jbhiller-
did you get my PM with my email address? I'd like to see a pic. Thanks.
did you get my PM with my email address? I'd like to see a pic. Thanks.
V-Cap CuTF .22 on Gain Tubes-- Primaluna Dialogue HP Integrated
I'm about a week into swapping out the Mundorf MCap EVO SilverGold capacitors located on the two innermost gain preamp tubes in a Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated.
These were a bit above what I'd normally spend on such a tweak, but hey, we people spends hundreds and thousands on cables, treatments, etc. And, I had ordered them for another project and decided to use MIFLEX (Polish caps) in that amp. So, returning the V-Caps was too much work. Confession--no it wasn't; I just wanted a $250 Christmas gift.
One week into playing them and they are alive and dynamic. They are clean, glowy, musical, and engaging. They are smoother so I can push the volume up a bit with less fatigue. They are bigger sounding in all respects. They sound really together but not buttoned up. I'm impressed.
I'll spare all of us the audiophile descriptors, but instead I'll just say the words that kept popping in my head this week--"These are seductive...just keep drawing me back for more listening."
Highly recommended. 30 minute tweak that is worth every penny.
Now, the question is, do I go back in and upgrade the host of DuRoche caps linked to the power tube sockets and the two caps smoothing out the power supply side? I cannot afford to do all V-Cap CuTFs throughout--nor will they fit in all places.
These were a bit above what I'd normally spend on such a tweak, but hey, we people spends hundreds and thousands on cables, treatments, etc. And, I had ordered them for another project and decided to use MIFLEX (Polish caps) in that amp. So, returning the V-Caps was too much work. Confession--no it wasn't; I just wanted a $250 Christmas gift.
One week into playing them and they are alive and dynamic. They are clean, glowy, musical, and engaging. They are smoother so I can push the volume up a bit with less fatigue. They are bigger sounding in all respects. They sound really together but not buttoned up. I'm impressed.
I'll spare all of us the audiophile descriptors, but instead I'll just say the words that kept popping in my head this week--"These are seductive...just keep drawing me back for more listening."
Highly recommended. 30 minute tweak that is worth every penny.
Now, the question is, do I go back in and upgrade the host of DuRoche caps linked to the power tube sockets and the two caps smoothing out the power supply side? I cannot afford to do all V-Cap CuTFs throughout--nor will they fit in all places.
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https://i20.servimg.com/u/f20/20/29/20/99/img_0414.jpg https://i20.servimg.com/u/f20/20/29/20/99/pl_dia10.jpg The first link is the pic of the two V-Caps successfully installed. The second link is the pic of the PL Dialogue HP Integrated innards. I've circled the caps that could use upgrades. Here are the codes: Yellow Circles - 2 gain tubes Pink Circles - 8 tubes linked to power tube sockets Orange Circles - 2 tubes smoothing power side of things |
As the listening hours pass, these V-Caps sound better and better. Perhaps, I should spring and put these on the power supply side of things too. I know they will never fit on the tube side. I need to live with these for some time to assess whether it makes sense to hot rod this amp. I'd never get the money out of it on sale, yet maybe I'd never sell it. This is, either way, a heck of an upgrade. |
@erik_squires , The VCAPs wouldn't fit elsewhere--other than linked to the two gain preamp tubes. So, I was looking at that Audio True Copper and AudioNote as these caps are smaller and would arguably fit. I ordered 8 Audyn True Copper .22uF that are linked to each power tube. I also used 2 Audio True Copper .47uF and linked them to the massive Nichicon electrolytic caps on the power supply side. This was a surgery indeed! While the Audyns are smaller than VCAPs they are still big. I had to carefully attend to fitting them properly and I ran heat shrink over the leads where they had to be longer. All is good! Whew. Up and running. About 2 hours in. Let's see if the 10 Audyns plus the 2 VCAPs can outdo the DuRoch caps that came out! This was a ~$500 upgrade so it wasn't cheap. But, cheaper than new tube compliments and/or cables--arguably. |
Erik, the Audyn True Copper are great caps. Things are opening up quickly. I really like what I'm hearing. The PL is smoother and clearer than before. It's closer to my 300B, which actually uses a touch of negative feedback and some describe as sounding clear like water. These caps have moved things closer to that sound, but with more power, headroom and nice holographic stuff going on. |
OP, So glad you are liking the Audyns! I have toyed with the idea of a PrimaLuna integrated, and cap upgrades were high on my list. @wig : Interesting! Their price structure is very interesting, they seem to get cheaper per uF at the high end of the spectrum, a good thing for me since I have been thinking of eventually upgrading from Clarity to Jupiter in my speakers. I may still. :) Best, E |
A friend was producing a Valve Phonostage that was a evolving design and produced in Various Prototypes. I supplied a set of ears to offer assessment on the SQ of the models as they evolved. During the assessments, there was always a good impression to be on offer, and progressive alterations, such as, Power Supply Improvements and Boutique Components selectively placed, in most cases produced a further perceivable improvement. A later model Prototype showed a vast improvement when Z Foils were added, but as a result of a another Component Exchange, Jumped a major step forward in improved SQ. This happened when Miflex Copper Cap's were exchanged for Audyn Copper Cap's in the Circuit. |
I also put V-Cap CuTF between driver tube 6F6 an 300B output tube in my SET amplifier. Thank a lot to @zipost who recommended me to use V-Cap CuTF in this position. Even after just 30 hours they sound very good and sound is continue to improve. I use Duelund Custom Cu between input and driver tubes in the same SET amplifier. So I try to get best from the both: Duelund (a real, natural tone and vocals) and Vcap (bass, extensions, clarity, dynamic, transparency). Regards, Alex |
Does anybody try these capacitors? Duelund JDM Tinned Copper Foil Capacitor https://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/1-5uf-duelund-jdm-tinned-copper-600vdc.html Are they sound close to Custom series or to RS series? |
Looks like you're making some progress there, jbhiller. I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions after you've completed the project. I'd like to know which make the most noticeable change. I will likely just change those 2 or whatever, rather than a change and lets see, approach. The power supply supposedly has been addressed with the AC offset feature, so I'm wondering if replacing anything there is money well spent? $500-700 doesn't seem out of line, considering what we spend in this hobby. I just dumped $1500 on a set of wheels for my bicycle-they were the "budget" model! They replaced worn out, $2K +plus models with "fancy" bearings. What would be nice is getting ahold of the schematic and someone knowledgeable to determine which areas are indeed "weak". I'd like to think just because a component is inexpensive, it doesn't mean it necessarily warrants replacing it with a pricey one. The PL cant be that far off from "super amp" status. It just needs the right areas tweaked. |
I'm asking again - does anybody try these capacitors? Duelund JDM Tinned Copper Foil Capacitor https://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/1-5uf-duelund-jdm-tinned-copper-600vdc.html Are they sound close to Custom series or to RS series? |
I upgraded caps in my PL Dialogue Four with Miflex and swapped out resistors with Takkman carbon film. Much closer to my SET amps in triode mode,in stock form rather sterile. Grannyring has me thinking to swap in Odams. I do use Audyn True Copper Max in my custom built 300b monoblocks and Klipschorn crossovers. I wouldn't want to swap anything else in for these, seem to have just right voicing for me. Never tried the True Copper. I've never been unhappy with any of the copper foil caps I've tried, yes, its likely some work better than others in certain positions. I don't think you can make a bad choice. |
We tried these Audyn TruCopper caps in our designs and they just seemed OK to our ears. The Milflex coppers were better to our ears. The V-Cap OIMP outperformed both in our 6SN7 tubed DAC. The copper V-caps are fantastic but we do install them in our products unless requested. We have used both the ODAM and OIMP capacitors but have not done a direct comparison in the same component yet. a number of years back we tried Duelund copper ad hybird caps and while most people find them a natural sounding capacitor, we did not come to the same conclusion - we felt that they were artificial sounding at that time. Happy Listening. |
@alexberger Is the V-cap ODAM a darker tone than the Duelund? |
Vcap Odam is not darker toned compared to the top Duelund caps. I would say they are a tad more alive if anything. Top Duelund copper foil and tinned copper CAST caps have more body and richer tone, while Odams deliver better bass drive and top end details. At least this is what I have found in both electronics and crossovers. |