: 4309
Joined: January 24, 2001
 You can get good start with impedance matching, by properly sizing the coupling cap in the AI.
A 2.0uf will do the job far better than the stock cap.
I'd go with a Solen PPT 400V
....and ditch the bypass caps in that location....and everywhere if you desire!

Cheers,
W

 

Conventional non-stepped pots. Stepped started with the 3A, IIRC., posted on June 24, 2015 at 03:22:17
Opus 33 1/3
Audiophile

Posts: 4184
Location: D.C. Area
Joined: February 19, 2014
 My Forte model 2 preamp has a stepped volume control.





Opus 33 1/3

 

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