Aesthetix IO Signature upgrade path?

Ohjoy40, a good tech can do the cap upgrade for you and results will be the same as factory, provided you purchase equal quality parts.

I think currently Aesthetix is using the Moncrief caps which are very expensive. You could go V Caps or Audience caps and get better than you have now but it would not sound identical to the factory.

Better or worse would be in the ear of the beholder. The resistor upgrade basically replaces defective Mills resistors with precision Roederstein.

I would contact the factory, maybe speak with Glenn and ask about the upgrade without buying the new metal chassis. Then call Bill at Music Technology and get a quote from him too.

Let us know your decision and how it turned out.

Hello,

I've got the IO Signature with volume controls. I did add the second power supply to the set up within the first year of ownership. Certainly added definition and separation to the perspective. If you have the space it would be worthwhile.

With regard to the capacitors or eclipse upgrade, no idea, I have the same question. The cost is phenomenal. Although, I have experimented enough with capacitors to understand that they can change the sonic signature dramatically, not sure where it would go with the IO.

My whole system is packed in boxes right now as I am between homes so I'll be interested in your experience if you move forward. The other difficulty, for me, is that I'm not in the USA although the distributor's technician resides locally; so that may be option for not sending the unit off for upgrade (just do the caps locally) via the tech.

Let us know how (if) you proceed, IF its just the Moncrief caps maybe just doing those would be good enough.

I must say theat the chassis of the IO is not commensurate with its sonic performance, the new metal work would be a great improvement. However, the cost is really out of this world.

Good Luck!

Hello Mr. Porter

I did talk to Glen and tried to pick his brain a bit to see what is entailed with the upgrade, as I was trying to see if I can just replace the caps. I read on one of the pages what all is involved in the signiture upgrade, both the article and Mr. Glen say there is a resistor mod that goes along with the cap upgrade as this is needed and voiced to fine tune the sound. My concern is that its not just a cap upgrade which I can do but also a resistor mod to make it work properly. Any ideas on this ? We did the resistor upgrade that was required (which by the way my client and myself do not like, wishing we could go back to the original resistors)I really appreciate your input. Otherwise I guess my client will have to send it in which is I think a little overpriced. But I have heard it and sounds great, more open, better detail and tonality, better dynamics. and this was the version with the red caps I understand the newer even better caps are the gold ones, is that also true ? and have you heard the difference between the two ? Thanks again

basically Im trying to see if there is a resistor mod that must be done along with the caps to make it work properly. Also would you be willing to talk to my client about this and the sound bennefits you are experiencing ?

Thank you
Kevin

Ohjoy40,

Unfortunately I did not make note of resistors after the factory full eclipse upgrade.

If Glenn says there is a resistor upgrade that goes along with the new caps, I believe him. That being said, the resistors are ordinary compared to the caps, so if you can find those values you're set.

The new caps are shiny gold colored, superior to the red ones. I've heard just about every version of the IO and Callisto and the full Eclipse is certainly the best.

The new full Eclipse chassis is superior workmanship and beauty but it's horribly expensive and in my system did not show much if any performance upgrade.

I had the full eclipse with my original metal, I was one of the beta testers. Later I had full Eclipse metal on that same unit. That experience is what I base my chassis performance comments upon.

I have interior shots of the full Eclipse upgrade where caps are shown in great detail if that helps, email me through Audiogon and I'll send them to you.

On the resistors, the Mills are a more pure sound, I agree.

Problem was Mills had so many noise issues (that Aesthetix got blamed for) they could no longer trust sourcing them and then spending shop time solving problems. That's why they switched to Roederstein.

I considered testing premium resistors in the circuit but never got around to it. That's about the only performance paths I did not persue before selling my Aesthetix.

Good information thank you Mr. Porter

We were trying to do the upgrade without having to spend the crazy amount thier asking. I think were also wanting to ether go back to the original resistors or something else, we both feel the resistor change was a huge step backwards. It sounds dead compared to the way it originally sounded. I have a feeling that there really is no resistor tweek but I think im afraid to take the chance.

What phonostage did you end up switching to and why ? Hard to amagine anything close to the Aesthetix.

Thanks again for all the good info
Kevin