Hi! My first post here, so don’t judge me if I posted in the wrong section (or bad english, since I’m not a native american/english). I have been an “unregistered” user for around one and a half year here, just about the time I was starting to get into vintage amps (short story on recap of the first amp below). This time I need some help on amps that I can’t find a lot of info on (servicing), so I thought posting and asking some people who know more. The two amplifiers I need help on are: Sony F808ES (390w made in Japan, so probably a 95w+95w variant) and Technics SU8600 (700w, that a lot for 75w+75w amp? No?).
I like them both and would like to do a recap. Since these two are of higher grade, it’s not as easy as recapping a Sansui I own. Technics is pretty old 76-78, and it definitely needs a recap, even though it sounds amazing. Sony on the other hand is not as old 92-93 I believe. I would like to recap a Sony just because of the hopes to improve sound a little bit. Even though Sony should be a few steps over the Technics (I mean that this Sony amp was the best/top amp from them at that year), it still sounds less enjoying/good than the Techincs (or even Sansui?). I believe it can be just because both Technics and Sansui were made in the golden age (70s/80s) of amplifiers, and its all about the amplifier design. What I like about Sony though, is that it has a remote, which is useful today. Sound is also pretty damn good, but lacks that litte “something” that I can’t even describe (while Technics have it). What I don’t like about it, it get really hot.. Like really hot, where you can’t almost touch it with your hands. What I like about Technics? Sound and that it stays cold, and only gets warmer if you put some decent volume. What I dislike about it? No remote.
I have set bias on Sony according to the manual, so it should actually not be the case of the warmth. I also will be changing thermal grease on it, with hopes that it will help.
Getting back to the case. I’m not sure what caps I should choose to recap them. I see Sony has already really great caps in it, some Nichicon Muse (green), Elna Silmic (main filter, 15000uf, 8200uf). So I start to lose hopes about getting better sound from it? Or am I totally wrong and should take the chance? I need some advice here! I also saw some people saying that F808ES should be upgraded with 20000/22000uf ones? Would this help or damage it? Any other upgrades are welcome, since I still have to order stuff from Mouser. By the way, a few caps (2-3) are green/oxidized I guess, at the top from the wet storage (in the garage from the last owner).
Technics gets the total recap also, just to be sure it stays working for a long time. Since I couldn’t find much info about recaping of this one too, I’m open to upgrades (if needed) and recommendations. I would like to leave the sound as close to the original as possible. Maybe someone has some ideas on how to make the remote volume on it?
I was thinking of changing every cap possible with Elna Silmic II, and the rest that are not available from Elna Silmic II, to use Nichicon KG/FG (why Mouser has so many different KG/FG versions?). But I see that some caps, are not possible to get in Elna Silmic II or Nichicon KG/FG versions. Am I good to use something else? Nichicon Audio Grade UKA, UFW, whatever? Or should I get Kemets/Panasonic/Other brands? Kemets are nice because of their hours (10-20k hours). Need some input on the caps.
I have some hopes on making the Sony sound a bit closer (give that small tweak that I miss from Technics or Sansui) when using Elnas everywhere.I also hope that it will run much cooler after the recap? or is it just a waste of time and money, and it won't help me with this?
Since I want to leave Technics sound as close to original as possible, maybe I should recap it using caps of the same brand that are there already (like I did with my Sansui)?
Hope to hear some input on all of this. And thanks in advance for those who are willing to help on it. If additional info is needed, don't hesitate to ask.
Short story about my first recap (Sansui) if someone is interested.
I was looking for some help on how to recap my first vintage amplifier Sansui AU3900 (lower end, but beautiful and amazing amp). Since it was my first recap ever, I was searching for some help on the internet and found this amazing website. After a few weeks of reading and finding out stuff on electrolytics, and how it could impact the sound I was almost sure what to choose. Since I was recapping an amp for the first time I went with a safe (and maybe stupid) decision on electrolytics. I replaced Nichicons with Nichicons and Elnas with Elnas, and all marked as “audio grade”. I went for Elna Silmic II and Nichicon UKA (looks like ok caps?). I think I had to replace one of the caps with United Chemi-con or Panasonic, since I couldn’t find it from Nichicon/Elna. Right after recap I found out that I need to swap some diodes and transistors. I live in Norway, so getting another shipment from Mouser was a bit pricey, I just got some diodes and transistors from the local stores. Not much to choose from here in Norway, so I went for BC550/560 (instead of the recommended KSA992) and some “probably cheap” diodes, but rated for 1000v (just in case). All in all, pretty happy with the Sansui recap. After caps got that “burn in”, it sounds awesome (and I think better than before). I have used it now every day for 1.5 years after the recap, for at least 4-5 hours a day, and it is just amazing how this little amp can sound so good. It powers some Klipsch RB61 II (before Mission 731i).
I like them both and would like to do a recap. Since these two are of higher grade, it’s not as easy as recapping a Sansui I own. Technics is pretty old 76-78, and it definitely needs a recap, even though it sounds amazing. Sony on the other hand is not as old 92-93 I believe. I would like to recap a Sony just because of the hopes to improve sound a little bit. Even though Sony should be a few steps over the Technics (I mean that this Sony amp was the best/top amp from them at that year), it still sounds less enjoying/good than the Techincs (or even Sansui?). I believe it can be just because both Technics and Sansui were made in the golden age (70s/80s) of amplifiers, and its all about the amplifier design. What I like about Sony though, is that it has a remote, which is useful today. Sound is also pretty damn good, but lacks that litte “something” that I can’t even describe (while Technics have it). What I don’t like about it, it get really hot.. Like really hot, where you can’t almost touch it with your hands. What I like about Technics? Sound and that it stays cold, and only gets warmer if you put some decent volume. What I dislike about it? No remote.
I have set bias on Sony according to the manual, so it should actually not be the case of the warmth. I also will be changing thermal grease on it, with hopes that it will help.
Getting back to the case. I’m not sure what caps I should choose to recap them. I see Sony has already really great caps in it, some Nichicon Muse (green), Elna Silmic (main filter, 15000uf, 8200uf). So I start to lose hopes about getting better sound from it? Or am I totally wrong and should take the chance? I need some advice here! I also saw some people saying that F808ES should be upgraded with 20000/22000uf ones? Would this help or damage it? Any other upgrades are welcome, since I still have to order stuff from Mouser. By the way, a few caps (2-3) are green/oxidized I guess, at the top from the wet storage (in the garage from the last owner).
Technics gets the total recap also, just to be sure it stays working for a long time. Since I couldn’t find much info about recaping of this one too, I’m open to upgrades (if needed) and recommendations. I would like to leave the sound as close to the original as possible. Maybe someone has some ideas on how to make the remote volume on it?
I was thinking of changing every cap possible with Elna Silmic II, and the rest that are not available from Elna Silmic II, to use Nichicon KG/FG (why Mouser has so many different KG/FG versions?). But I see that some caps, are not possible to get in Elna Silmic II or Nichicon KG/FG versions. Am I good to use something else? Nichicon Audio Grade UKA, UFW, whatever? Or should I get Kemets/Panasonic/Other brands? Kemets are nice because of their hours (10-20k hours). Need some input on the caps.
I have some hopes on making the Sony sound a bit closer (give that small tweak that I miss from Technics or Sansui) when using Elnas everywhere.I also hope that it will run much cooler after the recap? or is it just a waste of time and money, and it won't help me with this?
Since I want to leave Technics sound as close to original as possible, maybe I should recap it using caps of the same brand that are there already (like I did with my Sansui)?
Hope to hear some input on all of this. And thanks in advance for those who are willing to help on it. If additional info is needed, don't hesitate to ask.
Short story about my first recap (Sansui) if someone is interested.
I was looking for some help on how to recap my first vintage amplifier Sansui AU3900 (lower end, but beautiful and amazing amp). Since it was my first recap ever, I was searching for some help on the internet and found this amazing website. After a few weeks of reading and finding out stuff on electrolytics, and how it could impact the sound I was almost sure what to choose. Since I was recapping an amp for the first time I went with a safe (and maybe stupid) decision on electrolytics. I replaced Nichicons with Nichicons and Elnas with Elnas, and all marked as “audio grade”. I went for Elna Silmic II and Nichicon UKA (looks like ok caps?). I think I had to replace one of the caps with United Chemi-con or Panasonic, since I couldn’t find it from Nichicon/Elna. Right after recap I found out that I need to swap some diodes and transistors. I live in Norway, so getting another shipment from Mouser was a bit pricey, I just got some diodes and transistors from the local stores. Not much to choose from here in Norway, so I went for BC550/560 (instead of the recommended KSA992) and some “probably cheap” diodes, but rated for 1000v (just in case). All in all, pretty happy with the Sansui recap. After caps got that “burn in”, it sounds awesome (and I think better than before). I have used it now every day for 1.5 years after the recap, for at least 4-5 hours a day, and it is just amazing how this little amp can sound so good. It powers some Klipsch RB61 II (before Mission 731i).
in case of... something breaking maybe? or is it still safe to use electrolytics that are old (except the big power supply ones)? Would like to have this amp for some time (probably until it dies), so thought it would not hurt doing a full recap. But if you mean that it is not necessary, than I might leave it as it is.