Replaced Quad Filter Caps - A/B Sound Samples

[schnarf]

I replaced my quad filter caps with new ones. I swapped out the two 200uf caps for the same value, different brand, and two of the 30uf caps for 47uf caps. I was curious to see if it would make any difference in sound, so I did an A/B test.

I recorded my guitar direct in to the computer beforehand. I then reamped the signal before changing out the caps and afterwards. I kept everything down to the settings and mic position exactly the same; I didn't even touch the mic stand. My signal path is from my Aardvark Q10 out to my Quad, Rocktron Intellifex in the effects loop but bypassed, into my 50/50 running at low power. That goes into my Avatar G212H open back cab with the vintage 30 miced 45 degrees off axis, pointing at the center of the speaker with a sm-57, back into the Q10. I made every attempt to keep levels the same, and normalized the two clips afterwards so levels wouldn't influence how they sound. Here are the two clips before and after the cap change.

Old Caps
New Caps

 

[bunyok23]

those are crunchy.

im looking at getting a quad or studio.which do you think is closer to a mark iic+

 

[6L6C]

There is a slight difference but very slight. BTW I became a big fan of changing caps a few months ago when I had done for my Mark IV that was a night and day difference. The way you conducted your test was pretty cool and well thought out. What I did was listened to both clips though I heard a difference but was not sure, so now I’m hooked download both into Sonar 6 panned hard left and right, and then soled both at times switch the panning and so on. The first one before the cap job was slightly brighter compared to after caps but like I said I had to put them next to each other to come up with that determination.

 

[tommyhawk13]

I replaced my quad filter caps with new ones. I swapped out the two 200uf caps for the same value, different brand, and two of the 30uf caps for 47uf caps.

Just curious, why the 47uf caps?

 

[schnarf]

I got the caps from hoffmanamps.com and he didn't have 30uf available, just 47. With filter caps, a bigger capacitance means smoother power.

 

[stokes]

Using bigger caps in the main and screen supply can be beneficial,but increasing the values in the preamp supply caps can muddy things up,in my experience.Mesa uses fairly large (30uf) caps in their preamp supplies already so I dont think the 47's would be that big a difference,but in Fender and Ampeg circuits that have 10uf to 20uf in the preamp supplies using larger caps will muddy the tone.