protagonist wrote:mr_debauch wrote:protagonist wrote:I just got one of the newer blue ones since they don't make the screens anymore and i want a backup for my gray original xl. Anyways, in my case they are NOT the same. I opened them both up to swap some ram and parts and they have different chip manufacturers (don't know if that makes any difference on the sound). Also, i notice the newer blue one is louder than my grey one using the headphone out (about one "dot" difference if you're looking at the mpc volume knob). I also notice that the record input on the blue one is a bit hotter meaning i don't have to turn the gain up as much to get the same results. They might sound exactly the same when volume matched but in my experience the blue one is louder than my grey one. Keep in mind they are both used machines so your results may vary. Anyone ever notice volume differences between mpc's?
you are comparing the difference between 45 cent pots that are different ages.
the 2000xl I would guess is the biggest selling mpc out of all models. No doubt when they started back up production some manufacturers offered the same spec chips at a lower cost.... other then the brand stamped on a few chips they are the same. they take the same ram, they take the same eb16 and 8 outs board... and the same exact drives and readers work on both machines and they both run the same OSs.
So can the chip have any effect on the sound? Also, if that 45c pot is the culprit I'm surprised more people don't talk about this when buying used mpc's. In my case it is a difference of about 3-5db which i find rather significant. Are you sure they are the same pots? Right now, sound wise, I'm leaning toward the newer blue one but its most likely a placebo effect due to the volume increase im hearing.
People do talk about this... often you see stuff related to the knobs going, variation slider is the most common part to go on the XL... they are all small cheap parts that you touch and move regularly and eventually they go.
You have to think, basically the mpc is at full volume and the pot (volume for example) is just trimming it down. It isn't low and the pot is amplifying it... it is cutting it. So if the particular piece is different it should be very close is specs because they are built that way... however the blue one is newer and maybe it was more well taken care of during it's life.
You know what though, you could go to your local electronic component store and buy high quality replacements and swap them if you can do a bit of soldering. My local store is called addison, they have a website... I'm sure you must have a similar store.
