Arkay
Lunatic Member
My Pioneer SE-505 headphones -- the kind with 2 speakers ("woofer" and "tweeter") in each earcup, along with separate coaxial volume and tone pots-- developed a problem with a wire that got pulled too hard. I opened it up and fixed that up tonight, and took the chance to do the annual DeOxit job on the pots.
While in there, I noticed that there is an electrolytic capacitor in each one, actring (I assume) as a simple crossover for the tweeter. I hadn't thought about the caps again since the first time I opened these (when I got them). I have never replaced the caps, and judging from the state these headphones were in when I first got them, neither has anyone else. This suggests that those caps are probably pretty dry by now, and the sound might improve if I replace them. I don't have an ESR meter to check them; I'm only guessing from the general age of these headphones.
My question is... if I replace these caps...with what? Since there is only one modest-sized capacitor in each side (two in total), I don't mind spending for whatever quality is justified, to get the most out of these headphones. Should I got go ahead and spring for expensive Black Gates, or would something else (another brand or type) bring a better result in this application? Solens, perhaps, since they are often recommended here for speakers? Does the relatively tiny size of these speakers make a difference, in terms of the kind of cap I should be looking for?
Any knowledgeable advice would be appreciated. Although I also have Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic (and other, lesser) headphones, which also get use according to my mood, I do still use these Pioneers a lot for my late-night listening, so I'd like to make them as good-sounding as I can. Thanks!
While in there, I noticed that there is an electrolytic capacitor in each one, actring (I assume) as a simple crossover for the tweeter. I hadn't thought about the caps again since the first time I opened these (when I got them). I have never replaced the caps, and judging from the state these headphones were in when I first got them, neither has anyone else. This suggests that those caps are probably pretty dry by now, and the sound might improve if I replace them. I don't have an ESR meter to check them; I'm only guessing from the general age of these headphones.
My question is... if I replace these caps...with what? Since there is only one modest-sized capacitor in each side (two in total), I don't mind spending for whatever quality is justified, to get the most out of these headphones. Should I got go ahead and spring for expensive Black Gates, or would something else (another brand or type) bring a better result in this application? Solens, perhaps, since they are often recommended here for speakers? Does the relatively tiny size of these speakers make a difference, in terms of the kind of cap I should be looking for?
Any knowledgeable advice would be appreciated. Although I also have Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic (and other, lesser) headphones, which also get use according to my mood, I do still use these Pioneers a lot for my late-night listening, so I'd like to make them as good-sounding as I can. Thanks!