resources for learning how to recap and other gear maintenance

[eggCota]

So, my beloved ADAM S3A's seem to be sounding somewhat more harsh than I remember, the low end seems different, and the speakers are just more fatigue inducing than they used to be.

I'm starting to think the caps may be going bad.

Does anyone have any good resources on how to recap properly, obviously anything related to the S3A directly (schematic etc) would be great, but I'd love to use this opportunity to start a general discussion about recapping and gear maintenance.

I modded a cheap Behringer Edison by changing all the caps to Nichicon FGS and Panasonic and it made a huge difference.

But that was a very easy mod on a 100$ box, not a 3k$ speaker.

Anyone have any links, guides, advice, information about what are the best caps, what to listen for when things are going bad, or good? What other things can be done to gear that lands somewhere between sending out for service and DIY?

I'm just thirsty for more knowledge, thank you.

and i tried to contact Adam directly, but they were not able to help me. Is there a place I could send them if it ultimately came to that?

[kslight]

Don’t have a direct recommendation, other than I’m not a big fan of simply shotgunning parts at anything, make sure you are making some form of educated diagnosis....get out your meter, etc...

If anything, I’d be surprised if both of the speakers are exhibiting the same problem, I would be looking up stream if that is the case.

[Scodiddly]

YouTube is a great resource for this kind of thing. Maybe not your exact speakers, but there are plenty of great channels that show how to do recapping and other repairs. Not to mention searching for your speakers might find some good content too. Fran, Electroboom, I'm more about watching machinist videos since I'm pretty OK at electronics already.

[Nick Sevilla]

"the speakers are just more fatigue inducing than they used to be."

At what SPL level are you listening? have you changed how you listen? Longer hours? Louder levels?

When capacitors begin to fail, you will hear them sputtering and crapping out. They often can emit a loud hiss too.

That is not what you are describing at all.

[kslight]

"the speakers are just more fatigue inducing than they used to be."

At what SPL level are you listening? have you changed how you listen? Longer hours? Louder levels?

When capacitors begin to fail, you will hear them sputtering and crapping out. They often can emit a loud hiss too.

That is not what you are describing at all.

In the audiophile world this problem would be solved by a fancy power cord.

[eggCota]

it's not the audio cord, it's the glaring lack of audio pebbles...

https://www.machinadynamica.com/machina31.htm

[Recycled_Brains]

it's not the audio cord, it's the glaring lack of audio pebbles...

https://www.machinadynamica.com/machina31.htm

what the FUCK.

[kslight]

it's not the audio cord, it's the glaring lack of audio pebbles...

https://www.machinadynamica.com/machina31.htm

what the FUCK.

I’m willing to let go of some magic acoustic cat litter for less!

[digitaldrummer]

I'll bet they work best with perfect conductor cables.