garyrc Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 People talk about aging capacitors getting more resistive or otherwise changing in crossover networks, but what about caps in other equipment? Amplifiers? Processors? Don't they need changing too, and if so, after how much time has elapsed? What would the audible symptoms be? For that matter, what would the audible symptoms be in a three-way speaker like those in the Klipsch Heritage line? Distortion? Treble roll-off? Over brightness? over dullness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 yes...... symtoms would be a funny smell and/or music that sounds better after the unit warms up 30+ minutes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 djk had posted a list of all the caps to replace in aging HK430 receivers (maybe the 630) It would be tedious work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 The most obvious symptom I've noticed is power compression where it basically sounds like a pumping compressor. If there's a dramatic difference in clarity between very quiet and moderate to loud listening levels, then that's a sign of caps too (not to be confused with overloading the acoustics of a room). Usually you'll notice less bass first. I don't think you would be able to readily hear whether or not a speaker crossover was pooping out though...especially if you weren't familiar with how good the speaker could sound. However, once you get it all fixed up, it'll sound like a curtain was lifted. It's just hard to say that something sounds veiled because of "X" because all sorts of factors can have similar effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 .... or music that sounds better after the unit warms up 30+ minutes Great observation. Absolutely dead on. Very obvious with vintage SS amps. [Y][Y][Y] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedcrankcammer Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Amplifier may hum as well, just like it does if you get one of your RCA input cables crossing your speaker wire. If you let your Caps get to far gone on an amplifier, result will be DC output and smoked woofer. Smoked two K-33E woofers recently when the caps went bad on an ADCOM GFA-565 300 watt mono block. Roger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNRabbit Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Amplifier caps usually have a life span of @ 20 years give or take. When they start to go, the first obvious sign is "bulging" of the cap. A second sign is a crackly, popcorn sound on high impact sounds like snare drum shots or the like. All caps dry out over time & need to be replaced. Ironically, if a unit is in storage for a number of years, the caps can dry out prematurely from not being charged up.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groomlakearea51 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Ironically, if a unit is in storage for a number of years, the caps can dry out prematurely from not being charged up.. Very much the case. That's why used "vintage" SS equipment on eBay where the seller says "stored" or "not used, but the last time I used it 10 years ago it worked ok" is cause for concern. I've yet to find an amp from the 70's that did not need a "goin' through" for caps, resistors, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyrc Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 1) So ... when people talk about "burning in" a loudspeaker system --- especially when they say that it could take "a few hundred hours," is that more to condition the caps, rather than the drivers? 2) How long does it take a cap in storage to prematurely dry out? Do they have outdates printed on them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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