How does sound change as capacitors age?

[ejman]

As the electrolytic capacitors in my speakers age ( My OLA are close to 40 years old!) how does the sound change? do the high frequencies get mellower or brighter or what?

 

[nickrobotron]

Mellower, from my experience. I just listened to my old H/K 330B next to my Marantz with all new caps. It just sounded dead with very muddled bass. No detail.

With speakers it's the same thing. The upper end loses detail and sizzle.

 

[ukfan4sure!]

Muddy. Looses it's crispness and detail.

 

[ejman]

Interesting, reason I asked the question is somehow my speakers are sounding I don't know how to describe it, thinner? bass and midrange not as punchy? maybe something else is going on?

 

[Isotonic]

That could be caps too. If the values drift they change the crossover. I imagine depending on design, the crossover could put out less bass.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Their values shift as they age, which means the intended crossing frequencies shift with them. Not good.

 

[jaymanaa]

Typically an electrolytic value will increase with age. A good fresh lytic will typically read a little low on the uf scale, while an old dried up one will read high. Do your speakers a good dead and put some Dayton 1% audio caps in them. They are very inexpensive and your speakers will be so happy.

 

[ejman]

Typically an electrolytic value will increase with age. A good fresh lytic will typically read a little low on the uf scale, while an old dried up one will read high. Do your speakers a good dead and put some Dayton 1% audio caps in them. They are very inexpensive and your speakers will be so happy.

What's a good source for these? I haven't actually looked at the caps in my Advents but I assume whatever the values are printed on them just replace with the same? I refoamed them some months ago (they were sounding fine after refoam) but I didn't pull the batting to look at the crossovers.

 

[squarewave]

Source for caps...

Parts Express:yes:

 

[sKiZo]

Here's another good source for caps.

http://www.erseaudio.com/Products/Capacitors