Preamp Modifications?

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,747
edited September 2010 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
What would you look for in modifying a piece of electronic gear...

For instance...

pre-candela-in4.jpg

If I were to change those out with the Clarity Cap MR series - would there be a positive change?

pre-candela-in3.jpg

In the middle board there are two sand cast resistors...

The Wima capacitors you see there are .1uF.

The smaller blue ones are 5500 uf and the larger one is 220 uf...

I am just at a stage in my audio journey where I like all the gear and now I can spend a few bucks here and there to modify stuff to make it better...

My store has an awesome electronics tech that said he would love to help me modify this stuff...

I appreciate all the info!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Comments

  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited September 2010
    output caps would be a good start,,power supply too
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,747
    edited September 2010
    What are the output caps?

    What would be an upgraded power supply?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,747
    edited September 2010
    I assume you mean the 5500 uf and 220 uf...

    Ive seen plenty 220 uf caps but few 5500 uf caps from manufactures I have never heard of...

    How would I go about mounting an aftermarket cap of that value as I imagine it is going to b huge.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited September 2010
    I think you should relax a bit. Don't rush.

    Take Plenty of High Resolution Digital Pics first and send it in this thread. When taking pics, enlarge (zoom in) to each part of the innards so we can see what can be upgraded and what's not.

    I don't think you can get a service manual from Odyssey. So, you may likely need to be modding without a service manual. Pics help when you forget how to reassemble and which wire to goes where, etc. So, take more pics.

    Alternatively, I think you can contact Klaus to mod it for you. He may charge you for a beer and some peanuts but as far as I know, he is reasonable guy.
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited September 2010
    Trey-- what is the input impedence of your amps-- there is a formula that I'll look for which helps determine the cap value needed(output coupling),,Face is a pretty good resource,especially with the Clarity MR series.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,747
    edited September 2010
    Sorry for appearing excited haha... I think mods are awesome! haha

    The input impendence is 47 kohm

    As far as Klaus goes - while the Candela sports his logo - it is not his design... infact he knows nothing about it. Alexg is the king there and he charges money $$$$$$ lol
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited September 2010
    No worries. Take Pics...More High Rez Closeup shots and post in here.

    I am sure Face and FTGV will chime in for you too. :)

    I am not much of a mod guy in here.
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited September 2010
    Since it's a tube design I think tube rolling will be your most fruitfull upgrade path.Those 1uf Sonicaps are likely the output coupling caps,they are good so will replaing them with something else bring about 'real' improvement?Can't tell ya that. Atleast the value is small so you will be at the low end of the price scale of any exotic cap you may be interested in trying. (btw. the 1uf looking into 47k of your amp will give a corner frequency of 3.4Hz.)

    As for the filter caps in the power supply,unless the pre is more than 10 yrs old I don't think you'll gain anything by replacing them.The resistors in the gain circuit appear to be Dales,which are good but you could try replacing them with Caddock or Vishay bulk foils.
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