Should have statedTakman and Texas Components are resistors. Tubes can make a large difference as well, especially power tubes.
Upgrading specific components in a tube amplifier
Hello everyone,
First of all, thank you for the warm welcome to these forums. It has already been an incredibly helpful place, and I’m learning more each day.
I’ve really enjoyed reading about different people’s journeys in HiFi, and I find the reflections along the way both insightful and inspiring.
Recently, I came across an article where someone, while introducing their system, described making minor upgrades to their amplifier—such as changing output capacitors, tube sockets, and resistors. I’m starting to understand the role of each component in an amplifier, but I’d love to hear from those with firsthand experience in upgrading these parts.
In your experience, do such modifications lead to noticeable improvements in sound quality, or do they risk altering the original design in ways that might not be beneficial?
Looking forward to your insights!
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- 23 posts total
Thank you all for all of your insights.
I have read numerous articles, reviews and threads on various forums that confirms the high quality of Yamamoto and I don't think at all there would be a reason to change anything at all. It was just a thought experiment to get an idea of the possible outcomes of changing components as capacitors, resistors and tube sockets.
This is quite interesting. It seems that a lot of people strive for an all silver situation in Audio Note forums, but somehow I'm starting to believe that silver might have a too bright, clean and neutral resolution, whereas I prefer a much more deep, flavorful and colored sound (without it being too dramatic, rather more natural and romantic if one can say that).
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Here is a thought mentioned on the other thread. Skip the Yamamoto 3w+3w amp and buy an AudioNote OTO SE 10w amplifier to go along with your desired AN speakers you mention. You can order it with proven caps and resistors, no guessing and screwing around. They come up 2nd hand used rarely. Truly - this will save you a ton of wasted time and guess work allowing you to start listening to speakers/amp/parts components inside all designed to work together from the get-go. I only share this IF your real goal is not fooling with widget component changes and more about listening to music sooner. They spend 1000s of hours testing/trying/listening to their designs. Many of us here here swap caps/diodes/resistors thinking we can outsmart the original amp designers, and it works sometimes, not all of the time. In the case of AudioNote amps/speakers working together well, Peter and team at AN truly know what they are doing. Go listen and compare at a show if you can somehow. Just a timesaver tip fwiw, best of luck.
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I have been considering the OTO SE amplifier, which is widely regarded as an excellent choice, and I can certainly understand why. I had the opportunity to listen to it recently, and I really enjoyed its sound. That said, there is something I am trying to better understand. The OTO SE is undoubtedly a great amplifier, but it does not, for example, include a completely negative-feedback-free signal pathway. To achieve that, one would need to look at the Jinro or higher-tier models, which come at a significantly higher cost. I have also contemplated investing in a higher model, but I often find myself considering how many concert tickets and vinyl records I could purchase with that amount. Ultimately, my passion for audio is rooted in a deep love for music. Recently, I have come across smaller manufacturers, such as Yamamoto and Audio Tekne, who seem to produce high-quality amplifiers at a different price point compared to Audio Note. I fully appreciate the immense costs involved in running a company as comprehensive as Audio Note, which manufactures all its components in-house and offers numerous variations of each amplifier. Their reputation and craftsmanship naturally contribute to their pricing, which I completely respect. However, I wonder if it might also be worthwhile to explore the work of dedicated, passionate independent producers, particularly those in Japan, who bring a similarly high level of artistry and commitment to their craft. I hope it makes sense. |
- 23 posts total