Just recently bought one here on audiogon...everything on that amp is as close to perfect as it could be for the price. The optional phono-stage is outstanding. Surely this is something I will not give away anymore, at least until I'm finally deaf...
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Pause, you may not be the only one holding on to the Capri. . . if the drying up of used Capris offered on Agon is any indication, it looks like more and more audiophile may be finally ketching on that this is a great linestage, regardless of physical size and moderate price. In the meantime, new Capris are shipping briskly from the factory. G. |
Even though it gives me pause (yuck), I agree with your shorthand, but "tube sound" is so broad that it is dangerous. As you know, some tube amps are very colored and euphonic, particularly at the less expensive end of the "quality" scale. Many, IMHO, are designed with the attitude of "let give them what they want" rather than with a view toward accuracy. Unfortunately, when many hear "tube-like" I'm afraid that euphonia the image counjured up. People with that image in there heads (I venture to say that's roughly half our readers here) will likely be sorely disappointed in the Capri. The Capri will NOT smooth out the hardness of their cheap CDP or DAC and they'll report something like, "the Capri is hard edged sounding in my system, but my XYZ amp is 'musical'". (Neither will the "best" tube preamps, which is what I think you're referring to). Dave |
I was one of the guys whocalled the Capri "tube-like". Frankly it just seemed the easiest way to characterize it because of the Capri's inherent musicality, sweetness and texture. It's just a sweet little amp and the description is more a short hand than a literal description. Plus between your typical SS and Tube, it definitely leans more on the tube side but on the SS side it has drive, resolution, authority and bass, ergo my initial description "the sweetness and musicality of tubes with the drive of solid state". |
Guido, hopefully we all recognize this. You have written some very good comparisons and review information on the Capri. I find your overall sentiments abouts its performance to be accurate. Everybody should (without even saying so) recognize that your comments pertaining to IT vs. the Ref 3 is subjective and based on your priorities. I, for one, certainly do not feel you owe any explanations or justifications for your statements. |
Pinkus, I agree with you about Capri not being a tube surrogate. Only its general lack of 'grain' reminds me a little of some tube designs. While I do admit that I personally prefer Capri over Ref 3 based on a few parameters that are important to me, I must stress that this is purely a matter of a narrowly defined a/b 'preference', and never one of Capri inherently 'being better' than anything else, or by extension. . . it being an 'absolute best.' G. |
FWIW, I use the Tel Wire power cord on my Capri with great results so far. Again, Ckoffend's experience mirror mine so far. Great preamp for the price, but definitely not tube sounding to me in the euphonic sense. BTW - I swore I posted this somewhere yesterday but don't see it. Can anyone explain why the phase switch is manual only and not available via remote. |
Thanks for the references Ckoffend, I stand corrected. ;-) I would never say that the Capri is "tube-like" but maybe that's because I don't necessarily see that as a plus. I know that many seek a euphonic experience and often receive it with tubes. Many other tube users merely seek sonic accuracy and the leading tube devices provide that. In this case, the Capri is more like the second set of tube devices, providing non-euphonic accuracy, in my estimation. I hesitate to call that "tube like", given the substantial constituents of tube devices that seek euphonics. Accuracy should not mean "tube-like" or "ss-like" or "Class D-like" or "Class A-like" or "SET-like", since accuracy is it's own standard. Getting rid of the "-like" allows us to listen without the handicap of expectations. I see that you surely understand this, given your equipment choices. I only make these comments as so many come to these discussions with an expectation of a particular euphonic quality whenever "tube" is inserted into a description. I know it's often consider a compliment, but the discussion sometimes gets wobbly when it's relied on as a descriptor. Dave |
Dave/Dcstep, the following comments were taken from a very, very quick review of previous posts within this thread alone. I scrolled up to the top and looked at about the 1st 15-20 posts (or so, I didn't actually count) with the following quotes: From Above: 01-22-07: Nolitan i had the pleasure of borrowing a Capri pre-amp for about two months now with the contention of probably buying it. Like most posters rowland is smooth and tube like--yup, thats the sound. No grain. 03-29-08: Pause Â…Â… The sweetness and musicality of tubes with the drive and authority of solid state. 03-29-08: Guidocorona "sweetness and musicality of tubes with the drive and authority of solid state." Pause, my sentiments exactly. May I quote you if I ever write a review of the Capri for TAS? I have read several similar comments in other threads on this preamp about it being "tube-like" sounding. Look, I think this is a terrific preamp and I also feel it is one helluva bargain. I just don't see that it is tube-like as opposed to performing how good SS can perform (there is a lot of good SS amps and preamps that are quite smooth sounding). Guido - I have a couple hundred hours on the preamp since I received it. It came right out of another system and has thousands of hours on it. I am very happy with it, but I may need to re-position my speakers based on its differences to the Calypso which was taken out of my system. Before everyone jumps on me for not having the appropriate source, etc. . . I have run two digital players into it (EMM Labs and now an Esoteric X-03SE). My amp is a Krell FPB 300C and speakers are Wilson Watt/Puppy 5.1 with Transparent cables (speaker/IC) and various power cables. I do plan to purchase the power cable that Guido recommends in another thread (I believe it was from another thread) for this preamp. And finally, for the record, Guido's comments had much to do with my purchasing of this preamp. Thanks Guido, while I don't agree 100% with every glowing statement, the reveiws were well written and I agree that this is an excellent preamp, made even more impressive by its very reasonable price. |
I would agree with Ckoffend's comments for the most part. I don't feel the Capri delivers the deepest of sound stages or the tightest bass, but I do feel it is resolving and has many other attributes. Overall I enjoy this preamp and the phono stage is a bonus. It has also been a very good match with my VAC Musicblocs. |
Choffend said: "... The Capri, reported by many (herein included) to be sort of tube sounding, especially for a SS preamp." I don't recall anyone ever saying such a thing about the Capri. Was it here on Agon? I'm curious to read that post. I like your description of the highs, which is very consistant with my observation. I'm using the Continuum and don't note the imaging issue that you point out. Cutting out the amp/pre interface is very nice. In this case, I think that less is more. Dave |
Recently I purchased a used Capri and in my downgrading/simplifying my system from an Aesthetix Calypso with upgraded NOS tubes. First off, the Calypso was/is a great preamp, one of my favorites and one of the best values in preamps. To the point, the Calypso is a better preamp in most areas over the Capri, but in most cases by a fairly small margin. The most notable preference of the Calypso over the Capri is in its ability to deliver and maintain a sound stage that is filled with musicians and instruments without collapsing or becoming congested. While the Capri does not fall apart in this regard, I have found it does not compete with the Calypso's abilities to maintain stabiity and focus playing a moderately loud, large recording piece. Surprisingly, I also found the Calypso's bass was a bit tighter and more musical than that of the Capri. This was/is my largest surprise considering tubes vs. solid state. I find that the Capri is better, almost surprisingly with with the upper frequency metalic sounds of symbols, bells and the like. The Capri delivers a glass like view into these areas (glass translating to clear, not brittle or bright). This is actually the part of the Capri that I like best. I also find the Capri slightly more resolving - this was expected based on tubes vs. SS and did not come as a surprise. All this being said, the Calypso is said by many to being of a sound combination between tubes and SS, more SS than many other tube preamps. The Capri, reported by many (herein included) to be sort of tube sounding, especially for a SS preamp. I think the former is more accurate with regards to the Calypso than the latter with the Capri sounding tube like. For example, I don't find it quite as tube like as two of the Ayre preamps (both SS). Having owned several tubed preamps from Cary and BAT, it is no where near as tube sounding as either of these brands. Overall though, I would place the Capri in a short list or category of real value for your money performance. Also in this list I would have to include the Calypso (one of the best bang for your buck performers), the Resolution Audio Opus 21 with GNSC mods and possibly even throwing in the Totem Arro speakers which can be had used for about $600. Overall, the Capri is a nice preamp which I can recommend, even more so for its very reasonable price tag. Unfortunately, I cannot say that it performs to the level of the REF 3 (which I felt was one of only a very few preamps that I have heard that exceeded the performance of the Calypso). In the meantime, I will spend some time re-adjusting my speaker placement (which over many months had been fine tuned with my Calypso) with the Capri now in place to see if this impacts my opinions with regard to bass performance and holding its focus in large scale recordings. |
"Well, I've had my capri running for close to a 1000 hours and it sounds fantastic." Thank you Pause, your finding validates my own. . . it takes an inordinate amount of time for the Capri to shine. . . probably about 1000 hours or more. . . but once it has finally stabilized, extreme patience is rewarded. . . Capri is an amazing pre! |
Well, I've had my capri running for close to a 1000 hours and it sounds fantastic. I'm totally loving this little amp. This is the cornerstone of my system, the speakers, power amp and cd player all contribute to a great degree but the Capri makes the world go round. Even when I had cheaper speakers, and cheaper power amps and cd players the Capri was what really made things musical. It gave the music a sweetness and quality that was just addictive. Forget all the audiophile values and terms. This is just a musical little amp and continues to reward. |
I opened the unit to change the gain on the phono boards and was amazed at their size. Swapping the gain though was a snap. I haven't heard the phono stage yet but I have had the K&K Audio SE and Hagerman Trumpet recently and if it gives me at least 80% of what those two phono stages could deliver I'd be happy. |
Congrats Clio, I found that my own Capri kept opening up throughout 4 months of heavy usage. I recommend that you put about 1,000 hours of playing time on it yourself before you decide what the creature does for living. By the way, you should leve it on at all times, unless there were thunderstorm or other heavy weather. . . . just do not expect 'midrange bloom'. . . you won't find it, even after 1000 hrs. . . . authority, definition, extension, and harmonic complexity will come in very gradually. |
Just got the Capri and put it in my system yesterday. Currently running it single ended but that will change once I get some balanced cables. I'm currently looking at trying Mogami Neglex, Oyaide Pa-02TX, and Magnan Vi. I may add the Alha Core TQ-2 to the mix as well. Any other suggestions from Capri owners would be appreciated. I bought a used unit here on Audiogon so I'm hoping break in time will be minimized. I ran my Granite Audio burn-in CD through it yesterday and there is about another 36 hours on it so far. Initial impressions are the preamp is quiet and more detailed. Sound is smooth, but somewhat relaxed. Soundstage is not as deep as the VAC Avatar SE, but still very acceptable. I'm running the Capri through the HT bypass on the VAC Avatar SE while I await my VAC Auricle Musicblocs. |
Search around for Guido's comments regarding the PFC. He prefers the Capri without PFC. Since it's a low current device, that's very understandable, but YMMV depending on the quality of your mains' power and the load presented by other devices in the same circuit. Guido's JRDG 312 amp has PFC, so you know it's presenting a nice sine-wave like demand to his mains, but you may not have that case in your system. Everyone that I know that combined the Capri with amps without onboard PFC, like the Rowland 501s, noted a very major gain by adding PFC to both, which the PC1 is set up to do with Rowland products. That 385v is after PFC in DC mode. In AC mode (w/o PFC) you could hear some voltage sensitivity. Like I said earlier, a lot will depend on the basic stability of your mains along with whatever your amps and other components may be doing to contaminate. All that said, assuming a relatively average environment, I think you'll be darn happy with the Capri without PFC, particularly if you use balanced at every possible point. Dave |
For the time being I'd like to keep tubes for my amp. So the VAC or Atma-sphere come to mind (my speakers were voiced with the latter, but the designer also feels the VAC amps work well, which they have so far with the Avatar SE). I've seen the Hagerman card now that you mention it and will order one. Since I'm using a MM cartridge the load is not an issue. I'm more concerned with the quality of the phono stage. I suspect the Capri phono will be fine. I've read where the Capri on its own is immune to voltage swings. If I recall it can operate optimally at as low as 85 or as high as 385v. I read how some people use the PFC and I get that it actually mimics batter power with the conversion to DC, but I think I might hold off on that for now. |
Hi again Clio, interesting you use VAC: Capri has same output impedance of 40Ohms SE and 80Ohms balanced as VAC Ren II pre. I suspect impedance match will be quite good. What I am not sure is if VAC is differentially balanced or simply has XLR inputs. . . may make a difference on Capri performance. Guido |
Yes, use balanced wherever you can. VAC will be excellent, now and post upgrade, but try to hear all-Rowland with Power Factor Correction before you make a final decision on that amp upgrade. YMMV regarding balanced, as a lot depends on your RFI/EMI environment and how tightly packed your components are (particularly the digital stuff). The inverse RIAA card kit is $29 from Hagerman The Capri's phono card is excellent, in the very top echelon. In my case it blew away my Pro-ject SEII, but, more importantly, it replaced a Levinson and a Sutherland in other systems that I know of. I don't know of anyone that replaced a K&K and I've never heard the K&K. Everyone's reporting plenty of gain with a wide variety of pickups along with enough loading choices to work with most cartridges. (If you've got "special needs" for loading, then there could be an issue, but the Capri handles "standard" loads). Uncolored, transparent, sweet, open, large stable image are things that I've heard from the three or four reporters that I've heard from directly by phone or email. The phono presentation is very consistent with the line inputs. Dave |
Ultimately I would like to go to an all balanced set-up. I might be getting a set of VAC Musicblocs in the future with the balanced input upgrade to go with the Capri, but for now it will run unbalanced into the VAC Avatar SE. However, I may try the balanced outputs on my DAC into the balanced inputs on the Capri. I don't have balanced cables right now but I should be able to pick up some Mogami Neglex which would not be too expensive. Guido, I had read about the break in on the Capri. I will run my break in disc on it a few times and alternately run a CD on 24/7 repeat for a week to get things started. Dave, where do you get the inverse RIAA card? Also, how would you rate the phono section? I think the upgrade was only $750. I'm using the VAC Avatar SE phono now and have had a K&K Audio SE phono in the past. Any comparisons to these or other phono stages would be helpful. |
Clio09, I am even more conservative than Dave about Capri's breakin. . . mine has continued to sweeten and open up for over 3 months. . . I estimate that breakin time may be as much as 800 hrs before Capri stabilizes. after 100 or 150 hrs Capri will be quite good, but will be far from being at its best. A critical comparison with your current pre would still be premature with 150 hrs on it. G. |
Clio09, I think you'll be happy. Be sure to let the Capri burn-in at least 100-hours before getting critical in your listening, that includes the phono-stage (I bought a little inverse RIAA card that allowed me to burn in the phono cards with my CDP). Keep everything running for a week and you'll have 150-hours on it before you know it. It should be a fine match for you VAC. If you ever want to go ultra-quiet, then consider a full-Rowland set up with PFC and Rowland amps. Still, as you have planned should work well. Dave |
How would the Capri match with an Edge NL12.1? (I find the Edge to have a great grip on the bass, with lots of bass detail, smooth but well-textured mids and highs, and nothing really stands out in the entire spectrum. It has nicely rounded dense but not-too-thick images along with a moderate degree of airiness.) Thanks in advance for any thoughts or speculation. |
Capri and Concerto internals are extremely different--Capri being a brand new design based on TI Burr Brown OPA1632. However, not having had the opportunity of a direct a/b audition, I am not in a position of offering my own comparative findings. Rather, I have contrasted the Capri with the ARC Ref 3 for about 3 months and currently prefer Capri on most all audible parameters, in particular for extension, bass control, overall linearity, low level detail, harmonic development. Macro dynamics is comparable. Slightly more romantic and slightly darker the Ref 3 than Capri. Overall two great pres for slightly different musical tastes. I have posted some more detailed findings in other related threads on Audiogon. |
All, I am now feeding the JRDG Capri a steady diet of 384V DC through the JRDG PC1 PFC unit with very intriguing initial results. I have just started a new didicated thread if anyone were interested. . . http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1208046462&openmine&zzGuidocorona&4&5#Guidocorona Guido |
Rod did my Master Set also. I think it's critical to get that done before you start trying to evaluate equipment. Yes, you can evaluate equipment without a Master Set, but stopping the fight between the speakers and the room removes much stress (probably IM distortion)that makes it harder to hear the little refinements. When the speakers are working right, then the smaller difference pop out so much easier. Dave |
A_hayman: You should contact Rowland about your concern but my understanding of the amplifiers operation: They remain in standby consuming 7watts, they are waiting to get a active input from the preamp (when you turn on the preamp and present a signal) before the outputs of the amplifier are activated. You sound is severly hindered by not letting them stay on. If you are concerned pickup a Transparent Power Conditioner for the ultimate in protection Without limiting those amplifiers. |
