Here I am…
Just removed all the noise stopper caps from both the M1200s and the BHK Pre.
You are right, some differences are audible. Not night and day but clearly audible. Maybe I’m victim of a sort of placebo effect, who can say?
Spaciousness.
The soundstage is a little bit wider and deeper.
Naturalness.
This is the biggest difference I can hear. Music sounds more analog, vivid, voices in particular are more realistic. So in the mid area guitars are more present in a way that let them emerge compared to what I used to hear before.
Clarity.
Not so a big difference, anyhow a little layer seems to be unveiled now. Engagement has increased if this kind of sound matches your tastes. Especially in high frequencies I can hear a more sparkle feeling. Not harsh or edged but definitely more refined.
Transients.
It seems that also for what concern this quality a little bit of more impact is reaching the chest now in a pleasant way. I hear basses produce less echoes or resonances. Simply more tighten without exaggeration that sometimes may appear like distortion.
Am I really hearing all these things just taking away 20 little pieces of metal from unused inputs and outputs? For sure! Be aware, you need to know your system very well, there aren’t improvements or differences so evident to be heard by all. If I probably ask to my wife she would say I’m crazy. As she usually says when I cry for a miracle changing cables, regenerators or cartridges, and she is probably right. So what?
Conclusions.
Have I spent money for nothing? I don’t know. I will keep all the caps away for a while before deciding what I like or not even if a dust protection is a factor I want to consider too. As for merely sound consideration I probably prefer my system without the caps, for the moment.
Thank you dchang05 and phrozario, a trial was necessary to play with these tweaks indeed. More accurate listenings will tell.
Once more: what a wonderful hobby!