ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

[mikay786]

Got this sub basically for free from a guy a bought some surround sound speakers off. It's a proper beast of a sub and sounds amazing.

Its basically got a loud hum when powered on, a little hum in standby but mainly when powered on.

Cracked it open and all Jun Fu caps and from what I've gathered from here is they last just about as long as the warranty does. Given sub is about 6 years old I suspect its the caps. Normally I would just cheap out and just replace caps that need replacing but I think this is worth a full recap and to be fair there aren't that many electrolytics in it.

Don't want to change the main caps if I don't have to as they are expensive? if not will replace too. Anyhow these are the caps

Jun Fu - 100uf 100v (HK105 0501)
3 x Jun Fu - 220uf 25v (RB 0411)
7 x Jun Fu - 100uf 16v (RB 0502)
4 x Jun Fu - 22uf 25v (LL)
Jun Fu - 2.2uf 50v (LL)

Main Caps

2 x Jun Fu - 4700uf 80v (LP 0501)

Questions, will Panasonic FCs be suitable to replace these or do I need audio grade stuff? Or anything better.

If I was to replace main caps what caps should I use, are the main caps just regular caps or are filter caps a different type?

[stj]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

replace everything under 80v with panasonic FR

the others will need to be worked out.
you should probably post the diameter and height of them and if they use 10mm spaced snap-in terminals

[stj]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

btw, scrape all that glue off the track-side,
and make a list of the bastard surface-mount caps

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Oh no the surface mounts too!

I end up just pulling pads

Are FRs better than FCs?

I'll look at the surface mount ones in morning.

[stj]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

FC are being phased out, FR are like a longlife version of FM - they are also cheaper

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Jun Fu - 100uf 100v (HK105 0501) 10mm x 20mm
3 x Jun Fu - 220uf 25v (RB 0411) 8mm x 12mm
7 x Jun Fu - 100uf 16v (RB 0502) 5mm x 12mm
Jun Fu - 100uf x 25v (RB 0503) 6mm x 12mm
4 x Jun Fu - 22uf 25v (LL) 5mm x 12mm
Jun Fu - 2.2uf 50v (LL) 5mm x 12mm

Main Caps
2 x Jun Fu - 4700uf 80v (LP 0501) 30mm x 36mm

Surface Mount

9 x 4k 22 16v
2 x 4& 100 16v
2 x 1 50s G84

I'm not gonna mess with the surface mount caps, that a bit past my technical ability at the moment.

Also has 4 x 470nj100 yellow rectangle caps? Seems they are correction caps. Are these worth changing too?

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Not impressed with how thermal paste is making contact with heatsink. Not even spread, cant imagine it would be transferring heat away efficiently.

Some shots of the board with the surface mount caps on. Out of my league changing those. But will do the others first and see how it goes.

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

• Jun Fu - 100uf 100v (HK105 0501) 10mm x 20mm / EEUFR2A101 http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic-elec...&categoryName=
  
• 3 x Jun Fu - 220uf 25v (RB 0411) 8mm x 12mm / EEUFR1E221 http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic-elec...&categoryName=
  
• 7 x Jun Fu - 100uf 16v (RB 0502) 5mm x 12mm / EEUFR1C101 http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic-elec...rad/dp/1907228
  
• Jun Fu - 100uf x 25v (RB 0503) 6mm x 12mm / EEUFR1E101 http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic-elec...rad/dp/1907235
  
• 4 x Jun Fu - 22uf 25v (LL) 5mm x 12mm / EEA-FC1E220 http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic-elec...&categoryName=
  
• Jun Fu - 2.2uf 50v (LL) 5mm x 12mm / EEUFC1H2R2 http://uk.farnell.com/panasonic-elec...rad/dp/1848456

4 x 470nj100 / EPCOS B32529C1474J189 Film Capacitor http://uk.farnell.com/epcos/b32529c1...rad/dp/2315556 (not sure on this)

Mostly FR with a couple of FCs, how does that look?

[stj]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

looks o.k. dont bother with the film caps

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Would the surface mount caps be as bad condition wise as the junfu stuff?

Any tips on how to do these, I might just order some. Only just do the JunFu caps first and if the fixes it will leave the others. If not will change the SMD caps too or attempt to anyway.

Anything else I should look at?

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

They don't have any 22uf 25v FC series in stock (Nor others FR etc) Am I ok going with 22uf 35v FC series on these?

[stj]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

35v is fine - try to use FR rather than FC

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Changed over all caps and just about to put back together.

Many of the caps reading low and all had very high ESR compared to the new Panasonic ones.

I'm using http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181861030068 , that you linked to in another thread. Not sure how accurate it is as first time using it but new Panasonics are reading

Pana FR 220uf 25v = 207uf 0.14 ohm ESR

JunFu 220uf 220v = 167uf 3.3 ohm ESR
JunFu 220uf 220v =182uf 4.8 ohm esr
JunFu 220uf 220v =97uf 0.14k ohm esr

Quite a few others are reading low too.

Is ESR something that can deteriorate as well or is that their standard spec?

That's like 30x the ESR

[mikay786]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

All sorted, working like a champ.

No hum in standby or on. shame they used junk caps on what was a £700 sub.

[Maxwell4321]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Hi,
Am about to do this job on my own amp but rather than Panasonic caps I am thinking of using Rubycon but am unsure which would be the best type (series) to use.

Any advice gratefully received
Thanks

[rickrhua2]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Just had a mate with the same loud hum problem with his RSW12. I had some cheap caps in a packet and have now just replaced the 3 - 220uF 25V caps and already it is much better. I will prob replace the others in the list above as well. 20 mins work and 50p of cheap caps (not ideal but was just a test) and it looks like we have a solution!
Thanks OP and others for your valuable help.

[Faerloev]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

I also have this humming sub. I just received new caps today - all ordered from mikay786's shopping list. Thank you very much for taking the time to write that. :-)

Since I'm no expert I will perform the procedure on sunday to make sure I have plenty of time, so there is no stress.

One thing I couldn't quite figure out is from your posts; did you end up leaving the original 4700 uF 80 V caps in or did you replace them too?

[Faerloev]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Forgot to say: Also thanks to stj for the input. :-)

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

The large capacitors should be replaced too, they do most of the hard work. If there is room, there will be no harm in going for a higher capacity value, it will give more reserve headroom for those long bass notes or explosions.

[Nutcasey]

Re: ReCap on a Monitor Audio RSW-12 Sub

Out of interest, how hot was your soldering iron that you used to get the old capacitors off of the board?