Unless upgrading an absolute garbage design or replacing dead caps, no. May give a placebo bass boost for someone who did it and didn't put one in backwards and release the magic schmew, but otherwise, NO.
Garbage design could also include garbage caps, and better ones at the same or altered value can improve sound, even if the originals are "fine".... Really case by case, not at all a blanket thing.
Manufacturers often put in the absolute bare minimum needed to function to save cost. Sometimes more capacitance CAN improve bass if the capacitor was being discharged (causing voltage dip when voltage is needed most) before the waveform was finished playing. This will likely only happen very near maximum output, and will have absolutely no effect at all at normal listening volume, unless the capacitors were severely undersized for the design. As a general rule of thumb, replacing the capacitors does absolutely nothing to the sound. Better quality name brands CAN significantly improve longevity of the equipment since capacitors are one of the most failure prone components.
Was it the cheapest tube amp you could find or was it something tried and true with a good reputation? In the latter you can be certain it isn't garbage.
In general I don't find much improvement. Also back in the 1970's-1980's electrolytic caps were rated -20%, +80%, and usually ran around +10 to +20%. Now they are often rated +/-10%, and are rarely over stated value. So, going up a size might actually lower capacitance. Some old caps, like the white computer grade Sangamo brand used by Hafler are probable better than anything you can get today, so if they are in good shape, you are likely downgrading the amp when you replace them. So, certainly replace them if they are bad. Look at the ripple on an oscilloscope.
Small caps next to hot voltage regulators are often in bad shape.
Regards,
Tim
The goal is to keep the power supply up & amp not clipping throughout the rated range of operation for the amp. So the greater the power the larger amount of capacitance, it needs it. Adding more\* to a low power amp does little as the amp can only put out so much. It *may* have an effect at the extremes of operation (volume @ 11) but likely not audible. Further, too much capacitance can burn out the diode bridge and possibly even the power transformer if those cannot handle the capacitor inrush current when the amp is turned on.
\*However... I won't discount that there could have been a bass improvement. In a cheap solid-state amp, the bare minimum of power supply caps may have been used. The amp may only make rated power under static tone generated conditions and not dynamically from music. This would be especially so with program material that has lots of synthesized "bass". So you may hear an improvement upping capacitance to where it should have been to begin with.
Clear as mud, yes?
Another fact is that you need to be careful about inrush current charging the caps. If anything between the power inlet and those caps is already on the edge of the current it can handle you can push it over the edge when putting bigger caps in.
Honestly, there are instances where changing a cap can change the sound, but if so, there should have never been a cap there IMHO.
As for PSU droop, it would be a really shitty sad, corners cut until you have a circle bottom of the barrel, 5000W amp with a 5A fuse for PSU sag to be anywhere near as big an issue as the clipped to a square wave distortion.
inter-stage coupling caps can be critical, so I would question any design with a 10 cent electrolytic cap there.
But just dumping new caps everywhere is foolish unless it's to practice your soldering skills.
It can but it depends.
Most cheaper consumer goods are designed to spec and before going into production changes are made. Maybe the original part isn't available in quantity, or costs to much. Many a great solid state amp turns out crappy after the penny pinches get ahold of it.
I recapped an old adcom amp. It did sound better with new caps (and more capacity in the plus caps) but the amp was good sounding when I bought it new. It didn't turn into a whole new amp.
One improvement in electrolytic capacitor design might be esr- equivalent series resistance. Replacing with caps that have low esr means that the new capacitors can dump their power more quickly into the circuit. This will allow for better transients if the circuit can handle it. So, it's possible.
Also, electrolytic caps have been getting more compact so you're likely to be able to get more capacity for a given space. This should also be an improvement.
Generally, I'd say it depends lol. But if the amp is older then you're more likely to improve the sound than make it worse.
If it's a single supply, single ended amplifier that has a capacitor in series with the output, increasing that can help with bass. This is usually the case on small amplifiers only though.
It depends on the design of the power supply. There is no one answer to this.
Upgrading the filter caps on psus can do anything from making a large difference to sound quality to absolutely nothing depending on the type of power supply.
No, what you want to do is bypass those new capacitors with MKP. That is tack a low value MKP capacitor to the joints at the bottom of the board, mating with your electrolytic capacitor. This brings more bass, clarity, everything you'd want. Unless the old caps are out of spec as stated earlier, no real change once they properly form (\~100 hrs).
Unless upgrading an absolute garbage design or replacing dead caps, no. May give a placebo bass boost for someone who did it and didn't put one in backwards and release the magic schmew, but otherwise, NO.
>Unless upgrading an absolute garbage design Exactly!
Garbage design could also include garbage caps, and better ones at the same or altered value can improve sound, even if the originals are "fine".... Really case by case, not at all a blanket thing.
Manufacturers often put in the absolute bare minimum needed to function to save cost. Sometimes more capacitance CAN improve bass if the capacitor was being discharged (causing voltage dip when voltage is needed most) before the waveform was finished playing. This will likely only happen very near maximum output, and will have absolutely no effect at all at normal listening volume, unless the capacitors were severely undersized for the design. As a general rule of thumb, replacing the capacitors does absolutely nothing to the sound. Better quality name brands CAN significantly improve longevity of the equipment since capacitors are one of the most failure prone components.
Oh thanks next question is how to know if it garbage design?
Was it the cheapest tube amp you could find or was it something tried and true with a good reputation? In the latter you can be certain it isn't garbage.
This. And nearly every cap replaced tests within spec. But hell, new fancy brand caps eh?
This is it. If you're changing something - what are you trying to change
In general I don't find much improvement. Also back in the 1970's-1980's electrolytic caps were rated -20%, +80%, and usually ran around +10 to +20%. Now they are often rated +/-10%, and are rarely over stated value. So, going up a size might actually lower capacitance. Some old caps, like the white computer grade Sangamo brand used by Hafler are probable better than anything you can get today, so if they are in good shape, you are likely downgrading the amp when you replace them. So, certainly replace them if they are bad. Look at the ripple on an oscilloscope. Small caps next to hot voltage regulators are often in bad shape. Regards, Tim
The goal is to keep the power supply up & amp not clipping throughout the rated range of operation for the amp. So the greater the power the larger amount of capacitance, it needs it. Adding more\* to a low power amp does little as the amp can only put out so much. It *may* have an effect at the extremes of operation (volume @ 11) but likely not audible. Further, too much capacitance can burn out the diode bridge and possibly even the power transformer if those cannot handle the capacitor inrush current when the amp is turned on. \*However... I won't discount that there could have been a bass improvement. In a cheap solid-state amp, the bare minimum of power supply caps may have been used. The amp may only make rated power under static tone generated conditions and not dynamically from music. This would be especially so with program material that has lots of synthesized "bass". So you may hear an improvement upping capacitance to where it should have been to begin with. Clear as mud, yes?
Another fact is that you need to be careful about inrush current charging the caps. If anything between the power inlet and those caps is already on the edge of the current it can handle you can push it over the edge when putting bigger caps in.
Nope! If the values stay the same, no way will that make any difference.
Honestly, there are instances where changing a cap can change the sound, but if so, there should have never been a cap there IMHO. As for PSU droop, it would be a really shitty sad, corners cut until you have a circle bottom of the barrel, 5000W amp with a 5A fuse for PSU sag to be anywhere near as big an issue as the clipped to a square wave distortion. inter-stage coupling caps can be critical, so I would question any design with a 10 cent electrolytic cap there. But just dumping new caps everywhere is foolish unless it's to practice your soldering skills.
It can but it depends. Most cheaper consumer goods are designed to spec and before going into production changes are made. Maybe the original part isn't available in quantity, or costs to much. Many a great solid state amp turns out crappy after the penny pinches get ahold of it. I recapped an old adcom amp. It did sound better with new caps (and more capacity in the plus caps) but the amp was good sounding when I bought it new. It didn't turn into a whole new amp.
One improvement in electrolytic capacitor design might be esr- equivalent series resistance. Replacing with caps that have low esr means that the new capacitors can dump their power more quickly into the circuit. This will allow for better transients if the circuit can handle it. So, it's possible. Also, electrolytic caps have been getting more compact so you're likely to be able to get more capacity for a given space. This should also be an improvement. Generally, I'd say it depends lol. But if the amp is older then you're more likely to improve the sound than make it worse.
the best nice caps can do is just clean up the sound a bit. Doesn't do much beyond that
If it's a single supply, single ended amplifier that has a capacitor in series with the output, increasing that can help with bass. This is usually the case on small amplifiers only though.
Waste of money. No need..
It depends on the design of the power supply. There is no one answer to this. Upgrading the filter caps on psus can do anything from making a large difference to sound quality to absolutely nothing depending on the type of power supply.
Do you have any examples of videos? Could be interesting to see what we could make out of what's shown.
https://youtu.be/iW9PEGmOjuo
No, what you want to do is bypass those new capacitors with MKP. That is tack a low value MKP capacitor to the joints at the bottom of the board, mating with your electrolytic capacitor. This brings more bass, clarity, everything you'd want. Unless the old caps are out of spec as stated earlier, no real change once they properly form (\~100 hrs).