olek
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2008
- Posts
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- 48
@auvgeek - I switched gains with unit powered on, and the only punishment gods sent my way was sticky volume knob.
YMMV.
YMMV.
Same as Lyr, huh? I had a pleasure to try Lyr at a head-fi meet a month ago, and its volume control was very nice and smooth (and so was its sound - totally impressed me, especially with planars!). My H10 knob is anything but smooth. Confirms my theory about QC issue. Thank you for info, Liu!
To @stuartmc
, @Liu Junyuan
- thank you for encouragement. I did open my H10. And do you know what I found?
First of all, issue of binding volume knob (finally found the right word - binding) is likely caused by over-bent top half of the case. Its sides are supposed to be at right angle to the top, and they slide over pieces of aluminium stock that is bolted to front and back panels. Well, that right angle bend is not quite right ... angle. it is over-bent by couple degrees. And it does not fit over aluminium stock anymore by about 1mm. That means that top 'half-case' is grabbing that aluminium stock and squeezing the hell out of it. That likely causes some slight deformation of front plate, and voila - misaligned bearings start to bind. With the top off, there is no binding whatsoever.
I have used one of my woodworking clamps to try bending that half-case back closer to right angle. It did not have MUCH effect - aluminium just snaps back to previous shape, it was likely annealed, bent and then tempered. Still, after reassembly, knob does not bind AS much and is more usable. Probably I should take top off again, apply clamps to it again, and leave it like that for a day, hoping that metal will creep a bit more.
Another interesting detail. Right after delivery of H10 I noticed that if shaken it produced a slightly rattling sound. Now I know why. :angry_face:
As I took the top cover off and shook it one more time, a ... small metal hex nut fell into my lap. What? It does not look like it belongs there at all - no nuts are used in assembly, all bolts are threaded into aluminium case, but here we are - a nut, likely just dropped in during assembly. It is a minor miracle that it did not short anything yet. My opinion about assembly quality at Gustard is not too high as of now.
And did I mention aluminium shavings showing up as I removed side bolts, implying that threads in aluminium square stock were cut very imprecisely and bolts were tapping themselves the rest of the way. I heard that metal shavings and electronics do not mix well.
Sitting now, listening to J.S. Bach on my AD900 through H10. Sound is heavenly. But if Gustard is having any hopes of cornering hi-fi market in US, they better get their act together.
No reason for OMG, Liu. Ain't that bad. Just some sloppiness on their part. After stretching top half-case for an hour or so it was easier to put back on (still tight), and volume knob is now pretty smooth and easy to turn. Just ran another round of sound comparisons with Precision 1 and another TOTL vintage amp I am restoring now, and there is no comparison - H10 just eliminates the competition, with either high or low impedance headphones.
Hey everyone. The X12 is up on Massdrop.
Hey everyone. The X12 is up on Massdrop. If I didn't just buy another piece of gear, I would be all over this.
Edit: Linky https://www.massdrop.com/buy/gustard-dac-x12-usb-version?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Community%20-%20Audiophile%20-%20MAU%20%28Active%29&utm_campaign=Audiophile%20Active%20Product%20Announcement%202015-04-10&mode=guest_open
Hmmm... I was planning to go for a Gungnir, but this seems like a phenomenal deal if it gets down to $450 shipped. Really curious how the X12 compares to the X20, too.