Don't mean to dampen the sprit of this thread but what I am about to post is to compare the X-Cans V2 (NoS Tubes) with the ASL Head MG/OTL. Its relevent to this thread because it whats got me started for this post.
I decided to go for the caps upgrade ala Pinkie and went shopping for soldering iron, hunting for caps etc. Bought the soldering iron but could not find the caps but ran across a dealer for the ASL products. The ASL MG Head DT/OTL was selling for about US$225 which is about $100 less than normally advertized on websites. Now I am a die hard X-cans supporter having spent lots of money on PSU upgrade, numerous NOS tubes, power cords and interconnects matching etc. But the price was attractive and I was dissapointed not finding the Caps, so I bought the ASL Head.
First impressions was not good. Bass was good but highs were veiled and rolled off. Very soft dynamics and I was beginning to regret my decision. However, I also found a Mullard 12AX7 NOS tube during my shopping for $35 and having read that tube rolling the ASL MG Head can yield good results, bought it.
Once I switched over to the Mullards, it was night and day. Holy Smokes ! The soundstage open up. Spaciousness was huge (compared to X-Cans). Dynamics returned and comparable to X-Cans. Bass was better (deeper, fuller but still detail and good impact. Leading edge of double bass as good as X-Cans V2). Mid was so lush and spacious. Vocals better. This is my first experience with an all tube product and boy am I ever impressed. If this is what everyone is referring to as tube sound, then I am never going back to solid state. The highs were smooth and detail as compared to X-Cans. Perhaps the impact on highs is not as good as X-Cans but the margin is very small. Overall I prefer the ASL MG Head with Mullard 12AX7 tube to X-Cans V2 with either Siemens 6922 or Bugle Boy 6DJ8 plus X-PSU. Hands down.
A good CD to compare is the "O brother were art Thou" soudtrack particularly track 4 (Going to the river to pray). This CD has been highly recommended by numerous Hi-Fi magazines. Although the recording is good, I was wondering wondering what the fuzz was all about. Hearing track 4 on the ASL MG Head, I was suddenly transported to a cathedral. Alcion Krauss and her backup choir was so lush and so much ambience and spaciouness, it made the X-Cans sound real flat. There was no going back after hearing this track.
So my point here for this thread is that before you go off and spent time and money on PSU upgrade, tube rolling, caps and pot replacements, go listen to the ASL MG head. Its cheaper than X-Cans V2 with X-PSU to begin with and tube rolling the MG Head should be no more expensive than the X-Cans (although the MG Head has 3 tubes total, the single/middle 12AX7 tube is the one that makes the most difference). You could end up asing a lot of time and money.
However, if I can get my hands on those ELNA cerafines, I will make the change (hvaing bought the soldering iron and all) and can then report back the differnece between ASL MG Head with Caps upgraded X-Cans.
Cheers to all.