The iQube Enigma (Review Updated) - Page 6

Phew! I'm glad you stepped in there, Hans, before I could stammer a far less-satisfactory explanation... Steve, I did come up with a little trick that has helped with subsequent openings, as well as a photo you might find useful. See below.

My Own Private i(da)Qube!

I'm pleased to report that I finally purchased an iQube on Sunday at the Netherlands Meet (aka DutchJam '08), where Hans was offering a "Meet Special" that was just too attractive to pass up! Sure, I'd been setting some funds aside since I originally returned the review sample, but make no mistake, Mrs. Dex will kill me should she ever discover how much these things actually cost! But since I had already effectively characterized the iQube's sound as "to die for", I suppose that's only appropriate...

The real clincher for me was having the opportunity to compare the iQube to the Graham Slee Voyager that Hans had in the house. Now, the Voyager is an absolutely superb little amp, and I have to say I was shocked at how lovely it sounded, especially considering its rather undistinguished (and that's perhaps being overly kind...) feel and appearance. But with my Edition 9s and PROline 2500s, I found the Voyager to be on the warm/dark side of neutral for my taste (and very similar indeed to the LaRocco PRII [mk2]). So, once again, the iQube managed to carry the day. And I carried home iQube #20080140 (though I've already begun calling it "140", for short! ).

It took me about an hour in front of the telly that evening to open it up for the very first time. Fortunately, I took the precaution of trimming my fingernails beforehand to avoid scratching the rubberized paint as I struggled, grunted and groaned! In the iQube manual, it states: "After a few times opening and closing the unit, the locking construction will become easier to open." So, finally having achieved victory, I set about gently massaging (extra emphasis here on "gently") the 3 plastic clips on the chassis, in order to "fool" the unsuspecting iQube into thinking that it had been already opened-up on numerous occasions.*

Result? I can now do the deed reliably in about 5 seconds!

Here's a photo of the correct opening orientation highlighting those 3 plastic locking clips:



*Disclaimer: Hans informs me that excessive rubbing of the three clips can result in a loosened interface of the battery-compartment cover and cause undesirable "rattling" to occur. So exercise extreme caution as you exercise the clips; work them very gently and gradually, replacing the cover frequently to assess your progress, until the correct degree of suppleness is achieved for "easy-opening", while still allowing for a nice tight cover/chassis interface.

Steve, hang in there, we'll get you through this! My fingers were killing me after the initial opening the other night and I totally understand your frustration here. Maybe you can set aside 123 for a couple of hours to allow some sensation of digital feeling to return...

But when you feel up to come back to it, do this:

Open the top side (the one with the single clip at the rear). Press it partially closed again (with your thumb over the portion where there isn't a clip underneath) until you hear a very slight "click". There should be a discernible gap of about 1mm between the cover and the chassis.

Now, pull upward on the opposite side with your 4 fingers, working them front-to-back, back-to-front. It should "click" and eventually come free.

With the cover off, try the clip massaging technique as I outlined in the post above.

Good luck!

Congrats, Steve!

Yes, either way is the same. Just replace the side with the the 2 clips first.

Noooooo!

Trust me, Hans, your screwdriver will be the only one to touch the hallowed interior of iQube 140 (and, hopefully, not any time soon! )!

BTW, have you ever considered a second career as a hand-model?

Thanks, Indra, don't know how you could've missed it, we celebrated with champagne, cake, and a brass band!

I think that when you consider amps the caliber of the iQube, PRII, Voyager, etc. it really all comes down to personal preference and system synergy. That I've found the iQube to play on the same level with my gear as the CanAmp is still quite remarkable to me, and I'm absolutely thrilled by my decision to bring #140 into the fold. To be able to enjoy essentially the same experience at home or on the road is pretty special indeed.

That's entirely understandable, Hans. Although I think that one would have to be an absolute brute to bend those tabs past the point-of-no-return, undoubtedly, somebody will manage to do just that, if they do not exercise moderation and due caution as I described earlier. (So gently, folks, gently! )

So, in the event of such an occurrence, do you keep spare tabs on-hand? They look easy enough to replace if one can manage to safely disassemble the chassis.