Mods for a PS Audio HCA-2?

One more thing I should mention. Paul Mc Gowan was asked on the PS Audio discussion forum about the difference between the HCA-2 and the Classic 250. He said that the HCA-2 does some things better than the Classic- I think he said faster transients, and more linear response among other things, but that it could never have the "weight" of the Classic 250.

I remember that comment because the mods I made to the HCA-2, really improved the "weight," making almost everything from piano, drums or the full orchestra have a power and realism that just wasn't there before. I can now listen to a piano, and the left hand notes are now room-filling, big, round powerful notes. Kick drums shake the room, but in a very realistic way, not just a big sloppy thump. And when an orchestra gets going, it makes the hair stand up on you neck- just the way it's supposed to.

One other minor tweak I forgot to mention in the previous post was removing the mounting bolt that runs through the center line of the torroidal transformer. This simple mod gives a more open and airy sound. But you absolutely must use extreme caution when moving the amp around, because if that transformer gets lose, it will do some serious damage!

So to conclude, I think at $1695, the HCA-2 is a great amp for the money. But add the $500 of mods, and now it's just a great amp- period.

I was intrigued to come across these comments about the improvements the mods make, because they sound like what I might be looking for. I've owned an HCA-2 for a few months now, and while I don't regret the purchase -- I'd find it hard to go back to a conventional solid-state amp now -- I've been bothered a lack of body and texture in the mid-range and upper bass. Sort of a thinness or hollowness.

Using a PS Audio Statement interconnect between the pre-amp (Marsh p2000) and amp somehow seemed to help to fill in the texture a little, but I'm still looking for more. I'd appreciate any further thoughts on what I might try next. Have other HCA-2 owners found the mods to solve the kind of problem I'm having? Or should I try other things first, like a different power cord (right now I'm using a LAT)? For the record, the rest of my system comprises an Arcam CD92 and Thiel 2.3 speakers, with Acoustic Zen Matrix Ref IIs between the CD player and preamp, Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables, and a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet to the CD player.

Thanks for any tips.

The thing that folks need to understand about stock components is that they may have great frequency response with a steady-state signal, but they usually have dissapointing transient response. Mods are the only way to fix this. Power delivery to the active devices is the problem. The capacitor types and locations, the wiring topology and wire types make a huge difference here. A typical sotck amp may have great bass response and reasonable mid-band transient response, but lousy high-frequency transient response. Unless the transient resopnse is UNIFORM at all frequencies, the music will not sound live.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer
http://www.empiricalaudio.com

Naunc, I have never heard your speakers so I am speaking totally out of school here, but what I have read on this board and others is that what you are hearing, many others have iterated about Thiels.

Before I get any Thiel owners upset, I am not saying they are not great speakers, but I think it comes down to one's preferences when listening to Thiels as with many other speakers.

I don't have the issues you describe with my HCA-2, but in fairness, I have done some mods to my amp that did greatly improve the amp. Unfortunately, it has been so long since I heard my amp stock that my lack of aural memory doesn't allow me to specifically address the stock sound of the HCA-2.

Well, yes, the Thiels are certainly what I would call a cool sounding speaker but I did hear more body and warmth from them with other amps I auditioned. It's just that the HCA-2 was so good in other respects, and especially in avoiding the hardness and greyness of other solid state amps. I'm hoping that the things I'm not so happy about with the HCA-2 are not due to anything intrinsic in the design but can be tweaked away somehow.