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Finding Reputable modifiers for HCA-2

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Posted on July 14, 2016 at 14:19:06
Supercool!
Audiophile

Posts: 703
Location: East Coast
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Hi, I am a little late to the table on this but I'm trying to find someone who will do informed mods to my PS Audio HCA-2. I've read horror stories about one of the companies that used to do very specific mods for this amp so now I'm looking for someone I can trust on three levels...Honesty, Experience and Quality. Any suggestions from non-vendors would be appreciated. Many thanks in advance!

 

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RE: Finding Reputable modifiers for HCA-2, posted on July 14, 2016 at 23:02:26
AbeCollins
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Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
But why? The HCA-2 is not a bad sounding amp on it's own. It's a bit dated so I suspect that it has fallen out of favor with modders. It should also be noted that it might cost less to buy a newer Class D amp as they have improved quite a bit over the years since the HCA-2.

I've owned two HCA-2 amps. The very early ones were higher gain at the expense of some audible hissing with your ear up by the speaker. These were pretty good with passive preamps. PS Audio soon reduced the gain of these amps w/o mentioning it. The lower gain units were quieter and better suited for more traditional active preamps.

 

Good advice---NT, posted on July 15, 2016 at 07:44:45
lancelot
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Posts: 1722
Joined: March 23, 2001
 NT

 

RE: Finding Reputable modifiers for HCA-2, posted on July 15, 2016 at 16:05:37
Supercool!
Audiophile

Posts: 703
Location: East Coast
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Thanks for the suggestion.

I also do like my HCA-2 and have it paired with a Jeff Rowland Consonance pre and Von Schweikert VR4jrs...all of which I have been very happy with (I also have studio and vintage gear but this is kind of my "audiophile" system for now). I had read that the swap of caps, silver wire etc made a fine but slightly "pale" amp a giant killer. The only gripe I've had is that the amp could use just a touch more warmth.

I've tried a number of power cables which had audible effects and ended up with a VH Audio cable into a properly arrayed isolated ground outlet.

Which Class Ds would you recommend..or should I really look at something analogue?

As always the astute expertise on this forum is greatly respected and appreciated. Thank you!



 

RE: Finding Reputable modifiers for HCA-2, posted on July 15, 2016 at 18:51:40
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Whom, mods PS Audio gear?

 

RE: Finding Reputable modifiers for HCA-2, posted on July 17, 2016 at 21:46:44
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
I vaguely recall some of the minor mods you mentioned for the HCA-2 amps from years ago. You may need to do some serious Google searching. ;-)

As I mentioned before I think it just fell out of favor as the HCA-2 is not as popular as it once was. The HCA-2 was a fine amp. You could try a vacuum tube linestage if you are seeking more warmth. Possibly a Cary, CJ, BAT, and others. My experience with Audio Research is that they are not very 'warm' sounding as vacuum tube gear goes. This isn't a bad thing but if you seek 'warmth' I would look to other brands.

I'm still not a huge fan of Class D amps but they have improved a lot over the years. My Wyred4Sound SX-500 monoblocks were better sounding to my ears than the HCA-2. But this is a very personal matter and it's not like there was anything wrong with the HCA-2.



 

Agree but may I add, posted on July 18, 2016 at 09:55:47
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I would agree if you want to add warmth the tube preamp is a wonderful suggestion. Once you start modding those amps it's a long dark road with few rewards in a potential to a trashed amp.

I have the Conrad Johnson classic 2SE. It isn't a warm and fuzzy preamp but it IS a very clean clear sound that really did take out that "edge" people often mention with SS gear.

One option is also a McIntosh preamp. I was NEVER a big fan of their amps. but they seem to make a great preamp that is actually very "tube like" in sound. I've always liked their preamps very much. Very laid back gentle sound like tubes but CLEARLY not a rolled off or low dynamic sound. What or how they do it?????????????? but it works.

 

RE: Agree but may I add, posted on July 18, 2016 at 12:44:31
AbeCollins
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Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
Interesting. I have no experience with McIntosh preamps and only a few older CJ units.



 

RE: Agree but may I add, posted on July 18, 2016 at 14:05:30
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I do like my CJ very much and would highly recommend it to the OP as an option. However it is not a warm and fuzzy like you would expect from a tube preamp. But I do like it very much.

I've had a number of McIntosh preamps and I also liked them very much. They maintained detail with the nice touch of warmth. Would I take a gamble and drop $5k on one now - ah not unless I win a lottery.

Although I do wish I had one or two of them now to compare. You know how you can remember things more fondly then they really were.

 

Installing Black Gates was a relitivly easy and worthwhile DIY modification., posted on July 18, 2016 at 20:40:44
M-dB
Audiophile

Posts: 295
Location: Nor Cal
Joined: June 26, 2014
 Unfortunately, they're no longer available. Their break in time was varied and sometimes quite long. Mine responded greatly to my homes rewiring including the dedicated audio and HT circuits, and NuForce speaker cable.

 

Nichicon makes Excellent audio grade caps, posted on July 19, 2016 at 08:08:07
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I've been using them for years as well as the Black Gates. Actually truth be told I like them better than the Black Gates. So much so I gave my stash away.

I don't have the updated chart but go to Mouser's site and look them up. They now have a few new Audio Grade caps that are REALLY wonderful!!!!

They have come a LONG way with electrolytic caps and sound quality.

charles

 

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