I have good ears, and can usually tell when something is audibly “off.” I’m not sure I have ever experienced “smearing” – so, is it that the detail and air is lost? Is this more about definition than any other problem one can hear?
The dilemma in updating vintage gear is finding enough space to install upscale capacitors which tend to be much larger than a board can handle. In most cases there is little option other than ganging caps in parallel. I did this recently in one preamp, and the results were spectacular. I keep listening to find anomalies, but the sound is so good – one never knows when to stop, or if the right path has been taken. Having tweaky OCD, I keep trying top the last effort, as most audio mice will want to do. Can you be specific as to what the “smearing” effect will sound like?
The dilemma in updating vintage gear is finding enough space to install upscale capacitors which tend to be much larger than a board can handle. In most cases there is little option other than ganging caps in parallel. I did this recently in one preamp, and the results were spectacular. I keep listening to find anomalies, but the sound is so good – one never knows when to stop, or if the right path has been taken. Having tweaky OCD, I keep trying top the last effort, as most audio mice will want to do. Can you be specific as to what the “smearing” effect will sound like?