great sound no noise, no feed back.

Looks nice but it would look better if the base was all scratched metal the volume knob is a bit small but not to much hassle.

After careful research I decided to get this head phone amp, I use this amp from an audigy 2 to my HD590's. From reading earlier reviews from several sites. 2 tips don't get a early model and try and stay away from second hand units, apart from that no noise at all, no feed back, clear sound, a-bit shouty but that should go once its warn in and it look's great and some people claim the x-can gets hot if that happens take it back. Ive had it for 5 days now and it's barely warm and it’s in between a monitor and my machine, also this is in a small hot room.

very nice case!!! a clear and warm sound! fundamental *bass*!!! listening with my favorite HD 600 and over a Yamha CDX-596 CD-player via optical link to my Terratec EWX-96 card

PCB- layout!!! Connectors *poti*

hi@ll, I allways was looking for a headphone with *valves*...so i did find X-Cans via e-bay! ( i dont`t know the year) so far so good!!! it was OVP and in best condidion..!! but I`m disappointed!!!!! 1) there was a noise flicker and a 50 Hz called *Brumm* depending on the rotation of the POTI (Lautstaerkesteller)...I do schield it up with copper coat! 2) Philosphy: it is not a true class-A Amplifier, because the last stage is an OP NE 5532, now by TI! 3) about valves: I think a ECC 88, also testet E88 CC is not the best choice...because normally this type operates better at high voltages!!! but the best choice was a ECC 86!!! ( this type was *once upon a time* developped for car-radio UKW ) and it works from 6V!! 4) Powersupply: I think it`s ok...so far...because normally you first warm up ...and than powerd High- Voltage.....

Similar Products Used:

my own system...!!! :-)))

Inexpensive. Round metal chassis is indestructible and looks great. Female vocals are beautifully rendered. Provides plenty of power.

Works best with high impedance headphones. Volume pot is cheap and too sensitive. Can be finicky. May provide little benefit when coupled with high-end sources.

The X-Can headphone amp was one of my first amps to experiment with. Initially, the sound was uncomfortably bright but otherwise excellent with my Sennheiser 580 headphones. I decided to take matters into my own hands and change the tubes. I documented the procedure in an easy format here: http://www.nickdangerous.com/misc/xcans/index.htm The X-Can vastly improves the sound of audio coming from the PC and various other budget sources. I don''''t consider it a high-end headphone amp, but for the money its a good way to get a taste of smooth sounding tube audio.

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Creek OBH-11 MG Head OTL Corda HA-1 Mapletree Ear 4 Melos SHA-1 Headroom Cosmic Headroom MAX Headroom Little McCormack Integrated Drive

Everything

Nothing

I recently purchased the "X-Cans" (& X-PSU) with a pair of the equally incredible Sennheiser HD600 'phones. This is one amazing combo!

Mind you, I'm listening to a fairly "high-end" main speakers & system (Classe, Martin-Logan, etc.) but the X-Cans/Sennheiser still continue to impress.

You will here more of the detail and timbre of instruments, more "into" the recording venue than ever before. Everything has a dynamic, "liquid", natural quality that is truly addictive.

It doesn't matter how well I know the recording--EVERY pc. of music I listen to, I hear small details heretofore not noticed.

One caveat -- let this thing "burn in" for AT LEAST 100 hrs.
It will sound a bit bright and thin prior to break in!

Once it sets in though....be prepared to sip from pure sonic nectar.

detail, body

none yet

I have to confess that I bought this on the basis of reviews, as a demo from Audio Advisor, and added it to Sennheiser 580s and a Harman/Kardan fl8300 cd player (with radio shack "gold" interconnects--sorry). When I first got my sennheisers, I was a bit disappointed (detailed but "thin" sound--high solo violins almost painfully shrill), but the X-cans completely revolutionized them. Being a demo, it was apparently already broken in, so from the start I noticed an incredible gain in detail, and very important, the "thinness" of sound was replaced by real body--the shrill high notes were given depth so that they ceased to "rasp." This is the most amazing upgrade of sound I've experienced--and at a miserably low price. I know I have to upgrade my CD player and interconnects, but for the time being the X-Cans has made such a huge difference to the sound that I can live with what I've got for a bit longer. To get all this at a regular web price of $250 is nothing short of amazing--an incredible bargain.

Great, warm sound. Fine detail, Build quality

no longer sent to USA by Musical Fidelity

Read all the great reviews here and found a used
Musical Fidelity X Cans on ebay. This one is the
first version. Let me add another positive take
on this great product. It's very well built, the
only drawback is the "wall wort" power supply but
that can be upgraded at a latter date. Even though
this amplifier uses 2 ECC 88 tubes there are no
vent holes in the heavy metal "can" shaped body.
Yet the unit does not run hot..even after several
of play. Those reviewers that say the X Cans lack
bass must be bass mad hip hop freaks. The X Cans
has PLENTY of both bass and gain for all but the
hard of hearing! The most outstanding quality of
the sound is feeling of depth to every recording
I have played through it. This creates a rich, warm
sound world that makes you listen for hours. I am
using the X Cans with Sennheiser HD 580 headphones.
Find a used X Cans and enjoy!

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none

Excellent. Use with Rega Planet, Sennheiser HD600s and AQ Rubys. Not sure if its the x-cans or 600's, but it is the best sound I've EVER heard, bar none! Quite simply, get 'em with the 600's and boom!

"Not so good" by this reviewer. Actually, the overall sound quality was excellent, but I couldn't drive my Sennheiser 580's to any loudness whatsoever. Very little gain and I really don't like listening to any amp that's all the way turned up. And, it's not like I prefer to listen to loud music. The amp just produced very little output for me. I'm now in the process of returning the X-Cans for a Creek OBH-11 and understand the gain on that unit is better. I really liked the sound of the X-Cans but was not satisfied with the lack of output. Also, not really impressed with the cheap, toy volume knob used on the X-Cans and similar MF products. Interested in hearing from anyone else who has experienced a similar situation with X-Cans. Associated equipment includes Audio Research Preamp and California Audio Labs CD player.

I´ve been using the X-CANS for 4 months now.I could find any other headphone amp (creek, ear-max,etc.), so I didn't have chance to make any comparisons but with the headphone socket on my aging CD-Player (Pioneer PD501S).
Initally I was quite disappointed finding no big difference between the X-Cans and the CD. But as days passed, and the X-Cans were properly run in, they started to show their worth. Compared with the CD, the X-Cans had a much warmer and spatious sound, bass had far more slam, body and depth, tonally it was miles ahead of the Pioneer and there was much more detail.
As long as it is always left powered on, it keeps getting better. When cold it sounds pretty much like the CD but louder.
Heartly recommended

System:
CD: Pioneer PD-501-S
Cable: Ixos 104
Others: Audio Agile mains filter

Wonderfully fluid sound

Superb in combination with the Sennheiser HD600 headphones. This amplifier provides a wonderfully fluid sound, which is very detailed but not unmusically analytical.

I am puzzled by another reviewer's comment that the output would not drive the HD580's at high volume: the XCans will drive my HD600's and HD530's to ample volume at little more than 1/4 of the control range. Perhaps he had a problem with the line input level?

Overall, very strongly recommended in conjunction with revealing and neutral headphones such as the top-end Sennheisers. It also sounds good with my Grado SR80's, but the advantages seem less marked to me in this case.