2. amps-preamps
  3. 149054-2693

I Recapped my Conrad Johnson PFR. Wow! Some of the best $$$ I've spent

Wow! What a thrill. I've had this preamp for about 15 Yrs and it has always been a good performer. But I can't remember it sounding any better than it does now. The tech used the best Nichicon resistors available. Now I'm considering hhaving my CDP recapped and maybe the speaker crossovers too. That should make nearly a new sounding system. So it cost me a little less than $200 to get the caps replaced and the solder joints inspected and fixed on the PFR. I assume this is a good use of funds  And its sure cheaper than buying that tube preamp that I've been looking at for quite some time. But even though my system sounds very good, I keep looking at the tube preamps for some reason. Hmmm
128x128artemus_5
erik_squires
15,877 posts
 
From what I've read, the OP had his power supply caps replaced. Interesting he's not the only one who has done this with 1980s/1990s equipment and heard an improvement.


Electrolytic caps are much better now than they were then, with lower inductance and ESR not to mention they are often physically smaller.  Using underrated high temp caps you can extend the life of the replacement by decades.


Of all the cap mods, this one is probably the easiest and safest, since no parts are in the audio signal path.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
mijostyn blathers:
millercarbon it would seem you are an expert at losing money. Wouldn't you rather buy more music?? I guess not.

So the subject, which you can scroll up and read the title but I'll save you the effort, is:
  "I Recapped my Conrad Johnson PFR. Wow! Some of the best $$$ I've spent."

Which is pretty much what I said. And pretty much what a lot of others are saying.

So gosh it kind of looks like you were so hell-bent on insulting me you unwittingly insulted the OP, and everyone else. And who knows, maybe even your own intelligence. 






russellrcncom
305 posts
 

Artemis-5: do ‘you (or anyone else for that matter) know of anyone that is doing upgrades on Vintage CJ equipment?  I’m more inclined to have a complete overhaul on my PF-R but at the very least would like to have the caps replaced.  Thanks.

marco1's avatar
marco1
499 posts
 

@russellrcncom  

Conrad Johnson will update any of their older equipment.  Also Bill Thalman at Music Direct who used to be one of their engineers is also an excellant source and would probably be a little cheaper. 

marco1's avatar
marco1
499 posts
 

Whoops, Bill is at Music Technologies?

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