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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 3, 2023 8:57:13 GMT
As suggested by Tony, and what with multiple people trying TFLEX 405, l thought we should start a separate thread, the poor old LB Clock thread has been so busy,it makes sense,to move this cable out to its own thread.
So l'll keep this brief, as everyone will want to share their experience.
l swapped out my direct link Multiflex 141 for direct linked TFLEX 405.
Simply TFLEX is better than Multiflex 141, lt has similar trades...more reverb trails, what noticeable is the midrange, its so much more delicate, piano accompanied with music, simply is more defined, as Clifford put it the flow is more natural again.
All the hard work that goes into production,you can hear emerging...Quite a ear opener, l can't imagine anyone imagine disappointed with this.
Personally l should have tried this months ago on Tony's recommendation,but what with building work,and no power,l am really pleased to report that yet again God..cough ..cough..sorry Tony was correct 🤣
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Post by MartinT on Jul 3, 2023 10:06:07 GMT
Thanks, Damian.
Can you describe the difference T-Flex 405 makes over the original MCX-chassis BNC tail supplied in the Gustard?
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 3, 2023 10:33:05 GMT
Thanks, Damian. Can you describe the difference T-Flex 405 makes over the original MCX-chassis BNC tail supplied in the Gustard? Sadly not Martin,as l don't plan to go backwards. I direct feed at present, the original BNC Tail really is a bottleneck, this may not be the case,as you'll changing your tail, and could end up doing the same myself, but in short the cable provided is just a standard RG Coax, and hints at cable improvements in my view, removing the tail is Wow moment.. I'm looking forward to find out on yours and Clifford's tail change |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 3, 2023 10:54:22 GMT
I'm an idiot. I ordered the tail for my Gustard expecting the U18 to have the same provision as the X26 Pro, since I don't feed the clock into the X26 Pro, it comes through I2S from the U18. However, the U18's clock input is direct to PCB. Therefore my clock connection is already optimal and is carried through to the X26 Pro via the superb Tubulus cable. Doh! So I can install the new tail into the X26 Pro but I won't be using it  |
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TFLEX 405
Jul 3, 2023 11:19:40 GMT
via mobile
Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 3, 2023 11:19:40 GMT
l'll take it off your hands Martin,happy to cover your costs.
Then l can compare direct and tail with TFLEX
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Post by HD Music & Test on Jul 3, 2023 12:01:53 GMT
Greetings Mortals, er sorry chaps
Glad its all sloting into place for you, also its at a very sensible outlay as well.
Keep up the good work Damien
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atoz
Rank: Trio
Posts: 147
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TFLEX 405
Jul 3, 2023 12:34:40 GMT
via mobile
Post by atoz on Jul 3, 2023 12:34:40 GMT
As suggested by Tony, and what with multiple people trying TFLEX 405, l thought we should start a separate thread, the poor old LB Clock thread has been so busy,it makes sense,to move this cable out to its own thread. So l'll keep this brief, as everyone will want to share experience. l swapped out my direct link Multiflex 141 for direct linked TFLEX 405. Simply TFLEX is better than Multiflex 141, lt has similar trades...more reverb trails, what noticeable is the midrange, its so much more delicate, piano accompanied with music, simply is more defined, as Clifford put it the flow is more natural again. All the hard work that goes into production,you can hear emerging...Quite a ear opener, l can't imagine anyone imagine disappointed with this. Personally l should have tried this months ago on Tony's recommendation,but what with building work,and no power,l am really pleased to report that yet again God..cough ..cough..sorry Tony was correct 🤣 Bit like myself Damien, been sitting on the tflex since Tony mentioned it very early on, glad I connected it, it's a very very very good cable ,quite shocked how much difference it brought to my sound and as I said to Damiem, it's like I upgraded the dac. Or another way I should have put it....the Tflex 405 is now showing how good the LB clock is along with the Gustard dacs we have |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 3, 2023 12:57:30 GMT
l'll take it off your hands Martin,happy to cover your costs. No, it's ok thanks, I'll fit the damn thing one day. The cost is peanuts. |
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atoz
Rank: Trio
Posts: 147
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TFLEX 405
Jul 3, 2023 18:23:45 GMT
via mobile
Post by atoz on Jul 3, 2023 18:23:45 GMT
Thanks, Damian. Can you describe the difference T-Flex 405 makes over the original MCX-chassis BNC tail supplied in the Gustard? Sadly not Martin,as l don't plan to go backwards. I direct feed at present, the original BNC Tail really is a bottleneck, this may not be the case,as you'll changing your tail, and could end up doing the same myself, but in short the cable provided is just a standard RG Coax, and hints at cable improvements in my view, removing the tail is Wow moment.. I'm looking forward to find out on yours and Clifford's tail change Just wondering Damien, should I just get a bnc to mcx cable direct from LB to dac ...and do away with tail connection altogether |
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 3, 2023 18:34:38 GMT
In theory doing away with the tail should be better, but personally if l couldn't hear a difference,l would fit a tail.
l am afraid it's simply a case of trying and testing. The only bonus it won't cost a fortune to try out.
Damien
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
Posts: 353
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TFLEX 405
Jul 15, 2023 15:34:53 GMT
via mobile
Post by bencat on Jul 15, 2023 15:34:53 GMT
Just to say I decided to take a chance on a pre made BNC cable which uses TFLEX 400 cable . This is very thick and not that flexible cable . However it does sound better than the cheap black cable I was using which was better sounding than a hand made cable I had from Pickerings Limited . I have decided this could become a very busy chase and I can easily see me ending up with five or six cables looking for just something better . Well this one sounds very good so I am going to leave it as my choice now unless there is a very strong consensus for one cable such as this one .
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 30, 2023 18:40:32 GMT
Minor update, l can report that after fitting a TFLEX 405 patch lead into my Gustard 26, is a definitely a worth while upgrade.
l was running directly to board,but if you add an additional bit of shielding to the outside of the cable, eg Copper tape or even tin foil! then insulate, the sound quality is the same as directly connecting.... Result!
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Post by Clive on Jul 30, 2023 21:19:24 GMT
Did you get the lead made up in the US or somewhere more local?
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 30, 2023 21:48:50 GMT
Did you get the lead made up in the US or somewhere more local? From the US...Field Components, l emailed another seller, they never replied. |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 31, 2023 4:30:10 GMT
I got mine from Field Components, too. No hurry to install it as I feed my clock via the U18 and I2S, so it can wait.
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gstew
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 6
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Post by gstew on Jun 21, 2024 18:34:26 GMT
Quick question... I have my R26 back after a long-term loan to a friend (Ian Canada) & have been reading up on how to get the best out of it both here & on the Head-Fi forums. Great info here, BTW!
I have the fabled Leo Bodnar clock in hand (& eagerly awaiting availability of the new one) & am working up what I hope will be a good power supply (Uptone Audio LPS-1.2 > older MP Audio 6||LT3045 regulator board > 2 series'd 350F/2.7V Maxwell Ultracaps).
I am getting ready to order a couple of TFlex 400 leads from Field Components here in the US, a 12" for direct-connect where the LB clock sits outside the R26 & a 6" for direct-connect with the LB recased & located inside the R26.
Ends would be BNC Straight Male Plug to MCX Straight Male Plug.
Before I commit, does this sound right?
& has anyone compared using a right-angle MCX versus a straight MCX to connect to the R26 socket? Right-angle would be a cleaner install, but I wonder if a straight connection might result in better waveform integrity. Thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
Greg in Mississippi
P.S. I should add I plan to use a male to male BNC adapter for 1st trials with the Leo Bodnar clock into my R26, I can get those quickly.
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TFLEX 405
Jun 21, 2024 20:39:05 GMT
via mobile
Post by stellabagpuss on Jun 21, 2024 20:39:05 GMT
Myself and a few others did a lot of testing of various cables. ln a nutshell TFLEX 405 seems to work really well with the LB and R26.
In regards to the on board tail, l didn't feel a need to try a,right angered MCX Male connector, l just run with a straight one, and haven't looked back.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 21, 2024 20:54:30 GMT
I can't remember if I published this photo of the TFlex tail, which I never use because I send the clock via the U18 DDC and then to I2S in the DAC. However, you can also see my tungsten cube mod.  |
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gstew
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 6
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TFLEX 405
Jun 22, 2024 4:04:49 GMT
via mobile
Post by gstew on Jun 22, 2024 4:04:49 GMT
stellabagpuss & MartinT, Thx for your responses. Useful. Any other clock cables that can be ordered with BNC & MCX ends I should consider? I didn't see any poking through various threads, but easy to miss that way. MartinT, also thx on the tungsten cube reminder. I had seen that & made a long-lost mental note, but now have a physical note & some options in several carts. stellabagpuss, you preferred the 15mm cubes in your R26, correct? & while I didn't see this yet in my searches on TAS, do you know of anyone who tried multiple smaller cubes or even tungsten-loaded putty? MartinT, you posted an excellent description of a typical break-in in your "MartinT: A New Beginning" thread. At some point I'll post another break-in progression I hear occasionally. But on the long break-in times for the tungsten cube on your X26, some thoughts... As someone who worked in aerospace composites for 15yr (& used many epoxies for 35yr+ previously), I suspect part of what went on is the epoxy taking a long time to fully cure & reach its final physical properties. In aerospace many hi-test resins used are designed to cure at elevated temps & we use cooking in large ovens or autoclaves (pressurized ovens) to get them close to their final state. But even then properties change for some time. I doubt the break-in signal impacts this process. BUT I suspect that the clock getting used to its new state (vibrationally & thermally) does take time running & that normally long process (my experience is that a clock break-in is 4-6 weeks) is lengthened by the epoxy changing it's physical properties as it gets to a stable state. Educated guesses all! Greg in Mississippi
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Post by MartinT on Jun 22, 2024 5:41:34 GMT
As someone who worked in aerospace composites for 15yr (& used many epoxies for 35yr+ previously), I suspect part of what went on is the epoxy taking a long time to fully cure & reach its final physical properties. In aerospace many hi-test resins used are designed to cure at elevated temps & we use cooking in large ovens or autoclaves (pressurized ovens) to get them close to their final state. But even then properties change for some time. I doubt the break-in signal impacts this process. BUT I suspect that the clock getting used to its new state (vibrationally & thermally) does take time running & that normally long process (my experience is that a clock break-in is 4-6 weeks) is lengthened by the epoxy changing it's physical properties as it gets to a stable state. Educated guesses all! Very enlightening, Greg. We know the tungsten cube mod works but the exact mechanism - except for damping by huge mass alone - has always eluded us. I wish I could have done the same with my AfterDark clocks, but there is no clearance to put a cube in there. |
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