Hello, I'm an absolute layman, can someone explain in the diagram which capacitor is responsible for what (it's only about electrolytes). I want to experiment with a compact disc player. Specifically replacing the capacitors with better ones. Any suggestions on what models, series, capacities? Thanks!
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PCM1716E pinout
- Thread starter evgo1977
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Don’t… there is nothing to gain.
And if you don’t understand what they do, even more reason to not touch them.
And if you don’t understand what they do, even more reason to not touch them.
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Luckily for you other have done this with electronics and speakers, and found no measurable improvement provided the tolerance is close.
Capacitors do capacitor stuff, and is placed there by people who need something to do capacitor stuff.
I mean if we're talking about electrolytic it's almost always for either power supply or DC blocker / high pass filter. Then again, which capacitor doesn't do that. Technically for example the capacitor inside an intergrater is also a DC blocker, the capacitor within a feedback loop is also a DC blocker / HF passer...
For the electrolytics listed, C272, C274, C275, C269 are power supply, C279, C280 are DC blockers
The best replacements are anything that hasn't bloated, series from anything that performs like the original without being too expensive, and capacities that are same as original.
MaxwellsEq
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Running an experiment is ALL about measurable, repeatable processes.
Your experiment needs to be repeatable by someone else on a different continent at a different time and date.
But most importantly, it needs to be reliably measurable. This requires sufficient knowledge of what to measure and how to measure it. At the very least you will need a test CD with pre-recorded test signals. You will also need a high resolution voltmeter and an audio test set. These days you can use a top-flight ADC and REW or Multitone. Given that a competent CD player will have distortion and noise performance levels close to -100dB, your test set will need to be better than that to make meaningful measurements. Your ears+brain are way too poor to be used as measuring devices.
- Thread Starter
- #7
It has happened more than once that devices with perfect technical data actually play worse than those with bad data on paper. I don't chase perfection or technical data, I only trust my ears. Anyway. I just wanted to understand from the specific diagram which elements are connected to which pin. Which ones are responsible for power and which ones for audio. Have a nice day everyone!
But what if the specific diagram is wrong and a bad diagram on paper plays better?
Have a nice day!
What makes one capacitor "better" than another?
You are really not. You're also looking, smelling, and feeling. All of these pay a much larger part than you would like to admit.
- Thread Starter
- #11
As far as I know, the materials they are made of, the quality of workmanship, these things affect their specifications and their different applications in electronics, in particular audio equipment.
- Thread Starter
- #12
Абсолютно си прав. Но що се отнася до звука, кое би предпочел - по-добрият звук субективно за теб или по-добрите технически спецификации? Аз лично не „слушам“ технически данни.
That doesn't define "better", it just says A is better than B.
- Thread Starter
- #14
Good question!
Extreme_Boky
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According to the schematics you posted, that is one of the Denon players, yes?
Denon used high-quality Elna and Rubycon (Black Gate) capacitors, specific types for power-rail decoupling, and slightly different ones for sound coupling. So no need to worry.
If you want to change things for the better, use a better voltage rail regulation that will provide lower impedance over a wide frequency spectrum range - that will produce measurable benefits that you will also be able to hear quite easily.
Denon used high-quality Elna and Rubycon (Black Gate) capacitors, specific types for power-rail decoupling, and slightly different ones for sound coupling. So no need to worry.
If you want to change things for the better, use a better voltage rail regulation that will provide lower impedance over a wide frequency spectrum range - that will produce measurable benefits that you will also be able to hear quite easily.
JSmith
Master Contributor
Yes ears are very much needed for an AB or ABX test... how would you do it otherwise? Without controls when trying to identify small levels of noise or distortions between devices, trusting your ears is an exercise in folly.
Also, we've all heard "I only trust my ears" a million times... it's basically a cop-out.
JSmith
- Thread Starter
- #17
Yes, this is the Denon DN-C635. I'm also thinking of refreshing the power supply and we'll see what happens. Thanks for the guidance!
All electrical parameters are (usually) specified by the manufacturer and can be measured. Designers of good audio devices choose the parts according to the parameter values required for the device to reach its audio specs. With CD players those specs usually mean that the device is audibly transparent, hence it makes no sense to try to improve it any further. Especially not without knowing and understanding the schematics and without proper test equipment. Been there, done that ...