STAX SRM-252S Blackgate Capacitor

If you following the components upgrade on the STAX SRM-252S previously here & here, you probably know that the capacitor near the transformer labeled C36 is has critical point to effect the sound quality. That is why I leave it with the standard OEM Sanyo capacitor after I change it to higher grade but the sound comes worse. Then on hand I got this Rubycon Blackgate capacitor. It is a legendary capacitor that still glorify by many audiophile until today. Not harm for me to test this new capacitor once again in the STAX SRM-252S headphones amplifier and what is the result after this upgrade is so curious.

I measure this Blackgate capacitor using digital LCR meter and this is the result.

Previously I using the Elna Cerafine which the look very similar to this Blackgate capacitor but the result in sound improvement not so good.

Surprisingly the measurement result of Cerafine is actually better than Blackgate in term of ESR and V-Loss.

Open up the STAX headphones amplifier, this is the green Sanyo capacitor that I will replace with this Blackgate capacitor. Marking on the board is C36 and location near the transformer.

This replacement only takes few minutes and the new capacitor is in.

Honestly this is my first experience with Blackgate capacitor. I do all out in this section after several times desperate with the bad result from changing to other well known capacitors brands. I guess the Blackgate is the best capacitor right now and I just want to put it in.

Rumors said that every Blackgate capacitor sound worse before breaking in. It will also need long time to breaking in. I guess it is about more than 300 hours. But in my case, this replacement to Blackgate give noticeable improvement on the mid range right after I change it. It is not subjective but it is the new improvement on how the vocal sound deliver more detail. This improvement give better vocal presence just like right in front of you. I still hoping the longer it work, the more improvement I got from this Blackgate capacitor after it is breaking in.

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