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AUDIO FORUMS >> DECFEST >> Christmas Keeps Coming mod
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Message started by will on 09/04/12 at 20:59:41

Title: Christmas Keeps Coming mod
Post by will on 09/04/12 at 20:59:41

Compelling stories to be sure. Thanks Steve. And thanks for keeping the creative quest alive!

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by KMokc on 09/05/12 at 00:21:58

Inquiring minds want to know. How soon will the CKC mod be available? I'm currently on the board as parts pull for my Zen Select.

Thanks,
Kevin ;) ;D

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by will on 09/05/12 at 00:38:11

And is the CKC mod applicable to other amps???

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by Steve Deckert on 09/06/12 at 02:18:40

The CKC (Christmas keeps coming) mod is only available on the SE84C, SE84CS, SE84ZS, SE84ZSM series of amplifiers. Basically all the variations of the 2 watt Zen Triode Amplifier.

ANYONE who has one of these amplifiers on the order board will be getting the CKC mod automatically.

Steve

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by markv on 09/06/12 at 03:08:08

Steve - Do you have any pictures of the Super Zen that you can share with us?

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by Jon on 09/06/12 at 17:21:28

Steve,

Do you know when you will have a price for the CKC mod for current Zen owners?

Title: Price of the CKC mod
Post by Steve Deckert on 09/09/12 at 03:43:26

$229.00 will be the price of the CKC (Christmas keeps coming) mod for any model SE84B, SE84C, SE84C+, SE84CS, SE84ZS.

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by Steve Deckert on 09/09/12 at 03:47:29

MarkV - None yet, but I will in another week or so. Right now this is all I can show you:

Steve

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by tgarden on 09/09/12 at 04:13:42

Steve, I am the proud owner of a pair of your V-capped 84ZSM monoblocks.

What would it cost to have the CKC mod done to my two monoblocks?
Is it the same price as the other amps you mentioned?

Is there a discount for having both done? Or is it 2 X $229.00?

Thanks,
Mike Braunlich

Title: Re: What's Steve going to do this year?
Post by Steve Deckert on 09/10/12 at 04:08:30

The mono's are too different to accept the CKC mod. Part of it could be done. We could replace the plate and cathode resistors and that would be audible. We could replace the VCAPS with the beeswax caps used in the CKC mod. Sound would be significantly different, more natural. Since the remainder of the mod involves removing things which are not there in your mono's, the price would remain the same - for the pair.

Title: Re: Christmas Keeps Coming mod
Post by tgarden on 09/10/12 at 04:52:26

Steve,

Thanks for the speedy response!

The partial mod you detailed, sounds great to me.

I have heard about the natural sound of beeswax caps. I'm guessing you're using Jupiter caps, although probably not the relatively high priced HT Flatstacks .

Anyway, I'm excited about this, and will send the pair of mono's in soon, to have the plate and cathode resistors replaced, and the VCAPS changed out for the beeswax caps.

Thanks again,
Mike

Title: Re: Christmas Keeps Coming mod
Post by Steve Deckert on 09/11/12 at 03:44:08

Mike,

I am using Jupitor caps. I've been working with the owner for the past 6 months as as another set of ears to evaluate some variations of his caps. Last month we nailed down and verified the exact sonic differences between two different solder techniques to attach the lead wires on otherwise identical caps. Yes, you heard me right. It's some really mind blowing stuff... but this what is at the heart of the CKC mod. After we got the specific caps we wanted for the amplifier, we modified the amplifier for the specific caps. It's voicing in it's most refined state.

Steve

Title: Re: Christmas Keeps Coming mod
Post by tgarden on 09/11/12 at 07:34:49

Steve,

That's pretty amazing how two different solder techniques change the sonics of the Jupiter caps. It's great you've been able to dial in the voicing for the amplifier, to the utmost degree

Now you've got me really excited about installing the Jupiter caps and the improved plate and cathode resistors on my ZSM mono's.

I'm shipping the pair off to you next Monday, to have the work done.

Thanks!
Mike

Title: Re: Christmas Keeps Coming mod
Post by Steve Deckert on 09/16/12 at 16:15:48

The different solder techniques change the sound of ANY type or brand of caps... it has nothing to specifically do with Jupitor caps except to say that Jupitor caps are highly transparent making it possible to hear these differences.

Steve