xcan v3 signal path caps

[choariwap]

hi guys,

i've modded my Xcan v3 (thanks mike!) and i've been reading up on why the mods made sense.

i understand the heatsinks and the PSU caps now. i also read that output caps are bad in the signal path especially electrolytic ones.

the size of the xcans make it impossible to put in anything other than electrolytic as input/output caps with decent capacitance.

the input caps can be removed according to mike if the source doesnt have big dc offset (mine is putting out 1.8 mv and 1mv per channel).

how about the output caps? can these be taken out?

thanks!

[PinkFloyd]

choariwap said:

i also read that output caps are bad in the signal path especially electrolytic ones.

They are there to block any DC at the output and you're much better "with" output caps than "without" if there's DC on the output. You can check the DC offset and if it's under 10mV then you can remove the output caps. WARNING! The output caps are there as a belt and braces "protection" system and only remove them if you are certain the DC offset is VERY low..... even then, low DC offset today may become "VOLTS" tomorrow in the event of a malfunction so remove them at your own risk.

the size of the xcans make it impossible to put in anything other than electrolytic as input/output caps with decent capacitance.

Non polars exhibit better characteristics compared to standard electrolytics so you're not really going to get much sonic gain by fitting a film cap the size of a house brick.... I've tried without output caps and there really isn't a lot of difference. Better for you to "up" the output capacitance and fit a higher voltage package if space allows. non polars are perfectly OK.

[choariwap]

hi mike,

i'll trust your vastly greater experience on this i will just put in a pair of 1000uF non polars and walk away from soldering iron...

soldering is fun though! anyone who's afraid to try soldering shouldn't be, it's quite easy on the xcans. no smd, thank god!

[bennyboy]

choariwap said:

hi guys,

i've modded my Xcan v3 (thanks mike!) and i've been reading up on why the mods made sense.

i understand the heatsinks and the PSU caps now. i also read that output caps are bad in the signal path especially electrolytic ones.

the size of the xcans make it impossible to put in anything other than electrolytic as input/output caps with decent capacitance.

the input caps can be removed according to mike if the source doesnt have big dc offset (mine is putting out 1.8 mv and 1mv per channel).

how about the output caps? can these be taken out?

thanks!

Hey there, I'm new on this scene but not all that green

Last night I installed some BlackGates output caps in my X-CanV3 and there is an improvement and I'm not hearing and downside(grain). I went with stock values because
for the last week I've been running pana SU 1000uF caps and found I had to much bass(it would rattle my brain). I went with the 220uF for two reasons, there cheaper than the other BG caps and 2nd, I wanted to try the so called super-E-Caps capacitor using two BG per ch.
I dont know if it worked, but its sounding very nice so far.

static.flickr.com/83/205039083_b8545dc29d_o.jpg


Benny.