XRt12 XM inards

madmax · 09-19-2005, 01:37 PM

I opened up the XRt12 last night to see what was inside. Hmmm, lots of through hole capacitors. I wonder... Could there be any gains by replacing as I did in the toshiba dvd? Seems a shame to have so many parts without replacing any of them.

madmax

nadams · 09-19-2005, 01:40 PM

I opened mine up before I plugged it in because it was rattling. Someone had left a zip tie laying inside

. I have some pics of it... I'll post 'em up in a bit.

nadams · 09-19-2005, 01:55 PM

Here's some pics for those who are too timid to open up their XRt12. BTW- that case is a bitch to get on and off, isn't it?

madmax · 09-19-2005, 02:25 PM

Cool Pics! I notice all the wiring is routed exactly the same as mine. Lots of circuitry on the main board. All the space around the boards is probably keeping a lot of noise from being transfered from the power supply to the main board. Probably not much to do here other than possibly beefing up the power supply caps and maybe some good caps in the signal path. Maybe an IEC connector and power cord. A battery supply might be cool. I'll have to check out the output op-amps if that is what they are using. Maybe some dual single channel ones. As long as we are dreaming, maybe a tube output stage, dampening of the chassis for no apparent reason and some nice vibrapods???

madmax

Edit: Sure would be nice to have a schematic of this beast!

amulford · 09-19-2005, 09:17 PM

You worry me, son...

ND13 · 09-19-2005, 09:29 PM

Tubed output stage....hmmm.....Max you just might be onto something, if it's feasible.
Is it feasible? I mean, since it was free, maybe it could be done for less than the cost of one them.

madmax · 09-20-2005, 10:54 AM

Sure, anything can be done given enough work. The question is that if you eliminate the original output stage and use a tube stage instead, will it sound better. Probably would, assuming nothing got screwed up in the process and it still works. Ha ha.
madmax

brettw22 · 09-20-2005, 10:58 AM

With a solid top case, it's not practical to try and tube that out unless you're going to drill the hell out of the case to vent it.......then it doesn't have the clean look it currently has......

audiobliss · 09-20-2005, 11:08 AM

So? It'd be tubed!

bknauss · 09-20-2005, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nadams

BTW- that case is a bitch to get on and off, isn't it?

Here's the trick... take the sides and sort of pull the bottom part outward while pushing up on the backside of the chassis. I generally have my thumbs on the side part toward the back and use my fingers to pry the little hinge part off of the bottom. Work it like its hinged on the front of the unit and pull out at about a 45 degree angle.

And yes, it sure is a b*tch! I've probably done it a couple hundred times, so I definitely know all about it.

As for upgrades, probably the only things you might want to think about are simple power supply stuff and opamps. The DAC is pretty gosh darn good (Burr Brown), so I wouldn't worry about that. And I wouldn't hold my breath for schematics

RuSsMaN · 09-20-2005, 12:28 PM

Microdots, as soon as mine arrives.

Is it just me, or is the power supply in a weird spot? I'm thinking preamp and FM tuner, but wouldn't you want it as far away from the boards as possible?

goingganzo · 09-20-2005, 12:54 PM

boy you have enough room in there to put a toaster and a cd player and still have room left over.

madmax · 09-20-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bknauss

And I wouldn't hold my breath for schematics

Reverse engineering is always the fun part anyway.

madmax

cfrizz · 09-20-2005, 01:58 PM

You guys are sick puppies!!!

Can't you be happy just plugging the damn thing in & listening to the tunes????

TroyD · 09-20-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfrizz

You guys are sick puppies!!!

Can't you be happy just plugging the damn thing in & listening to the tunes????

Now what fun would THAT be??

BDT

steveinaz · 09-20-2005, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuSsMaN

Microdots, as soon as mine arrives.

Is it just me, or is the power supply in a weird spot? I'm thinking preamp and FM tuner, but wouldn't you want it as far away from the boards as possible?

I was looking at the transformer leads ty-wrapped to the signal leads, but that's a quick fix. Then again it may not matter, looks like just information for the display function...

nadams · 09-20-2005, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfrizz

You guys are sick puppies!!!

Can't you be happy just plugging the damn thing in & listening to the tunes????

No... I can't afford to activate it yet!

And to think, I just cancelled my XM subscription when I resold my old tuner. *sigh*

madmax · 09-20-2005, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfrizz

You guys are sick puppies!!!

Can't you be happy just plugging the damn thing in & listening to the tunes????

Hmmm... The thought never crossed my mind.

Actually I did listen and it sounds pretty good. I added the below network from AR and with this unit it really added some excitement to the sound. Some things it does wonders for, others it doesn't.

steveinaz · 09-20-2005, 04:15 PM

What is that module?

madmax · 09-20-2005, 04:58 PM

As best as I can tell it is an impedance matching network of some sort. It is made by AR. It can make some sources come alive by being more dynamic while doing absolutely nothing for other sources. I found a handfull of them at a flea shop and decided they looked interesting so I bought them.
madmax

ND13 · 09-20-2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuSsMaN

Microdots

Are those the purple kind?

danger boy · 09-20-2005, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfrizz

You guys are sick puppies!!!

Can't you be happy just plugging the damn thing in & listening to the tunes????

boys will be boys.....

I don't plan on opening mine up. I'm sure it voids any kind of warranty.

nadams · 09-20-2005, 10:42 PM

danger boy- there's no way for them to tell... no warranty stickers or any of that. But anyway, I've done the hard work for you, and posted pictures, so no need for you to open yours up.

disneyjoe7 · 09-20-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danger boy

boys will be boys.....

I don't plan on opening mine up. I'm sure it voids any kind of warranty.

Matt will come personally by and slap your hand

danger boy · 09-20-2005, 10:48 PM

Thanks Noah for doing the work for me. ha ha ha!

I was quite surpised how little guts the thing has. I bet it could be made into a pint sized unit and maybe bring down production costs... hint, hint.

Also with this post i've just hit post #4444

nadams · 09-20-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danger boy

I was quite surpised how little guts the thing has. I bet it could be made into a pint sized unit and maybe bring down production costs... hint, hint.

Look at most consumer CD Players out there. the reason they're the size they are is to make them match all the other components out there. But yes, Polk could fit their xm tuner into a smaller space... saaaaay, a tabletop radio/cd/hd/xm player?

But yeah, I've seen CDPs that have ALL of their circuitry mounted on the front faceplace, with the only thing in the chassis being the power converter and the cd tray itself. LOTS of empty space there!

disneyjoe7 · 09-20-2005, 11:31 PM

You know being an Electronic Technician by trade also my Job title ET, I never had any desire to open the XM tuna up

Willow · 09-21-2005, 09:42 AM

Seems like tons of real-estate in there. Almost waste of space.

nadams · 09-21-2005, 11:18 AM

Grrr.... activated my radio on www.xmradio.com last night, and as of 7:30 this morning, I still couldn't get more than channel 1! Garh! Refreshed the activation, but I'm at work 'til 1:30, so we'll see this afternoon whether it worked or not.

bknauss · 09-21-2005, 11:21 AM

[quote=nadams] But yes, Polk could fit their xm tuner into a smaller space... saaaaay, a tabletop radio/cd/hd/xm player?

QUOTE]

Different XM circuitry

Look up some info on the XM plug and play antenna.

09-19-2005, 01:37 PM	#1
madmax Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (13) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 9,983	XRt12 XM inards I opened up the XRt12 last night to see what was inside. Hmmm, lots of through hole capacitors. I wonder... Could there be any gains by replacing as I did in the toshiba dvd? Seems a shame to have so many parts without replacing any of them. madmax __________________ Vinyl, the final frontier... Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want...

09-19-2005, 01:40 PM	#2
nadams Polk Expert Member Sales Rating: (3) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: PA Posts: 4,501	I opened mine up before I plugged it in because it was rattling. Someone had left a zip tie laying inside . I have some pics of it... I'll post 'em up in a bit. __________________ Technically, it was a squatting hug... more like a squg, really.

09-20-2005, 10:58 AM	#8
brettw22 Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (1) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 7,262	With a solid top case, it's not practical to try and tube that out unless you're going to drill the hell out of the case to vent it.......then it doesn't have the clean look it currently has...... __________________ . . . http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7995/meterdq8.gif

09-20-2005, 11:08 AM	#9
audiobliss Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (6) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: American by birth, Southern by the grace of God! (NC) Posts: 12,062	So? It'd be tubed! __________________ My Saga Equipment Pictures [2CH] Rotel RCD-02 Yamaha KX-W900U Sony ST-S500ES Denon DP-7F Parasound P/HP-850 Parasound HCA-1000A Klipsch RF-35 [In Storage] Yamaha CDR-HD1300 ASL Wave 20 monoblocks Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII [Car System] Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP Memphis 16-MCA3004 Boston Acoustic RC520

09-20-2005, 12:28 PM	#11
RuSsMaN Hardcore Member Sales Rating: (27) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: North Texas Posts: 16,026	Microdots, as soon as mine arrives. Is it just me, or is the power supply in a weird spot? I'm thinking preamp and FM tuner, but wouldn't you want it as far away from the boards as possible? __________________ If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough - when you get knocked down, you gotta get back up - Roger Alan Wade Last edited by RuSsMaN; 09-20-2005 at 12:56 PM..

09-19-2005, 01:55 PM	#3
nadams Polk Expert Member Sales Rating: (3) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: PA Posts: 4,501	Here's some pics for those who are too timid to open up their XRt12. BTW- that case is a bitch to get on and off, isn't it?

09-19-2005, 02:25 PM	#4
madmax Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (13) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 9,983	Cool Pics! I notice all the wiring is routed exactly the same as mine. Lots of circuitry on the main board. All the space around the boards is probably keeping a lot of noise from being transfered from the power supply to the main board. Probably not much to do here other than possibly beefing up the power supply caps and maybe some good caps in the signal path. Maybe an IEC connector and power cord. A battery supply might be cool. I'll have to check out the output op-amps if that is what they are using. Maybe some dual single channel ones. As long as we are dreaming, maybe a tube output stage, dampening of the chassis for no apparent reason and some nice vibrapods??? madmax Edit: Sure would be nice to have a schematic of this beast!

09-19-2005, 09:29 PM	#6
ND13 Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (17) Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,640	Tubed output stage....hmmm.....Max you just might be onto something, if it's feasible. Is it feasible? I mean, since it was free, maybe it could be done for less than the cost of one them.

09-20-2005, 10:54 AM	#7
madmax Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (13) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 9,983	Sure, anything can be done given enough work. The question is that if you eliminate the original output stage and use a tube stage instead, will it sound better. Probably would, assuming nothing got screwed up in the process and it still works. Ha ha. madmax

09-20-2005, 12:54 PM	#12
goingganzo Polkologist Member Sales Rating: (1) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: seccond star to the right and strait on to morning Posts: 2,799	boy you have enough room in there to put a toaster and a cd player and still have room left over. __________________ Gonzo's World BenQ 8700+ 115in screen PS3,X-Box 360 and Wii Sunfire Theater Grand III ADCOM GFA-7607 four avalanch 18 subs 26.12l of displacement Crown xti 4000

09-20-2005, 01:58 PM	#14
cfrizz Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (1) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 8,612	You guys are sick puppies!!! Can't you be happy just plugging the damn thing in & listening to the tunes???? __________________ Sunfire TGP III PrePro, Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature 405wpc 5 ch. Amp, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Onkyo TA2600 Tape Deck, Pioneer Elite 47-A DVD, Sony 32" XBR TV, Polk RTA-8T Main Speakers, Boston VR-920 Center Channel, Boston PV-600 Subwoofer, Polk DSW 400 Subwoofer, Polk FXi-3Surround Speakers

09-20-2005, 04:15 PM	#19
steveinaz Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (6) Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Javelina Highway Posts: 9,685	What is that module?

09-20-2005, 04:58 PM	#20
madmax Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (13) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 9,983	As best as I can tell it is an impedance matching network of some sort. It is made by AR. It can make some sources come alive by being more dynamic while doing absolutely nothing for other sources. I found a handfull of them at a flea shop and decided they looked interesting so I bought them. madmax

09-20-2005, 10:42 PM	#23
nadams Polk Expert Member Sales Rating: (3) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: PA Posts: 4,501	danger boy- there's no way for them to tell... no warranty stickers or any of that. But anyway, I've done the hard work for you, and posted pictures, so no need for you to open yours up.

09-20-2005, 10:48 PM	#25
danger boy Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (10) Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Spokane, Washington Posts: 14,082	Thanks Noah for doing the work for me. ha ha ha! I was quite surpised how little guts the thing has. I bet it could be made into a pint sized unit and maybe bring down production costs... hint, hint. Also with this post i've just hit post #4444

09-20-2005, 11:31 PM	#27
disneyjoe7 Polk Guru Member Sales Rating: (5) Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 8,161	You know being an Electronic Technician by trade also my Job title ET, I never had any desire to open the XM tuna up

09-21-2005, 09:42 AM	#28
Willow Polk Master Member Sales Rating: (17) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 5,539	Seems like tons of real-estate in there. Almost waste of space.

09-21-2005, 11:18 AM	#29
nadams Polk Expert Member Sales Rating: (3) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: PA Posts: 4,501	Grrr.... activated my radio on www.xmradio.com last night, and as of 7:30 this morning, I still couldn't get more than channel 1! Garh! Refreshed the activation, but I'm at work 'til 1:30, so we'll see this afternoon whether it worked or not.

09-21-2005, 11:21 AM	#30
bknauss Polk Engineer Member Sales Rating: (1) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Gaithersburg, MD / Cubicle Posts: 1,409	[quote=nadams] But yes, Polk could fit their xm tuner into a smaller space... saaaaay, a tabletop radio/cd/hd/xm player? QUOTE] Different XM circuitry Look up some info on the XM plug and play antenna.

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