Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Does Upgrading Caps Make a Difference?

I have a pair of M3 V2s and a pair of M3 V3s. I swapped out the Jimson 4.7uf and 1.5uf caps with Wimas of the same values.

Sound quality improvement is SUBSTANTIAL!

I am a fan of the M3s, but the cap upgrade has taken my V2s to a whole and better level !

I think what is important here is that you believe they sound better and in turn that makes the listening session more enjoyable. I really dont know one way or the other but i know your can buy caps for $1 or upwards of $300 but unless your do at minimum a side by side listening session i dont trust my ears or brain to tell me the truth. The minute you change the caps your brain is biased and thre is no getting around it. I just upgraded to a Oppo BDP203 and for the life of me i cant be sure it was an improvement or not, basically i was happy with what i had but upgrade itis set in so i choose to be happy FWIW when i built my speakers i spent considerably more for my caps than most people would simply because i think more money buys you better things and i have no empirical proof one way or the other but i feel good knowing i didnt cheap out.

I did back to back comparison, same music, same tube amp (recapped Harman Kardon TA5000x). I expected the M3V3s to sound as good or better, as the V2s were sort of old and obviously had a hard life.

The difference was not subtle.

What do you like about the sound of a speaker? As for me, whatever that is, the upgraded V2s had much more of it, not a little more.

The Wimas are not expensive, I think all 4 set me back $18 or so. (considerably more expensive than the stock Jimsons which go for all of 2 cents [2 pennies] a piece.)

If you're ever in southern California, come by and hear for yourself. But as for me, yes, I believe the recapped M3s sound considerably better than the later generation V3s. I am confident you would too.

Of course, come quick, because I ordered more for the V3s.

Something i was thinking after reading your post. If you are replacing the caps and altering the speakers sonic signature then its no longer operating as the designer intended. In a perfect world we would be able A/B the speakers and even make some nearfield measurements to see what is actually affected. Wehn i built my 3 ways , i used Axiom drivers and just used a crossover design program, ordered the parts and bobs your uncle not really scientific like doin measurements etc. Sometimes different isnt necessarily better,its just different. Alas , as i said if it sounds better for the listener and it makes the listener happy.

Thanks for the invite but i live up near Alaska and goin to california isnt in the budget though i hope to one day get down to see a few of the sites down there before it falls into the ocean . LOL

Oh my goodness, sounds like you live somewhere hardhly beautiful. When you do make it to California, let me know! There'll be a brontosaur steak, suds and music for you.

harshly beautiful

yeah its nice , but people keep moving here and ruining it.

Yeah, my neighbors... refugees from California running from the left wing destruction of our state and bringing their left wing voting patterns to yours.

Lol