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In Reply to: RE: Kenwood KT-8300 posted by Todd A. on December 21, 2014 at 09:30:43
Typical audio upgrades include replacing coupling capacitors with ELNA Silmic II and replacing the original op-amps with later audio grade op-amps.
Unfortunately, these type of mods have not been well received by the 'status quo' as most simply purchase the best sounding tuners in stock form. Thus, not many techs perform these mods.
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What you mentioned is probably the most significant "easily heard" and easy mod one could do. Need to be careful though, as replacing *all* electrolytic coupling caps with Silmic IIs can make the sound too soft and too bassy. I would say, in general, no more than two stages of Silmic IIs before a (preferably) film output cap. The mids tend to get significantly recessed with too many Silmic stages. Luckily this "mod" is easy to do and hear, so can do one stage (edit: and channel, to compare) at a time. Cheap too!
Edits: 01/11/15
Actually, I have (had) a lot of those terribly expensive and rather compact Sprague 10uF @ 50 volt poly caps. So, I do mix.
Totally on the same track. I have a lot of the (apparently very uncommon now?) Roederstein 10uF/250V polycarbonate caps that I tend to really like the sound of (it's quite distinctive re the mids, and lasts pretty much forever). So I mix to taste with the Silmic IIs, can give a whole new life to a tuner: the (actual) silk of Silmic and the smooth sweetness of PC.
There aren't a lot of good-sounding FM stations around here anymore, they mostly all need sonic help. Only one (jazz) sounds like you may actually be listening to an LP, and another (classical) also has enough dynamic range to be stimulating. Unfortunately those aren't my preferred genres...
Love Kenwood tuners. IMO they had the best designers (I'm a ham too) and it's true they built to a price, but they really knew their stuff. And they were/are very reliable too. I have one that's been powered on 24/7 since the 90s. I would buy pretty much even the cheapest Kenwood tuner for $100, if it was looking good and everything appeared to work (usually old stuff that looks like new was taken good care of).
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