So I have been researching upgrades while modifying caps and or op amps. But I lack alot of knowledge, I want to send my amp off for modifications. Maybe upgrade caps since ones used are cheap chinese ones and this amp has 6 jrc 4558d op amps. Seems my output caps are very small and power supply caps are bigger and a mix between 2 diffirent brands. So the black ones are cheap and could probably be upgraded qhile the green ones with a ca logo supposebly are better than nichicon etc (said by manufacturer which use to use elna and nichicon before)i wqnt to acheive better sq if possible. They have an exact upgrade for this amp sq version there are very little gut pics on internet but from whatI can tell one diffirence is power supply caps are of greater uf values. I am still trying to understand this board. In pic blue circled are the cheap chinese caps (labeled gl elec international) 2200uf 35v and circled green are the supposed better than nichicons on power supply side. On other side circled red are 6 jrc4558d s. Maybe im out of my mind I know I could just buy another amp but I like to work and understand things on my own. I rather upgrade my own amp if possible rather than buying a new one it is more fulfilling to me, its a passion. Im in central florida dont know anybody who knows about these things
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Hi thank you for replying, but that does not make much sense to me. Diffirent amps have diffirent components and sound diffirent. Some cheaper amps sound worse than more expensive ones for a reason. But what do you think upgrading for power or longevity? I have seen people switch op amps out so their speakers sound more to their taste. I k ow alot of marketing is just "snake oil" to say but arent diffirent components better than others, and again tha k you for responding and not being negative appreciate your opinion I really do
If you want something that's colored, more musical, switch to tube amplifiers with an output transformer.
Op-amps use feedback and that virtually eliminates distortion. The same goes for the power amplifier stage.
The biggest problem component (by far) in your system is the speakers.
Replacing capacitors (a component that only very rarely fails unless the amp some fault -- failure of other components) does nothing.
What I love (to hate) is when people say that some mod opened up the soundstage. That would require increasing the left/right separation and unless you're using headphones, there's no way that you will hear any difference with any mod.
The only difference that you 'may' get with changing op-amps is a lower noise floor. If you have a car that's so quiet that you are going to be bothered by the background noise of an amp with properly set gains, you probably have an expensive car and amps that are of such good quality that they need no mods.
To increase the power to be noticeable would likely mean having to replace most of the components for it to be reliable for long term listening (trips, long commutes...)
Op-amps use feedback and that virtually eliminates distortion. The same goes for the power amplifier stage.
The biggest problem component (by far) in your system is the speakers.
Replacing capacitors (a component that only very rarely fails unless the amp some fault -- failure of other components) does nothing.
What I love (to hate) is when people say that some mod opened up the soundstage. That would require increasing the left/right separation and unless you're using headphones, there's no way that you will hear any difference with any mod.
The only difference that you 'may' get with changing op-amps is a lower noise floor. If you have a car that's so quiet that you are going to be bothered by the background noise of an amp with properly set gains, you probably have an expensive car and amps that are of such good quality that they need no mods.
To increase the power to be noticeable would likely mean having to replace most of the components for it to be reliable for long term listening (trips, long commutes...)
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If you want to tear something apart, ask your friends if they have a broken amp that they're going to throw away (preferably something similar to yours, not a class D or complex amp). If you find something and want help repairing it, start a new thread.
Ok thanks for your help, I have a friend who has an infinity amp im going to try to take it from his hands
Perry is very skilled with amplifiers, he knows so much about them, and offers amazing help / info. Glad you're taking in what he says.
Modifying existing amplifiers to improve them is generally a waste of time, might as well start with a blank canvas and design from the ground up, or simply sell the amp you have then buy something that fits your needs. The money spent on trying to modify something that will make no improvement, could be spent buying something else.
Swapping those caps isn't going to make any difference at all. And as mentioned, you may be able to get a lower noise floor with different OP-amps, but doubtful there is much noise in it's current state.
Best to not waste time bothering with swapping parts, unless they have failed, or known to be unreliable, or to make a revision to improve reliability.
I use to modify some electronics, truthfully, made very little difference, and improvement (if at all) would be in the eye of the beholder
. Sometimes you convince yourself there was an improvement, but in reality it did not help in the slightest; that doesn't stop people from wanting things modified though.
Not sure if Perry minds the advertisement, but he sells a very in depth amplifier repair tutorial, that covers so much about car amplifiers / repair. If you're interesting in learning, and can devote time to studying his tutorial (like anything, you have to put time in to learn), you can learn so much, and is being sold way too cheap for how much info it has! Well worth the money!
Even if you have no plans to get into amp repair, you can learn loads about them.
Read about it here.
Learn To Repair Car Audio Power Amplifiers
Modifying existing amplifiers to improve them is generally a waste of time, might as well start with a blank canvas and design from the ground up, or simply sell the amp you have then buy something that fits your needs. The money spent on trying to modify something that will make no improvement, could be spent buying something else.
Swapping those caps isn't going to make any difference at all. And as mentioned, you may be able to get a lower noise floor with different OP-amps, but doubtful there is much noise in it's current state.
Best to not waste time bothering with swapping parts, unless they have failed, or known to be unreliable, or to make a revision to improve reliability.
I use to modify some electronics, truthfully, made very little difference, and improvement (if at all) would be in the eye of the beholder
. Sometimes you convince yourself there was an improvement, but in reality it did not help in the slightest; that doesn't stop people from wanting things modified though.Not sure if Perry minds the advertisement, but he sells a very in depth amplifier repair tutorial, that covers so much about car amplifiers / repair. If you're interesting in learning, and can devote time to studying his tutorial (like anything, you have to put time in to learn), you can learn so much, and is being sold way too cheap for how much info it has! Well worth the money!
Even if you have no plans to get into amp repair, you can learn loads about them.
Read about it here.
Learn To Repair Car Audio Power Amplifiers
Thanks. I don't mind. I don't push sales here because it's not allowed. As far as I know, it's OK for others to mention it.
Glad to recommend it Perry! Many of the members who get help repairing amps regularly, could benefit from buying a copy as well. I'm guessing some don't even know about it, but it truly is a gem and worth every penny!
Considering the tutorial page on your site links right back to the diyaudio forum here, I don't see it being an issue; not to mention all the help you've given over the years. I can't see it being a problem mentioning it.
Considering the tutorial page on your site links right back to the diyaudio forum here, I don't see it being an issue; not to mention all the help you've given over the years. I can't see it being a problem mentioning it.
I dont know him but you can tell alot about a person by how they carry their selves and or express their selves. He didnt have to comment and help me from destroying and or wasting money. I actually did take his advice and adquired an non working amplifier. But im a bit dissapointed because its a mono amp and i dont use subs anymore( I am content with bass from my mids). First thing i noticed it was missing a fuse🙄 So am I an amp tech yet? Lol nop , but really I am dissapointed because I expected more from this amp. It is a Infinity kappa one. Harman kardon really messed that company up after bascom and arnie left(inventors of the infinty irs systems) after research all the caps are cheap chinese jun fu and bor hurngs. When I first picked the amp up my impression was wow its a really solid and heavy amp......
Heres a pic what do you guys think? Its a mono amp, what else can you tell me? No bulges on caps but some residue on 1 so probably burst
Heres a pic what do you guys think? Its a mono amp, what else can you tell me? No bulges on caps but some residue on 1 so probably burst
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