Modifying WM1Z/A

[524419]

Yes, for my mod, I am going to use all Audionote kasie and Audionote standard where bigger Kasie cannot fit.
I will explain why...

I realized that ALL the current caps (suggested & used in these mods), are leagues ahead of the stock caps performance.
Looking at the best caps that fit,
Rubycon & elna had the best specs.
Yet, once you pass over 2X better technical performance specs, will those numbers beyond that, be as important?

So I then thinking what's more important? Does it matter to have Ultimate specs, or the sound?

Then, after long hard look at many replacement cap choices (for sound this time), I realized that all existing caps, are all of older designs...

Caps contain chemicals. The sounds of these chemicals override the specs, pertaining to sound. This is why older Blackgate caps are regarded so well.

All other caps (with great specs) where said to "sound" bright or edgy or flat.
There hasn't been much innovation in this area. The top choice of "silmic2" & "Muse/KZ" are actually old. Panasonic updated with some like "FC", but no mention of sound.

Audionote is the newest electrolytics.
They do not post performance numbers in their specs, and instead focus to the (greater?) importance of sound.

So I am going with Audionote only, because they are the newest electrolytics out,
and I'm going to take their word on thier claims of being better "sounding" than elna, and as an replacement to blackgate..



Did you test the power cap area yet?
I hope to be testing next week.
I'm going to try two paralleled caps, to offset/negate/elliminate any increase in ESR, from having it placed further away from the solder points, maybe at the top.
I plan to try two 220uf. Not any higher in value, as I feel thats a safe precaution.

so what's your recipe? Voltage size etc?

100uf 16v is 6.3mm (Out of Stock)
220uf 16v is 8mm
47uf 16 v is 5mm

how will they fit?

 

[Nayparm]

Maybe this weekend I will get to experiment, Hifi Collective where out of stock of some of some of the Audionotes I wanted.

Checkout here, I had excellent results with Nichicon FineGold and Silmic II
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dx200-220-amp8-amp1-ex-modifications.898918/post-15624423

 

[524419]

I have some Mundorf E-caps coming in for my DAC today.
I'll be changing out all the stock capacitors, 16v Nichicon to 70v eCAP plain, can't wait.

Maybe this weekend I will get to experiment, Hifi Collective where out of stock of some of some of the Audionotes I wanted.

Checkout here, I had excellent results with Nichicon FineGold and Silmic II
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/dx200-220-amp8-amp1-ex-modifications.898918/post-15624423

That would be fantastic, audionote if they can somehow fit, would be the best option by far.

 

[524419]

Yes, for my mod, I am going to use all Audionote kasie and Audionote standard where bigger Kasie cannot fit.
I will explain why...

I realized that ALL the current caps (suggested & used in these mods), are leagues ahead of the stock caps performance.
Looking at the best caps that fit,
Rubycon & elna had the best specs.
Yet, once you pass over 2X better technical performance specs, will those numbers beyond that, be as important?
Now, how about over 20X??!

So I then thinking what's more important? Does it matter to have Ultimate specs, or the sound?

Then, after long hard look at many replacement cap choices (for sound this time), I realized that all existing caps, are all of older designs...

Caps contain chemicals. The sounds of these chemicals override the specs, pertaining to sound. This is why older Blackgate caps are regarded so well.

All other caps (with great specs) where said to "sound" bright or edgy or flat.
There hasn't been much innovation in this area. The top choice of "silmic2" & "Muse/KZ" are actually old. Panasonic updated with some like "FC", but no mention of sound.

Audionote is the newest electrolytics.
They do not post performance numbers in their specs, and instead focus to the (greater?) importance of sound.

So I am going with Audionote only, because they are the newest electrolytics out,
and I'm going to take their word on thier claims of being better "sounding" than elna, and as an replacement to blackgate..



Did you test the power cap area yet?
I hope to be testing next week.
I'm going to try two paralleled caps, to offset/negate/elliminate any increase in ESR, from having it placed further away from the solder points, maybe at the top.
I plan to try two 220uf. Not any higher in value, as I feel thats a safe precaution.

I'll be going Audionote also. Thanks for the breakdown, it was very helpful.
(4) 16v 100uf (5mm) up top Standard Audio note/Kaiesei Audionote if I can find them/ Flat Backplate necessary
(1) 16v 220uf 6.3mm back side Standard Audionote
(3) 16v 100uf 6.3mm back side Kaiesei Audionote (Might have to special order)
(2) 16v 50uf 5mm back side Kaiesei Audionote

That should do it They should all fit

and I'll be making 16 gauge copper foil cables for the 4.4mm connectors. (Have some Silver/Gold alloy foil left over also to experiment with) all wrapped in silk.

 

[524419]

@Whitigir any chance of a 6.3mm cap fitting up top?

 

[Whitigir]

@Whitigir any chance of a 6.3mm cap fitting up top?

I would imagine if you do a back plate by metal and fit it tightly on the board then possibly

 

[524419]

I would imagine if you do a back plate by metal and fit it tightly on the board then possibly

I just measured it out, it should fit, especially if I can hang 2 caps off to where the bluetooth antenna is. Flat metal plate will have to be installed like you said.
The 6.3mm (nichicon 220uf) caps measure right at the level of the inductors, with a hair of clearance.

those 100uf Audionote caps will be hard to find. Just sent in an email for a special order...Fingers crossed.

 

[Maxx134]

so what's your recipe? Voltage size etc?

100uf 16v is 8mm
220uf 16v is 10 mm
47uf 16 v is 6.3mm

how will they fit?

Ok, here are cap choices:

Cap choices:

50uF 16Vac Audio Note Standard Polarized Electrolytic Capacitor Radial LeadANSECAP-

I would use these in the 47uf position, because @49.8uf, they measured less than the elna @50uf, and both are within 20% tolerance.


There are kaisie 50uf, but they measure a bit too high on my tester @55uf, so too close to the %20 tolerance (@56.4uf).
These are all 5mm wide so no problems with fit.

*******

100uF 16Vdc Audio Note Standard Polarized Electrolytic Capacitor Radial Lead

I would use these on the output, as they are 5mm wide, so they fit nice.
You could also use these for the back board where it needs 100uf.

*********

220uF 16Vdc Audio Note Standard Polarized Electrolytic Capacitor Radial Lead

These are for the main decoupling cap 220uf position in back.
They will be a tight fit at 6.3mm so need a flat clear part of the board.

You can also try these 220uf for the balanced out, but they will be tight, so may need to take up space maybe in the Bluetooth area.

*************

KPL-330 100uF 16V Audio Note Kaisei POLAR Electrolytic Capacitor -

you can squeeze these in the back for your 100uf caps, but they are 6.3mm wide, so you will need areas on board that have a cleared surface area.
You could use these babies for the balanced out as well..

********

KPL-400: 220uF 16V Audio Note Kaisei POLAR Electrolytic Capacitor
these caps are definitely too big, (but not as big as the Nichicon).
I plan to squeeze these in the Bluetooth area, for the balanced outputs.


**********

KPL-260 50uF 16V Audio Note Kaisei POLAR Electrolytic Capacitor

I do not advise others to try this, but I will try to squeeze two 50uf in the middle 100uf position (rear board).
This is because I am anal and want all the three 100uf caps on rear board to be replaced with same kaisie type.
They are 5mm wide, so are ok.

Also
These 50uf kasie are not really advised for the 47uf position, as they tested to have a bit higher capacitance than 50uf(@55), so more than both the standard Audionote series(@49.6uf) and also the elna silmic2(@50uf).

So your pushing the expected 47uf caps's 20% tolerance limits, which would be at 56.4uf.

All the caps that I tested, slowly increased over time, so the actual final values may be a bit larger.

We don't know the circuits limits, which I assume should be designed higher for safety margin.

So we see we have choices here.

 

[Maxx134]

(2) 16v 50uf 5mm back side Kaiesei Audionote

I wrote that they measure very close to the 20% limit of the design location.
Maybe you already know?

those 100uf Audionote caps will be hard to find. Just sent in an email for a special order...Fingers crossed

They seem to be all available now at hificollective.

They are also stocked at partsconnexion.com

Also, as @Whitigir noted, you should buy extra in case, for mistakes.

 

[524419]

I wrote that they measure very close to the 20% limit of the design location.
Maybe you already know?



They seem to be all available now at hificollective.

They are also stocked at partsconnexion.com

Also, as @Whitigir noted, you should buy extra in case, for mistakes.

They don't kaesei ones in stock. I sent them an email to check about special ordering.

 

[Maxx134]

They don't kaesei ones in stock. I sent them an email to check about special ordering.

that's fine as those kaisie are not optimal in value for the 47uf position anyway, being that they measure the too high, unless you still want to do it.

 

[524419]

that's fine as those kaisie are not optimal in value for the 47uf position anyway, being that they measure the too high, unless you still want to do it.

The 100uf kaisei are out of stock. I'll be ordering the 50uf Kaesei also, just in case they measure differently than yours do.
audionote looks to me to be the best option overall. Most expensive caps too, which is usually a good indicator of quality.

 

[Maxx134]

Wow I just checked both sites out of the kaisie..


Edit:
They were all in stock just a week ago.!

 

[Maxx134]

I only see the 220 kaisie available, which are big and I hope to squeeze in the Bluetooth area for balanced out.

Im using the standard Audionote for the 220uf in the back.
Those are available, as well as the standard 100uf & 50uf

It will be a challenge to find proper location & position for any 6.2mm wide caps, which are the 220uf and any kaisie your going to use.

 

[524419]

I only see the 220 kaisie available, which are big and I hope to squeeze in the Bluetooth area for balanced out.

Im using the standard Audionote for the 220uf in the back.
Those are available, as well as the standard 100uf.

It will be a challenge to find proper location & position for any 6.2mm wide caps, which are the 220uf and any kaisie your going to use.

I measured the inductors up top, and they are a bit higher than 6.3mm, so provided I can place them on a flat part of the board, I think 6.3mm is doable.
Like @Whitigir said, up top I think is doable with a metal plate, and maybe in my case (as I am removing the bluetooth) might be possible with the stock plastic one.