2. amps-preamps
  3. 1146598194

Preamp Caps?Auricap,Mundorf, Hovland, jensen,solen

Hello,
I have a preamp with only 2 Signal caps directly in front of two tubes shot right out to the amps, extreme simplicity and excellent sound. This is the first preamp that came stock with Auricap's I have owned or heard, most in the past have always had Multicaps, Kimber caps in my previous pre's. I can say I think the Auricaps are quite a bit better but not that expensive or the end all-be all that I understand. Now I have had some crossovers and a Preamp with Solen fastcaps in it, and they are the best in Bass I have heard out of all of them, not that it makes them superior just an observation. I have also purchased Jensens oil and put them in Tube equipment in the past, not bad but did not blow my doors off.. And Finally Hovlands, not my Cup if you know what I mean, I found them the most expensive and the least impressive, could be the mix of component used in, but whatever too dry for me. Mundorf is a little newer on the scene to me and I thought the Hovlands were pretty obscene in cost, however these are the new Cost and hype leaders from what I can tell today. I am considering trying the Mundorf Silver in oil supreme caps at no small cost to see if they are gonna create more magic than the Auricaps. . What is the character of this cap? I want very 3d and open yet still have some intimate warmth and very powerful bass. Is this a cap worth venturing over all the other explanations I left here? Needs a liquid sound, and get that fairly deep bass solen seems to be capable of for only a couple dollars a cap, cause I do not want to soften the already slightly soft Tube bass. Thanks to all that know about this tweaking and expereance with these caps . . Again its only 2 Caps, very easy to install so its hard to keep my hands off, but do not want to go backwards or waste the cause if its not gonna be very significant in this specific application, Anybody know of any good tube equipment or preamps using these mundorf super caps? By the way my tubes are Mullards NOS. Preamp manufacture would seem to be irrelevant here and yes I am pretty dang happy with the sound for the money already, but there is always more right 
undertow

Showing 1 response by nutella

nutella
223 posts
 
I'll chime on here with my experiences and mind you this was in a coupling position on my amp.
I have had Auricap, Mundorf supreme, Mundorf Silver/oil, and Vcap. I have had hovlands and Cardas in other amps too but can't compare in this case.
I hate to use the usual audiophile jargon so I will just convey which were the best and most natural sounding. To me, I tend to prefer what sounds natural and real, you know, what real live unamplified music sounds like.
In my amp the auricaps although better than the stock solens were the poorest of the lot. While the Mundorf S/O's sounded nice, for some reason, I can detect silver in the signal path in my system and don't like it. It sounds un natural. I feel that for silver to work, the circuit has to be designed for silver.
The Mundorf supremes are quite good and excellent for the money. I loved the Audio note Coppers but they are massive (1uf) and would have to modify my amp to make them fit. And that is what I would have done if not for the Vcaps. The Audio notes are great but the Vcaps are amazing. How? it has already been said above.
So my advice is to splurge on the Vcaps. If they cost too much, try the oimps or the sonicaps as suggested above. Or if on a budget, the Cardas or Mundorf. There is a cap shootout on the Vcap website. Keep in mind that your preferences may not be the same of that author's. He rates the mundorf silvers above the silver/golds (which I have not heard) and the supremes. I did not care that much for the silvers. As they say YYMV
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