How to mod a parasound hca 2200 mk2 ?

Søren Kramer · 29th March 2004, 07:37 AM

Any simple - and more radical - suggestions ? - John Curl ?

john curl · 29th March 2004, 04:05 PM

It has been a long while since I looked at the 2200. I loaned two units out (years ago), one to Jack Bybee; another to Brian Cheney (VMPS), and neither have been returned to me, so I haven't seen one in years.
However, this amp is a good candidate for modification.
First locate any bypass caps that seem 'tacked on' or paralleled with other similar caps. Just remove them, except for one 0.1 uf or so cap in each board location. Any bypasses across power electrolytics should be removed.
Second, make sure that your feedback resistors (47K) are 1/2W Resista or Holco (old), nothing else will do.
This should get you started.

Søren Kramer · 6th April 2004, 10:17 AM

Striking - and giving indsight
It did hurt to remove all the speed. But the sound is more pleasing, smooth, calm and delicious. It kind off changed the face of the amp. I like the "new" - better - sound. The amp sounds inviting just after you turned it on. I think it is a good sign.

Will you give an short explanation ? - so I can search more effectively - what is nessesary speed ?

The feedback resistors are Holco H4. I dont no if its the old style type ?

Do you have any more proposals ?

seakinggr · 11th February 2011, 07:00 PM

Hi I am new to this interesting forum, I recently purchased the HCA 2200 MkII, can you be more specific about the " caps that seem 'tacked on' or paralleled with other similar caps. Just remove them, except for one 0.1 uf or so cap in each board location" and what about the 47K resistors where are they, I am an electronic engineear my self so I think I can make some mods my self. Please also look at the attached pictures, can you tell me what is wrong with this resistors....
Thank you in advance.

p.s Sorry for my poor English but I am from Greece.

inspired · 14th November 2011, 02:07 PM

I found this very old thread as I am looking for an HCA-2200 II and figured someone here might have one available.

a.wayne · 23rd June 2012, 02:28 AM

.

HCA2200 or HCA 3500 , which has the better sonics? ....

dude2010 · 2nd February 2013, 11:04 PM

Hi guys, I just bought a 2200 II myself, and would also like to know what else can be done to it - I can see big sky audio does quite a lot of modification to it, so there got to be more to do?
Hope you can help.

madtecchy · 2nd February 2013, 11:17 PM

Did you say you are an engineer.. you ask all the wrong questions. Questions an ee would not need to ask

Quote:

Originally Posted by seakinggr

Hi I am new to this interesting forum, I recently purchased the HCA 2200 MkII, can you be more specific about the " caps that seem 'tacked on' or paralleled with other similar caps. Just remove them, except for one 0.1 uf or so cap in each board location" and what about the 47K resistors where are they, I am an electronic engineear my self so I think I can make some mods my self. Please also look at the attached pictures, can you tell me what is wrong with this resistors....
Thank you in advance.

p.s Sorry for my poor English but I am from Greece.

john curl · 3rd February 2013, 12:43 AM

Vacuum it out first! Clean the contacts, both input and output. Finally, if you see a lot of 'extra' film caps across the main power caps, you can cut the majority of them out.

dude2010 · 4th February 2013, 10:21 AM

The majority of the poly - how many is that? There are quite a few ones. How about stripping all of them, and replacing them with a few good ones instead?

How is the best way to bias it? It's so compact, and to me it seems like the side needs to come off, in order to be able to measure - or is there a smarter way in?

29th March 2004, 07:37 AM	#1
Søren Kramer diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Århus	How to mod a parasound hca 2200 mk2 ? Any simple - and more radical - suggestions ? - John Curl ?

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29th March 2004, 04:05 PM	#2
john curl diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: berkeley ca	It has been a long while since I looked at the 2200. I loaned two units out (years ago), one to Jack Bybee; another to Brian Cheney (VMPS), and neither have been returned to me, so I haven't seen one in years. However, this amp is a good candidate for modification. First locate any bypass caps that seem 'tacked on' or paralleled with other similar caps. Just remove them, except for one 0.1 uf or so cap in each board location. Any bypasses across power electrolytics should be removed. Second, make sure that your feedback resistors (47K) are 1/2W Resista or Holco (old), nothing else will do. This should get you started.

6th April 2004, 10:17 AM	#3
Søren Kramer diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Århus	Striking - and giving indsight It did hurt to remove all the speed. But the sound is more pleasing, smooth, calm and delicious. It kind off changed the face of the amp. I like the "new" - better - sound. The amp sounds inviting just after you turned it on. I think it is a good sign. Will you give an short explanation ? - so I can search more effectively - what is nessesary speed ? The feedback resistors are Holco H4. I dont no if its the old style type ? Do you have any more proposals ?

14th November 2011, 02:07 PM	#5
inspired diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	I found this very old thread as I am looking for an HCA-2200 II and figured someone here might have one available.

23rd June 2012, 02:28 AM	#6
a.wayne diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Front Row Center	. HCA2200 or HCA 3500 , which has the better sonics? ....

2nd February 2013, 11:04 PM	#7
dude2010 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2009	Hi guys, I just bought a 2200 II myself, and would also like to know what else can be done to it - I can see big sky audio does quite a lot of modification to it, so there got to be more to do? Hope you can help.

3rd February 2013, 12:43 AM	#9
john curl diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: berkeley ca	Vacuum it out first! Clean the contacts, both input and output. Finally, if you see a lot of 'extra' film caps across the main power caps, you can cut the majority of them out.

4th February 2013, 10:21 AM	#10
dude2010 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2009	The majority of the poly - how many is that? There are quite a few ones. How about stripping all of them, and replacing them with a few good ones instead? How is the best way to bias it? It's so compact, and to me it seems like the side needs to come off, in order to be able to measure - or is there a smarter way in?