Dario, I also bought some of the BG F caps from the eBay source. Are you suggesting/supposing these would be a good candidate for the reverse positioning?
K40Y-9 are very confortable to listen to but limited in HF extension, detail and (deliciously) colored.
K71-4 have full detail, refinement, deadly neutral, lacks just a tiny bit of bottom end.
If you listen to both, K40 seems 'more musical' but if you compare to DC coupling you'll find they're simply colored.
I could live with Amtrans with no regrets, they're the film/foil caps that most approach polystirene, just a tiny bit less neutral.
KP1834 in feedback is a small, but audible, improvement.
Where I would really miss KP1834 is in C7.
FKP2 100V fares very very well but KP1834s are way better, IMHO.
Be aware that they're enormous and they could be mounted only outboard.
???
I think they would be a good candidate for both C9 alternatives.
Just ran across a sildering video with some good images. Not specific to what's on the FE, but fun to watch for folks starting out.
Professional Hand Soldering (Basic to Advance) - Surface Mount, Through-Hole, Wires & Terminals - YouTube
Professional Hand Soldering (Basic to Advance) - Surface Mount, Through-Hole, Wires & Terminals - YouTube
Warning!! Still way off topic.
On the other side there is solder removal.
Pace Inc. (5) Vacuum Desoldering components SX-Series - YouTube
A Simple but expensive Pro tool. $650+
Hakko FM204-01 Desoldering Station and FM204-CP Conversion Port Desoldering & Soldering Station - YouTube
Cheapest I could find on eBayEbay.
Aoyue 474A+ Desoldering Station | eBay
O.K. So with all this research I've done - as a reward - you guys can start taking up a collection and buy me one of these for Christmas.
Hakko FM-206 Desoldering Rework Station from All-Spec Industries - YouTube .
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tftQgByCMTw"]Here's one with "Sound Effects"
[/URL]
On the other side there is solder removal.
Pace Inc. (5) Vacuum Desoldering components SX-Series - YouTube
A Simple but expensive Pro tool. $650+
Hakko FM204-01 Desoldering Station and FM204-CP Conversion Port Desoldering & Soldering Station - YouTube
Cheapest I could find on eBayEbay.
Aoyue 474A+ Desoldering Station | eBay
O.K. So with all this research I've done - as a reward - you guys can start taking up a collection and buy me one of these for Christmas.
Hakko FM-206 Desoldering Rework Station from All-Spec Industries - YouTube .
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tftQgByCMTw"]Here's one with "Sound Effects"
[/URL]
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As I recall, there were some caps that were thought to be optional to mount or not. Do I recall correctly that they were the C102/C202, the smoothing caps for the regulated power supply? It appears that they would reduce ripple from the mains going to the 318.
Or were they C1, C2 which add power supply smoothing to the LM3886?
Whichever were the choice, was the consensus not to mount them?
Jac
First of all:
I this last days I've been out of town for work so I don't even know if blue boards arrived.
I would probably been able to give some news next tuesday.
To my (and Bob and Suburra) ears the amp sounds better with C102/C202 unpopulated.
It's true ripple is further reduced using them but probably the caps signature impair (soundwise) the advantage.
I this last days I've been out of town for work so I don't even know if blue boards arrived.
I would probably been able to give some news next tuesday.
To my (and Bob and Suburra) ears the amp sounds better with C102/C202 unpopulated.
It's true ripple is further reduced using them but probably the caps signature impair (soundwise) the advantage.
Black Gate F caps are Ginormous. FE boards have proper spacing if standard placement is used.
Earned - "Best Shipping Award" - they came inside non-static bags, inside bubble wrap, inside this container, inside bubble wrap, covered with paper, inside plastic bag, in a cardboard box stuffed with shredded newspaper - SERIOUSLY. Half way through I thought I was going to find a fortune cookie saying "April Fools!"
Earned - "Best Shipping Award" - they came inside non-static bags, inside bubble wrap, inside this container, inside bubble wrap, covered with paper, inside plastic bag, in a cardboard box stuffed with shredded newspaper - SERIOUSLY. Half way through I thought I was going to find a fortune cookie saying "April Fools!"
Attachments
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Black Gate F caps are Ginormous.
(...)
half way through I thought I was going to find a fortune cookie saying "April Fools!"
I 'm curious to read your impressions
Standard vs F Black Gates for C9.
I couldn't do all the swapping I wanted as several sockets are weakening. Will order more.
To my ears there is a clear difference. Started with the reverse placement and immediately heard a richer, fuller sound. I stopped for the IsoTek process and an hour later, found pretty much the same - some, but not a large difference with burn-in.
Next was original placement and the sound was more defined but still had the same new warmth and fullness. In both positions dynamics sounded a bit more active and pronounced. The floor shaking low tones held their heft but gained more of a physical than audible nature - not a loss but a noticeable difference.
Replacing the standard caps only confirmed my impressions. They are still great sounding caps and I think they still offer the better cleanliness in the internals of placement across the stage. It will take some time but I think the depth of stage is also a tad deeper with the standard.
I'll do much more listening when I get some new sockets - but the total impact of these quick tests bring it back to the same old story. What a builder uses will be a subjective choice.
For me, the F series in the original placement get the nod. Acoustic guitar and small string group fans might indeed make a different selection.
In any event, no builder should feel they missed out by not getting their hands on the Standard BG caps. The F series are just fine and any differences can probably be mitigated by adjusting other caps and resistor in the build.
More to come.......
I couldn't do all the swapping I wanted as several sockets are weakening. Will order more.
To my ears there is a clear difference. Started with the reverse placement and immediately heard a richer, fuller sound. I stopped for the IsoTek process and an hour later, found pretty much the same - some, but not a large difference with burn-in.
Next was original placement and the sound was more defined but still had the same new warmth and fullness. In both positions dynamics sounded a bit more active and pronounced. The floor shaking low tones held their heft but gained more of a physical than audible nature - not a loss but a noticeable difference.
Replacing the standard caps only confirmed my impressions. They are still great sounding caps and I think they still offer the better cleanliness in the internals of placement across the stage. It will take some time but I think the depth of stage is also a tad deeper with the standard.
I'll do much more listening when I get some new sockets - but the total impact of these quick tests bring it back to the same old story. What a builder uses will be a subjective choice.
For me, the F series in the original placement get the nod. Acoustic guitar and small string group fans might indeed make a different selection.
In any event, no builder should feel they missed out by not getting their hands on the Standard BG caps. The F series are just fine and any differences can probably be mitigated by adjusting other caps and resistor in the build.
More to come.......
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So this is fun. We have Black Gate PK as better than STD and F as better than STD. The F are reported to be 'gianormous'. The PKs are not. These are the PK 220 uF next to the Mundorf smoothing caps.
Don't I remember someone saying something like, "The smaller the capacitor, the better they sound." What to do.. What to do..
Bob,
Please remind me what you are using for sockets and where you get them. I was thinking of just crimping a spade male/female onto either side and hooking up that way.
Jac
Don't I remember someone saying something like, "The smaller the capacitor, the better they sound." What to do.. What to do..
Bob,
Please remind me what you are using for sockets and where you get them. I was thinking of just crimping a spade male/female onto either side and hooking up that way.
Jac
571-1-1571994-0 IC & Component Sockets | Mouser
My experience has forced me to believe that there just isn't a "perfect" resistor or capacitor in several positions. C9 is now in that group. I think that's a positive set of options not necessarily a problem. I suspect if many builders go through the swapping process, some favorites will raise to the top. But the FEs and any other DIY amp offer - as the should - options to tailor to match the rest of ones system.
The guys with scopes and such will surely provide the tech specs for us to ponder
My experience has forced me to believe that there just isn't a "perfect" resistor or capacitor in several positions. C9 is now in that group. I think that's a positive set of options not necessarily a problem. I suspect if many builders go through the swapping process, some favorites will raise to the top. But the FEs and any other DIY amp offer - as the should - options to tailor to match the rest of ones system.
The guys with scopes and such will surely provide the tech specs for us to ponder
I replaced BG STD 330uf with BG N 470uf in c9 and never looked back. Huge difference
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