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 7 responses by sherod

sherod
1,690 posts
 
Tom monro,

Have you considered trying the OIMP(Oil impregnated) V-caps in your preamp outputs to compare to the Mundorfs you currently have in there? That would be an interesting comparison.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Very interesting Tom. I am assuming that the original cap in your preamp was a 3.3 uf value. I'm curious why you picked a 2.7 uf OIMP with a .22 uf Teflon bypass. Is this because it matched the original cap value better? I'm curious what the input impedance of your amp is as well. Is it tube also? I currently have a 4.0 uf OIMP in my preamp output that replaced a similar value Hovland cap. The OIMP after break-in definitely lets through more information, but to my ears offers a little bit too much full-bodied sound. Another gentleman who does quite a bit of modifications and is familiar with the V-caps suggested that I bypass with a .1 uf V-cap Teflon. I did that and currently have about 315 hours on the bypass, and although the tone is a little less full-bodied, the overall sound is a little too tilted up for my tastes. I'm wondering if maybe I should go with a smaller OIMP as you did and try the Teflon bypass again on it. HMMMMM. very interesting.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Thank you Tom, for your detailed reply. I have tube monoblock amps that also have an input impedance of 100K ohms. As I understand the formula for determining the preamp output cap value, the lower the cap value, the lower the bass -3db roll-off point, correct? Also, Tom, when you put in the OIMP 2.7 uf caps, did you put them in alone and break them in before you put on the Teflon bypass caps or did you put everything in together and go through the long break-in period?
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Well, here's my situation. I recently replaced two 4.0uf Hovland Musicaps for equal value V-Cap OIMP(oil impregnated) caps in the output of my preamp. After about 400 hours of break-in( ample time, I would imagine) I determined that the OIMP V-caps were superior in most respects, particularly in allowing more information through, especially in the highs. However, in my extended listening sessions, I've found that the OIMP has a slight sonic signature of a little extra warmth, fullness and perhaps a roundness or softness, if you will. This signature is easy to live with because it is euphonic and actually adds a texture or coloration that enhances rather that detracts from the listening experience. However, being the anal perfectionist that I am and wanting a purer and more neutral characteristic of tones and timbres, I decided to bypass the OIMP with a smaller( .1uf) V-cap teflon. After going through the unbearable time of break-in for the Teflons( I'm currently approaching 400 hours) I have concluded that although the teflon bypass caps do indeed take some of the over-warmthness away and nicely extend both frequency extremes, the overall sound has a shelved-effect. It's difficult to explain this phenomena, but it's like a tilting up of the frequency where all the frequencies seem a little thinner and elevated. This isn't a too bright sound, just an over-elevation of tonal balance. I'm now frustrated because I thought that maybe I had hit the ultimate synergy with the V-Cap combo. I haven't given up just yet, though. I'm thinking that maybe, the .1uf Teflon value might be either too large or too small. I'm not sure because this cap evaluation is relatively new to me. So maybe other members might be able to make some suggestions. My tube monoblock amps have an input impedance of 100K ohms and the preamp has roughly 600 ohms output.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Thank you everyone for your input. I am determined to get the right combo of values using these V-caps for my preamp outputs. I know it's a matter of trial and error, but the costs of these V-caps makes it a very expensive trial. I was hoping for some input from other V-cap users, particularly for the output cap in their tube preamp. I'll try to keep you posted on the developments.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Wow! A lot can happen in a couple of years. In the meantime, a new "kid on the block", Claritycap MR( stands for "minimum resonance") has gone into the outputs of my preamp and they are an amazing cap. So far, the best cap that sounds (or should I really say it sounds like "no cap") more neutral and transparent,along with incredible dynamics, than any other cap, including those mentioned, in my preamp. This cap has taken my preamp to new heights.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Undertow,
It was your post in Audiocircle, describing the mods you did to a Jolida phono preamp that convinced me to try out these new Claritycap MR caps. I had read in a few chat forums where these caps were being tried successfully in speaker cross-overs, but your post was the first where someone actually tried these new caps in an electronic component as a full-range capacitor. I want to thank you for introducing this cap to me. It has brought my preamp to a whole new level of listening enjoyment.
More to discover