Replacing Capacitors, I Don’t Wanna!

The problem with replacing parts with “better” parts is determining what IS a better part.  It is not always the case that more expensive parts with a popular buzz is the right choice.  If a part change can change the sound it can do so for better or worse.  I’ve heard tube amps whose sound dramatically changed in bad ways by swapping capacitors, in one case, very expensive Blackgates for cheap caps, making the amp sound broken. 

      The Emitter amps have an amazing number of electrolytics, between their power supplies and the capacitor banks in their amplifier chassis.

             The good news = Germans have a tendency to overbuild their gear.

       My guess would be: their engineers chose some of the best caps available, for that creation.

       Still: any electrolytics can dry out, start leaking, internally short, or explode, without any particular excuse/warning.   

                              The perfect electrolytic just doesn't exist.

        Given your system's initial price and what it would cost to repair it, if something catastrophic were to occur; a comprehensive testing of all those caps, by a competent Tech, would (no doubt) be a great preemptive/preventative measure.

         Kind of like: someone interested in their health, getting a physical now and then, by a good Physician.

         Electrolytics are one of those things that (especially when they dry out slowly) can have an effect like VERY slowly raising the temperature of the water around a frog, one degree at a time.    The critter's perfect at ease, until it croaks (about 40 degrees C).

          Likewise: slow changes in the presentation of sound systems and the adjustments our ears and brains can make.

                                             Happy listening!

As a retired electronics (mostly) vacuum tube technician, I can’t imagine any kind of electronics needing their capacitors replaced after just 13 years.  As someone else mentioned, it looks pretty over designed and I can’t imagine you even needing to think about replacing the Nichicon capacitors until the 20 to 30 year mark.  The only reason I’d say 20 years is if you started hearing hum issues or other sound quality issues like flabby bass, grainy, dirty sound quality, etc.  I think your technician is just trying to earn a buck.  Or maybe he’s thinking of upping the capacitance values of the capacitors which gives better filtering (not that it looks like it needs it) but also improves bass and makes the sound cleaner.  I’d just leave it alone unless you start having issues.  It looks like it was designed well and should serve you nicely. 

Hey all,

New to the group so thanks for the add.  With your kind indulgence I thought I'd jump into the capacitor pool here and likewise seek the counsel of wiser elders on the subject. (I'm 64 but still... 😬)

I'm building a small system for my kitchen (near-field use, spkrs at far end of kitchen table, about 36" away from head and about 36" apart -- probably far from ideal but my only option here) and got the stubborn, romantic idea into my head to buy my first *vintage* M&K satellites (fabulous Arcam Solo sub provides bottom end).  I went all the way back to the company's start buying pairs of both S-2B and S-3B satellites.  The taller/multi driver S-1B's were my default choice but too tall for this application.  

As these pairs are both from the (probably *early* '80s), we're talking about 40-year-old speakers and assuming they've never been attended to, dried out or leaking caps were a distinct possibility and their replacement advisable/necessary.  In giving them each a listen, the bigger, hardier S-2B's sound just dreadful, as though a blanket's been thrown over them, and although most noticeable in the high end this affliction seems to be across the audio spectrum.  

With the S-3B's, performance is really pretty sublime with the one niggling exception of not being able to hear ride cymbals!  Crash cymbals come through much better.  (I should add that I'm a lifelong drummer and thus particularly attuned to such audible information.  I've also read in various forums that these satellites have small sweet spots but I've bobbed my head left right up down and that doesn't seem to be what's at play here) Other high note details from all(?) other instruments seem totally present.  Weirdly enough, on *certain* recordings (maybe 20%?), the ride cymbals ARE audible -- so this 80/20 split is rather baffling given my main theory of the case regarding caps gone bad.  I recognize that different recordings have varying quality levels but this as an explanation seems improbable though I suppose not impossible?

I haven't cracked open either speaker yet to visually investigate what's happening on the boards but before I proceed with anything I thought I'd elicit thinking from you wise folks about what I'm likely experiencing and what my best path forward is.  Many thanks!
 

Love these discussions. What are good high end caps