Pioneer A400 Rebuild

[mhk1058]

First post so hi everyone!

I'd like to rebuild my Pioneer A400, some may say I'd be better spending my money on new but I've had it 25 years, really can't part with it and fancy a project. I know I may be late to the party on this subject and there are some good threads on here from way back such as this one:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/solid-state/34327-pioneer-a400-coupling-caps.html

However, they are getting on a bit and probably out of date as far as recommended parts. Does anyone know of any other step by step guides and can anyone recommend the best caps to use? I've heard Elna Silmic II's are OK.

Thanks in advance

 

[Welcome]

It doesn't matter what brand/type of capacitor you use as long as they are decent. There will be no performance difference between them. Just get the cheapest you can find from a good manufacturer, such as Nichicon, Panasonic, Samwha, Nippon Chemi-con, etc.

But if the amp already works as it should, there isn't much point in replacing parts/capacitors. This is a 90's amp and capacitor problems in those are extremely rare.

Getting a new amp would be a waste of money, because it would not perform better than what you already have.

 

[mhk1058]

It doesn't matter what brand/type of capacitor you use as long as they are decent. There will be no performance difference between them. Just get the cheapest you can find from a good manufacturer, such as Nichicon, Panasonic, Samwha, Nippon Chemi-con, etc.

But if the amp already works as it should, there isn't much point in replacing parts/capacitors. This is a 90's amp and capacitor problems in those are extremely rare.

Getting a new amp would be a waste of money, because it would not perform better than what you already have.

Hey, thanks for the reply.

So I'm not likely to get any change in sound by changing to 'better' more expensive capacitors etc, they either work or not rather than degrade to any degree?
So what are all the upgrades talked about over the years by the likes of Tom Evan etc, just hot air?

 

[mhk1058]

Just replaced my A400 smoothing caps with 10000uF 63V Mundorf MLytic AG Electrolytic Capacitors and also changed the caps at C201/C202 (coupling caps?) as well as the one at C306 next to the PSU smoothing caps.
The amp works fine apart from the fact I now get a pop from the speakers when I switch the amp off. Happens with volume turned right down and all peripherals turned off.
It's not very loud but it's enough to move the speaker cones.
Is this something to worry about, have I done something I shouldn't have, damaged something etc or just a product of different caps?