[Pricklely Peete]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dat_Dude /img/forum/go_quote.gif I ordered one of their power cables, so I certainly hope they get the plug right.

The mains cable comes with only the one type of termination (the 3 prong US type).

Peete.

General announcement:

PS : Tyson's estimate of 400 hours for Audio-gd gear is what I would call the base minimum hours required for a settled unit. My findings push this hour estimate closer to 600 hours until complete settling (with the Compass only, the RE1 for instance may take at least 1000 hours but that is just an educated guess).

More detailed observations WRT Compass burn in will be included in Part III of my review which will be posted this week sometime. Part IV evaluations will then commence. Part V requires me to send my test unit back for upgrade (to evaluate the new features and settings not covered in the first 3 parts) but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Congrats to all the members that have received their Compass combo's thus far. Just remember guys the Compass will go through a number of changes over the next 2 weeks (assuming you leave it on 24/7 for that time period). The faster you get to 400+ hours the faster you'll be reaching that point where the Compass gives you consistent performance. As always these observations are IMO. YMMV

 

[les_garten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gevorg /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyone noticed that very thin wire(?) going from middle RCA outputs to the unshielded wire on top? Is this normal/fragile? Don't really care how it looks, as long as its ok.

If you look close, it loops around to the bottom jacks also. Basically tying all the grounds together.

.

 

[mlarn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by direcow /img/forum/go_quote.gif it ships in bright mode, with no jumpers inserted.

Are you sure on this? On the audio-gd webpage about half-way down it says the default is Neutral.

 

[hdlovar]

Is the final version finally ready to be ordered?

Should I go ahead and send off an e-mail to kingwa asking about it?

 

[sandchak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gevorg /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyone noticed that very thin wire(?) going from middle RCA outputs to the unshielded wire on top? Is this normal/fragile? Don't really care how it looks, as long as its ok.

Dont worry, I just asked Kingwa.. he thinks its melted glue, they use glue on soldered joints so that it doesn't come off during shipment..

See attachment..

EDIT - Talking about stock power cables, I think people ordering Compass from here on, can choose the suitable type of cable , while placing the order - check his webpage..

 

[les_garten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdlovar /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is the final version finally ready to be ordered? Should I go ahead and send off an e-mail to kingwa asking about it?

Yes

.

 

[gevorg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandchak /img/forum/go_quote.gif Dont worry, I just asked Kingwa.. he thinks its melted glue, they use glue on soldered joints so that it doesn't come off during shipment.. See attachment.. EDIT - Talking about stock power cables, I think people ordering Compass from here on, can choose the suitable type of cable , while placing the order - check his webpage..

Thanks! glue is no biggie.

 

[csroc]

Glue makes sense, otherwise the only thing I could imagine is the wire is stranded and a strand came loose. I don't recall if that's stranded or not though.

 

[Pricklely Peete]

It's glue alright. Just clean up any stray strands you see (if any). I had some of the same on my Compass. Easy to clean up to

Peete.

 

[Currawong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandchak /img/forum/go_quote.gif Great Pictures dbs.. I hope you guys are opening the Compass before starting to use it, there is a foam on top of the OPA which was put to protect the OPA during travel, those foams needs to be taken off..

I'm sure Kingwa said that you don't need to take the foam off. Everything runs fine with it in place.

 

[sandchak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm sure Kingwa said that you don't need to take the foam off. Everything runs fine with it in place.

Actually, I just looked at his website this morning and it said to take the foam off, like it says in the pics, but on the other hand it also says, the Compass should work fine even if you don't remove the foams..so, I guess its a choice.

EDIT - This time I asked him and he says :

Quote:

I only afraid the foams will press the OPA and let the OPA a little hot than without the foams. But I think remove is better .

 

[dBs]

Glue or no glue, it sounds great =D Smoooooooooth. This will be a long burn in process. After breaking in the Compass+Earth, Ill give a round through of the various jumper settings. Then Ill begin breaking in the Moon because I really want to give the Moon+bright setting a try. The idea of the Moon possibly canceling the sharpness of the bright setting while maintaining its touted soundstage.

 

[Currawong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandchak /img/forum/go_quote.gif Actually, I just looked at his website this morning and it said to take the foam off, like it says in the pics, but on the other hand it also says, the Compass should work fine even if you don't remove the foams..so, I guess its a choice. EDIT - This time I asked him and he says :

Oh, cool, thanks for that (pun not intended). More stuff I can add to the FAQ.

 

[csroc]

I haven't removed the foam from mine and it hasn't seemed to cause any problems. The only reason I haven't removed it is in anticipation of sending it back for a final Compass... I definitely want the lower gain.

 

[laobrasuca]

first of all i'd like to congratulate you guys for your effort on creating this project and come up with such a piece of art, really.

but, here's the question: is it really miles better than the Zero? lol yeah, i know, it is silly question, since it was build to be better than Zero. So, sorry if i bore you guys with such a question, but it's that i'm in a really tight budget, so if the difference is not noticeable i would go to the Zero one hoping i would not get a defective unit (do they ship defective units yet? or with all the negative feedbacks, they've done something to improve (component) quality?).

lao

ps: i got a HD650. Actually it's a gift, so if you ask yourselves why i spent 280€ in such phone and not the equivalent in an DAC/AMP, there's the answer.