EVENT OPAL

Qwin

Wammer
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May 7, 2013
169
107
73
Carlisle - UK
AKA
Ken
HiFi Trade?
  1. Yes
Taking a pair of Opals to Wilkinsons on Thursday to find out why one of them keeps buzzin loudly on turn on & getting louder if left powered up.

Also going to ask if it's possible to isolate the switches from the amps & drivers to remove the risk of issues that seem to be caused by the switches.


Watch this space 👀
The switches can be by passed, but you will have to decide on a setting for each one and have the circuit hard wired to those settings. The Depth/Frequency/Q work together, hard wiring the Depth to value 1 completely bypasses Frequency/Q so those two switches would not be in circuit.

It may be possible to completely bypass the contour boards and take stock values straight to the amps, but looking at the number of parts on the boards, that's a complex task to try and fathom.
 
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MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
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Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
The switches can be by passed, but you will have to decide on a setting for each one and have the circuit hard wired to those settings. The Depth/Frequency/Q work together, hard wiring the Depth to value 1 completely bypasses Frequency/Q so those two switches would not be in circuit.

It may be possible to completely bypass the contour boards and take stock values straight to the amps, but looking at the number of parts on the boards, that's a complex task to try and fathom.
I'll see what the guys at Wilkinsons think I'd like the faulty one looked at anyway & take it from there👍
 
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MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
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Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Wilkinsons now have my pair of Opals the idea being to look at the faulty one & fix that first of all.

The next thing is to then look at the possibility of isolating the switches using that speaker then do the same to the other if it works.
 
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Qwin

Wammer
Wammer
May 7, 2013
169
107
73
Carlisle - UK
AKA
Ken
HiFi Trade?
  1. Yes
Wilkinsons now have my pair of Opals the idea being to look at the faulty one & fix that first of all.

The next thing is to then look at the possibility of isolating the switches using that speaker then do the same to the other if it works.
I for one, will be interested to know if Wilkinsons can fix your faulty unit.
Point them at my website for the wiring diagram PDF's which may help.
I occasionally pass near them, on the way from Carlisle to Haworth, maybe I could make use of a trip to drop mine off. 🍿
 

MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
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Apr 9, 2020
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Guiseley, Leeds,
AKA
Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I for one, will be interested to know if Wilkinsons can fix your faulty unit.
Point them at my website for the wiring diagram PDF's which may help.
I occasionally pass near them, on the way from Carlisle to Haworth, maybe I could make use of a trip to drop mine off. 🍿
I have told them I'm in no rush & as the Esoteric & Sony took 6 weeks it's unlikely they will be done for the show.

I do still have my 2nd working pair which are in the system atm just to ensure they are working well so one for you to loan Ken & one as a spare at the show.
 
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MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
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Apr 9, 2020
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Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I have been in conversation with the engineer Andy at Wilkinsons ref the Opals today via text. Typical the buzz fault on the one Opal won't repeat no matter what Andy has tried so far. So he messaged to to clarify what exactly I wanted done with the switches.

We discussed everything and he's looked at all the details on your website Ken and like you said it would be a very difficult thing to achieve.
He is going to give everything a good spray & clean on both speakers while they are stripped down and keep trying to get the fault to put in an appearance hopefully.

It's a proper bugger innit😡
 
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MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
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Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I have reverted to my original 4 pillar stands mainly curious as to what difference adding the Iso Pucks & Gaia's might make to them.

First I added the Gaia Feet to find a very pleasant improvement to the previous sound & once again removed the slight bass looseness. After adding the Pucks too which under the speakers on the Usher stands made it bright I wondered if the same would happen with these.

Well I'm happy to say I found a further improvement with better imaging & a spacious sound more depth just overall better And nicer to listen too for longer periods It is early days yet so no permanent stand change yet time will tell.

A plus if the smaller stands prove best is they are lighter & smaller so easier to take to the show as the Ushers are much bigger and a 2 man carry.
IMG_9225.jpeg
IMG_9226.jpeg IMG_9227.jpeg
 

m7rso

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Aug 14, 2009
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LIVERPOOL, U K.
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Graham
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I for one, will be interested to know if Wilkinsons can fix your faulty unit.
Point them at my website for the wiring diagram PDF's which may help.
I occasionally pass near them, on the way from Carlisle to Haworth, maybe I could make use of a trip to drop mine off. 🍿
Yep great site !
 
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m7rso

Wammer
Wammer Plus
Aug 14, 2009
1,959
787
193
LIVERPOOL, U K.
AKA
Graham
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
I have reverted to my original 4 pillar stands mainly curious as to what difference adding the Iso Pucks & Gaia's might make to them.

First I added the Gaia Feet to find a very pleasant improvement to the previous sound & once again removed the slight bass looseness. After adding the Pucks too which under the speakers on the Usher stands made it bright I wondered if the same would happen with these.

Well I'm happy to say I found a further improvement with better imaging & a spacious sound more depth just overall better And nicer to listen too for longer periods It is early days yet so no permanent stand change yet time will tell.

A plus if the smaller stands prove best is they are lighter & smaller so easier to take to the show as the Ushers are much bigger and a 2 man carry.
IMG_9225.jpeg
IMG_9226.jpeg IMG_9227.jpeg
Which power cables are you using Steve?
 
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Qwin

Wammer
Wammer
May 7, 2013
169
107
73
Carlisle - UK
AKA
Ken
HiFi Trade?
  1. Yes
Just standard basic black leads👍
I don't believe in "HiFi" mains leads, just use a decent amount of Copper Steve, I find this helps with most audio items, especially heavy current users like power amps.
Some of my original IEC C13 terminated leads were 0.75mm sq Copper, now in the bin.

I use 4mm sq between the wall socket and my IEC distribution unit and 2.5mm sq from there to each appliance. The cable is Pro Audio stage cable, by Titanex and supplied by Custom Lynx. It has a synthetic rubber sheath and similar for the cores primary insulation. It means its still quite flexible and removes any PVC dielectric, which I don't like. Being quite thick, you need "HiFi" plugs to accommodate it, I got the IEC C13 and rear exit UK 3 pin plug from China, these are copies of European items costing £50 and £85 each. The copies were £8.31/£15 including postage and took about two weeks to get here, I bought an extra C13 last month and it took only 5 days to arrive. I've compared them to the originals, they are exact copies but in some ways they are better, they went together easier as the screws were not as tight in the threads and the contacts were all Gold platted. A 1m lead, terminated C13 one end and a Kaiser C14 on the other cost me £13.75 to put together. That's as fancy as I will be going. I've borrowed expensive leads and I couldn't hear a difference.

The current rating of electrical Cable and Transformers for that matter, has nothing to do with how they sound. It's just a guide, as to what maximum current they will handle before getting hot, or at least to an agreed temperature, dependant upon its working environment, free air, in closed conduit etc.

Many designers, Nelson Pass included, use Cable and Transformers which are many times overrated, for the current they will see, as to them it sounds better. I tend to agree, based on swapping out some items on DIY builds.

Treat your gear to some Copper and leave it at that.
 

Qwin

Wammer
Wammer
May 7, 2013
169
107
73
Carlisle - UK
AKA
Ken
HiFi Trade?
  1. Yes
I have told them I'm in no rush & as the Esoteric & Sony took 6 weeks it's unlikely they will be done for the show.

I do still have my 2nd working pair which are in the system atm just to ensure they are working well so one for you to loan Ken & one as a spare at the show.
Thanks Steve, I'm going to take my dodgy speaker and leave it plugged in over Saturday night. If it settles down and is playable, I'll use it for the show, if not, your spare will be rushed into service from the subs bench, if you pardon the pun.
So yes please bring it along.
 
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MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
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Apr 9, 2020
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Guiseley, Leeds,
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Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Thanks Steve, I'm going to take my dodgy speaker and leave it plugged in over Saturday night. If it settles down and is playable, I'll use it for the show, if not, your spare will be rushed into service from the subs bench, if you pardon the pun.
So yes please bring it along.
Sounds like a good plan Ken👍
 

m7rso

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Aug 14, 2009
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LIVERPOOL, U K.
AKA
Graham
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Tbh I use upgraded leads and can significantly hear a difference in the sound between different extension blocks and different leads so its each to his own. Haven't tried upgraded leads with the Opals as I am using the Maggies at the mo but next time i have them in the system I will give them a go…and my opinion.
 
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MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
Wammer Plus
Apr 9, 2020
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Guiseley, Leeds,
AKA
Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
No argument here Graham I have some very nice quality Missing Link mains cables & 8 way mains block that I've had for probably 10/12 years.

Do they make a difference to the sound I have no idea tbh never tried with & without just put them in from new & been there since😝
 
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MVJ

Mummies little ray of sunshine🖕
Wammer Plus
Apr 9, 2020
19,491
40,643
198
Guiseley, Leeds,
AKA
Steve,
HiFi Trade?
  1. No
Bit of competition for the Opals atm bought some Meridian M2's to have a play with & sounding pretty good but early days.....
 

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