Fidelity Audio Upgrade for Novo
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Headphone Audio
Forum Name: Graham Slee Headphone Amps
Forum Description: Questions, answers and product information zone for Graham Slee Headphone Amplifiers
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=765
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 2:12am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Fidelity Audio Upgrade for Novo
Posted By: fitcaz
Subject: Fidelity Audio Upgrade for Novo
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2010 at 12:18pm
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I presume those looking at ebay know this company. Has anyone tried the upgrade or have any comments on the relevance, cost and likely improvements. It looks to me a waste of time and money (ignoring warranty issues) but Im no expert
 F
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Replies:
Posted By: fitcaz
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2010 at 2:01pm
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The kit
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Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2010 at 2:45pm
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Can not find the post, care to provide the link? Wonder what makes this seller think this would be an upgrade, and expensive at that when compared w/ the Novo Kit cost. ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2010 at 6:26pm
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I wish I had the brass neck! (not) Must be all of £5 quids worth, or more like £2 if you're trade! My advice: spend less than that on a year's subscription of the upcoming Audio Projects magazine - it'll tell you how to do real tweaks that work, and how they work too! Yes, you too can be a hot modding expert and get 6 or 12 times the value for 30% less than this rip! ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2010 at 9:09pm
 So what's Fiddlety Audio got that I don't? OK. I tried ZLHs and just about every other audio cap. They're cheap enough to fit as standard, so why is it I don't? This, and what's in the Novo already, is an electrolytic cap. By "magic" these high frequency electrolytics do low impedance at high frequencies. They're like this so the manufacturer can sell to the switching power supply industry where they need to be able to handle frequencies in the order of 10kHz to 100kHz and not get hot (or too hot). An electrolytics life is shortened by heat. So they do these high frequencies with lower inductance... good? Yes, for switchers! Their characteristics are focused on this band of supersonic frequencies so you'd guess there's a trade off, wouldn't you? (because there is) And the trade off is poorer performance at lower frequencies. There are lots of characteristics that define the performance of an electrolytic, including the bung the wires come through, the type of separator paper used, the type of etching used on the foil etc. A good audio cap has a good balance of these characteristics - a high frequency cap does not! Vishay MKT? Metalised Polyester film to be precise. Guess what's in it already? Maybe he's got blue ones instead of my grey ones? And WTF does this guy mean by output capacitors? The output caps are 470 micro-farads! They don't make MKT that size! So he must mean something else, that's if he knows what he means at all? And a so-called low noise regulator... As if the noise could be heard... £99... OK, if you buy a Mercedes Benz you can get a body kit, but it ain't more expensive than the car! *  *The Novo PCB assembly kit containing all the electronic components is £89.30 inc VAT ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2010 at 12:58am
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One final note: I trust anybody doing "unofficial" mods to any product make sure they make others aware before 1] commenting on its sound, and 2] attempting to sell on. We know there is at least one vociferous person who makes comments on our products after making considerable modifications - this is highly misleading. ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: ServerBaboon
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2010 at 3:55pm
There is some recognition for your work Graham, he does charge more to 'upgrade' a Creek 
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Posted By: cattle prod
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2010 at 8:57am
Graham More info on Audio Projects magazine would be nice. Is this one of yours? ------------- cheers Ian |
Graham Slee wrote:Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2010 at 1:00pm
Yes  Eventually...  (I think I may have taken on too much for the beginning of the year so it isn't imminent) ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: Jitter
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2010 at 1:20am
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I'm not inclined to make modifications to newer equipment. I have modified a Quad 303 power amp and an old Rotel CD player. For me the reason for modifying is if better components are available. I don't see why you would buy a piece of kit which wasn't manufactured with with quality of components you wanted.
Consequently, Graham - I wouldn't worry ------------- ...... and that's my opinion, take or leave it |