Mods for a PS Audio HCA-2?

I changed the output wire to solid silver in Teflon and replaced the cheap caps in the signal path to Black Gates. The difference will be immediate, but you will not fully appreciate the Black Gates for several hundred hours. It is not an exaggeration to say it doesn't sound anything like the stock amp anymore.

Everything is better. Especially dynamics and clarity. If you have the front-end to produce the piano properly, just wait till you hear the piano through an HCA-2 with Black Gates. The sustain and harmonics go on forever if they are in the recording.

In its stock form the bass was excellent with the HCA-2, but is seems even faster and tighter after the mods and the bass is surely more nuanced.

One more easy mod. Take the bolt out of the big transformer. Makes things smoother. Subtle, but noticeable.

Paired with the right speakers this amp is a steal with these simple mods. My speakers are 8 Ohm, 6 Ohm nominal, so take my comments with a grain of salt in relation to the load my speakers present.

As Sean will tell you, JA at Stereophile was disappointed with the measured results of the HCA-2 with a "test" 4 Ohm load. However, it seems the majority of owners of this amp don't "hear" JA's concerns. Same for the new Carver digital amp. Apparently it also measures like crap, but sounds wonderful as well. I personally can't say whether the HCA-2 sounds bad with a difficult load or not, but anecdotal information from several owners who have posted their experience with 4 Ohm loads don't seem to support JA's concerns. Having said that, I have read contrary posts from a couple of owners who thought the HCA-2 did have some problem with bigger loads. (However, the remarks from one of these owners has to be put into context. He is never happy with any equipment for very long before he is on to the next flavor of the month.) The point is, trust your ears. If you like this amp with your current setup, you will love it after these simple mods. For less than $75 this amp will take a huge leap forward.

BTW, I just recently received an email from a guy who did a blind shoot-out with the Odyssey Stratos and the HCA-2. Both the owner of the Stratos and the owner of the HCA-2 agreed the HCA-2 was better. The ironic point is that the Stratos owner was convinced he was listening to his amp (the Stratos) until it was revealed the amp in play was the HCA-2. Apparently he was stunned his Stratos lost. The only area where both parties thought the Stratos had an edge was in "detail".

Change the incredibly cheap stock caps in the HCA-2 and the wiring to solid silver and I am certain the HCA-2 will *easily* walk away from the Stratos in "detail".

I highly recommend these mods. They are cheap, simple and reversible.

Yes, I did the work myself. I am a relative newbie to DIY and these mods were very easy. The wiring change takes the most time, but I am very meticulous.

The wire, Teflon tubing and the four Black Gate caps totaled less than $75.

Reference Audio Mods did these mods and a few more for another HCA-2 owner for far less money than what you quoted. I think the quotes you received are out-of-line. But that's just my opinion. I suspect a competent technician can probably do all of these mods in 2 hours.

If you know how to solder, I would certainly change the caps myself. This change wrought the biggest improvement by far! I think it only took me about 45 minutes start-to-finish if I remember correctly.

Fla,

I suspect it may be the Marantz. I have read nothing but great things about the SA-14, but let me state my case as to why I say it may be your CDP.

Is the HCA-2 perfect? Certainly not, but it can benefit greatly from some minor improvements. After modding my HCA-2 I am hearing things I have never heard before in my system. Is it the work of the HCA-2. Yes and no. I believe the HCA-2 truly is excellent with the two aforementioned simple mods: taking out the Monster output wiring and replacing it with the solid silver wiring in Teflon and especially replacing the four cheap caps in the signal path with Black Gates.

Having said that, I think I have to give a lot of credit to what is in front of the HCA-2, particularly my Audio Note DAC 1.2. I built this unit with Black Gates, Tantalum resistors, solid silver wiring, Audio Note Copper Caps, custom HMS internal IC and NOS tubes. Since that time I have added an Audio Note Trans 280 between the Canare BNC and the digital chip and that made a substantial difference. But most recently I have added Audio Note interstage transformers between the digital and analogue boards ($$). Wow! Did this mod make a tremendous difference! The weight of the music took a quantum leap. Insert your favorite audiophile superlatives here.

So what does my modded HCA-2 have to do with that. Well, I think the HCA-2 is so transparent that it is allowing me to hear all of the changes I have made in front of it without adding much of a signature itself. The clarity, detail, dynamics, etc. are terrific. Just two weeks ago I had two friends visiting from LA (one a concert pianist) and he said the piano sounded absolutely perfect on my system. (Of course the 160+ Cuban cigars that we smoked in 10 days between the three of us may have clouded his perspective.) Certainly part of the credit of what he heard has to go to the HCA-2. I am convinced that a few guys who have been dissatisfied with the HCA-2 simply have scapegoated the HCA-2 because of one three of things: synergy with the components in front of it or the speakers behind it, the amp wasn't fully broken in, (it took forever, 200-300 hours minimum and I am convinced it improved up to 500 hours) or they heard the amp with the stock power cord. But as soon as I say that, I have to remember that my HCA-2 does sound significantly better after $75 worth of premium parts than it did in it's stock form.

Overall, I have a modest system, but to my ears and to the ears of many others who have heard it, the general consensus is that it sounds damn close to live music. I have tried to get the most bang-for-my-buck and IMHO the HCA-2 is king-of-the-hill in that respect. It just seems to let the music flow.

For instance, I am still using a Nak CD Player 1 from the early 90's as a transport (their flagship at the time, but probably my weakest link.) But it sounds amazingly good with my system. I removed the captive pc and installed an IEC and a Virtual Dynamics power cord. I also installed a Canare BNC connector. From the Nak, the signal goes via an HMS Il Primo digital cable to my highly modded Audio Note DAC and out from there to my preamp via HMS Gran Finale IC's.

I have a Supratek Chardonnay preamp with all NOS tubes including WE 350B's. This is an amazing preamp, especially for the money. Just read the thread entitled "Preamp Deal of the Century" here on the 'Gon.

Once again the signal exits via HMS Gran Finale IC's to my modded HCA-2. From there it goes via DIY silver speaker cables (thanks to Bob Crump) to highly-modded Newform Research 645's.

I have two dedicated lines and Virtual Dynamic power cords on all of my components except my HCA-2 which has a PS Audio Lab II. As good as the VD cords are, the HCA-2 snapped into place with the Lab II. Much more coherent and clear than the VD cord. The HCA-2 was supposedly voiced with the Lab II so I guess synergy comes into play here.

I recently switched to DH Labs Ceramic cones under all of my components and the change was significant. I also added a Neuance shelf under my Nak with the DH cones. The Neuance shelf helped the clarity immensely from my Nak.

Everything makes a difference. So can I say for sure how much the HCA-2 is contributing to the end result. No, but I can certainly say it is doing a superlative job of conveying the music from what's in front of it.

So in the end, I think it would be worth your while to change the output wiring and the cheap signal caps and if the piano still doesn't have excellent decay with outstanding harmonics, then I would strongly suspect any and everything in front of it.

Sorry for being so verbose, but I don't think it is ever simple to describe the performance of a single component unless the reader has actually heard the component in question with the exact same associated equipment AND in the same room. I think generalizations can be made about components, but ask two different guys their opinion about the same piece of equipment and very often you get two very different responses. Just take a look at the many threads here and over at AA that begin with, "What is the best ... (amp, speakers, cables, etc.)", and it is amazing the number of different opinions that are offered. In every instance there are more opinions about "the best" that are different than are alike!

Warren

Ears, I do know an HCA-2 owner who had the same mods done as the ASI mods with the only difference being Harris FREDS. He had the mods done in steps so he could compare the difference of each mod along the way.

He told me that he heard very little improvement with the Jensen caps, the rectifier change, etc.

He said changing the output wiring was a significant, but the Black Gate caps were the most dramatic change of all. Makes sense to me. And I suspect this is the case since they are directly in the signal path.

My point here is that most anything can make a difference, but to what degree and at what cost? The bang-for-the-buck with the Black Gates is exceptional IMHO.

I did receive an email from ASI informing me of all of their mods. The gentleman from ASI explained to me that each of their mods to the HCA-2 makes a significant difference, but I wouldn't expect him to say anything different. What's he going to say, "Some of the mods don't make a big difference, but ignore that fact because I make more money if I do all of them?"

Look, I'm sure ASI does a fine job and I am not trying to slam them at all. There are many other companies that offer all kinds of mods to equipment. And in the end the consumer is responsible for deciding to have the mods done or not. ASI is certainly not forcing anyone to have all of their mods done!

It's just my opinion that some of the mods probably aren't worth the money. That's just the way I see it.

Fla, I purchased mine at Reference Audio Mods:

http://www.referenceaudiomods.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RAM&Category_Code=BG_N

BG_N_100_50 BlackGate N 100uf 50V [16mm x 31mm] $12.95

This mod is easy. Just take the mounting screws out of the printed circuit board. You will also have to remove a couple of screws for the balanced inputs on the back of the amp if I remember correctly. No big deal.

Turn the board over. Desolder and take out the four stock caps, then re-solder the Black Gates in position. It is one of the easiest mods I have ever done.

Changing the output wiring is just as easy, but it is more time consuming.

Good luck and feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Warren

Naunc, I have never heard your speakers so I am speaking totally out of school here, but what I have read on this board and others is that what you are hearing, many others have iterated about Thiels.

Before I get any Thiel owners upset, I am not saying they are not great speakers, but I think it comes down to one's preferences when listening to Thiels as with many other speakers.

I don't have the issues you describe with my HCA-2, but in fairness, I have done some mods to my amp that did greatly improve the amp. Unfortunately, it has been so long since I heard my amp stock that my lack of aural memory doesn't allow me to specifically address the stock sound of the HCA-2.

Sean, interesting comments.

Never heard one owner, even those who have sold their HCA-2 complain about it not being fast enough. Just the opposite. Universally, it seems that everyone has been impressed with the incredible speed of the amp.

And once again you refer to the Stereophile measurements. The stability issues came under what load. Many amps would be worse. Mate the HCA-2 with the right speakers (as with any amp) and the stability issues aren't a concern. As with any component, they all have their limitations. I just recently listened to several highly regarded amps that were multiple times the cost of the HCA-2 and I wouldn't have traded even-steven for any of them. The HCA-2 simply did so many things better. But then again, I understand the limitations of the amp and I am not trying to drive Apogees with it either. If I were, it would be out the door in a heartbeat.
As always, synergy is incredibly important.

Sean, you said recently you have 20 amps, which I don't doubt. I would be very curious to hear what the top five are that you own.

Actually, Sean, it will only take a couple of minutes more to list all 20 amps that you have purchased or acquired on the basis of their performance.