Recently I had a discussion with and older musician. He said that Capacitors are like other things in life: Use it or Loose it.
In other words you can keep older capacitors alive with use and if equipment has set for a long time not energized, wake it up slowly with a small amount of current for awhile first.
He explained that older amplifiers with original capacitors can sound a lot better if treated properly than after having capacitors replaced with modern types.
Any truth to this? 🙄
The people that sold my first Threshold equipment suggested leaving the pre-amps turned on all the time. The amps would benefit also but took a lot of electricity. Does a small amount of electricity leak through the amps to the speakers when amps are not powered on? 😉
My DQ-10's sounded poor after not being used for some time and everything turned off. I thought the crossover capacitors may had dried out. I assume that is why capacitors are replaced when amps are rebuilt. Do capacitors last longer if energized slowly after non-use for some time? 😱
I have a 4000 and two Stasis 2's that have been rebuilt. I tend to like my original 4000 that has not been touched since about 1980 when sent to Threshold for repair and Nelson was still there. I am afraid of it failing due to old capacitors.
Does storage location, humidity or temperature affect capacitor longevity? Thanks for any thoughts......
In other words you can keep older capacitors alive with use and if equipment has set for a long time not energized, wake it up slowly with a small amount of current for awhile first.
He explained that older amplifiers with original capacitors can sound a lot better if treated properly than after having capacitors replaced with modern types.
Any truth to this? 🙄
The people that sold my first Threshold equipment suggested leaving the pre-amps turned on all the time. The amps would benefit also but took a lot of electricity. Does a small amount of electricity leak through the amps to the speakers when amps are not powered on? 😉
My DQ-10's sounded poor after not being used for some time and everything turned off. I thought the crossover capacitors may had dried out. I assume that is why capacitors are replaced when amps are rebuilt. Do capacitors last longer if energized slowly after non-use for some time? 😱
I have a 4000 and two Stasis 2's that have been rebuilt. I tend to like my original 4000 that has not been touched since about 1980 when sent to Threshold for repair and Nelson was still there. I am afraid of it failing due to old capacitors.
Does storage location, humidity or temperature affect capacitor longevity? Thanks for any thoughts......
I'm changing oil and filters in my car
almost same with caps in my amps - preventive maintenance is always cheaper than post-failure
almost same with caps in my amps - preventive maintenance is always cheaper than post-failure
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http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/products/pdf/aluminum.pdf
"2-6 Storage Performance" chapter at page 18.
"2-6 Storage Performance" chapter at page 18.
You may have issues if the components run warm while idling. Electrolytic capacitors can suffer accelerated aging due to elevated temperature. I knew someone who needed the big power supply caps in his amp replaced after a few years of leaving it on constantly. That was a Hafler DH-200 (relatively new at the time). If the components stay cool with no signal it may be OK.
Electrolytic capacitors loose capacitance in storage. Applying voltage does rebuild or "reform" the actual dielectric film thus raising the capacitance and reducing the leakage. They also leak electrolyte with age and that is sped up by higher temperatures.
Film capacitors by my measurements have less distortion when stored in a very low humidity condition. So moderately warm is good for them. Others have measured reduction in distortion from break-in use.
Film capacitors by my measurements have less distortion when stored in a very low humidity condition. So moderately warm is good for them. Others have measured reduction in distortion from break-in use.
Paper capacitors have a different inductor/capacitance ratio than polyester polystyrene or polyprophylene capacitors. Some of them age badly, some of them hardly age due to the excellent wax covering.
Musical instruments often have a signature filtering transfer function that gives a guitar or organ a particular tone. Changing from paper to plastic film can alter this alot. Needs to be done very carefully.
I had a channel imbalence on my PAS2 preamp, it wasn't a weak tube. about 2009 I replaced 9 capacitors .20 uf paper GI black with .22 polyester MCR. The ninth one, the wax sealant was burned through. The preamp sound trebly and annoying now. But the balance problem is gone. Another repair person on organforum said the black GI capacitors in Scott Fisher & dynaco hifi equipment last about forever - unless the case is burned.
Hammond organs had a middle rate deteriorating paper cap used in the tone generator area. Many classis recordings were made with B/C3 or M1/2/3 organs with deteriorated caps. Thus slam bang replacing with plastic is not recommended. However, they never stop deteriorating, so at some point one has to deal with reality and replace them or go to playing some computer clone.
Guitar amps and bass amps have a particular signature, often associated with the brand. There is a fender versus an ampeg sound for example. Changing the paper caps out can change the filtering quite a bit. But they didn't use the totally wax sealed caps, so at some point something has to be done. I've wondered about polyester caps in series with small inductors, but haven't studied it.
OTOH, electrolytic capacitors IMHO don't sound that different 1950 to 2010. They have gotten a lot smaller and can be a lot more reliable than original due to new modern sealants. I change electrolytic caps pretty frequently, I've replaced over 300 in organs since I quit working in 2008.
Reforming gently can keep e-caps from shorting immediately, but doesn't do squat for a cracked elastomer seal. Eventually a e-cap with a cracked seal will outgas enough water to short. On the way to the short, the ESR is much higher and capacitance often increases. My favorite hammond organ, the H100 class, deteriorated badly due to cheap e-caps, and sound like wet kazoos these days unless you replace a lotof e-caps. I think I'm the only person that has ever totally re-e-capped one. The rest scrap their H100 & shop for the perfect B3, one with 40000 hours on the keycombs and bus bars (and troubles with those) preferably used by a famous band.
Musicians keep the speakers in between the band & audience, IMHO, to preserve your ears and continue to hear subtle differences above 7 khz. I still have 14 khz, but it is a constant fight against emergency vehicles and lawn equipment, to keep what hearing i have left.
As a general statement about capacitors what the musician said was complete nonsense.
As a somewhat garbled statement about certain capacitor types it contains truth. Electrolytics need to be kept cool, but with a polarising voltage - these two requirements often work against each other. Paper caps needs to be kept warm and hence dry - but fortunately paper caps have almost disappeared from serious electronics.
As a somewhat garbled statement about certain capacitor types it contains truth. Electrolytics need to be kept cool, but with a polarising voltage - these two requirements often work against each other. Paper caps needs to be kept warm and hence dry - but fortunately paper caps have almost disappeared from serious electronics.
Danger if not replaced?
Thanks for comments. I have another question relating to Threshold 4000 and Stasis 2 amps. One of my 4000's was overhauled (caps replaced) by Jon; the LEDs on front hardly move. My other one is all original and the LEDs bounce lively. Is it unwise to not replace the caps in it? Will old caps cause other severe damage? It sounds fine now.
What degree of improvement is the Stasis 2 over the 4000? Sound similar to me.
Thanks for comments. I have another question relating to Threshold 4000 and Stasis 2 amps. One of my 4000's was overhauled (caps replaced) by Jon; the LEDs on front hardly move. My other one is all original and the LEDs bounce lively. Is it unwise to not replace the caps in it? Will old caps cause other severe damage? It sounds fine now.
What degree of improvement is the Stasis 2 over the 4000? Sound similar to me.
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