Breaking in Teflon Caps

[kevinkr]

I would just install them in the amplifier where they will be used, under the exact conditions they will experience in normal operation.

I'm also one of those deluded audiophile/engineer types who prefers teflon dielectric and tinfoil caps to most other caps he has heard. Very unfortunate because while the ears are happy the wallet really isn't.

About 20yrs ago I ran a controlled experiment, yes a real ABX test with closely matched capacitors having differing dielectrics. I remember comparing the CDE WMF to the (REL made) RTX and I was able to reliably discern the difference between these two caps with almost 100% repeatability. (As were most of the listening panel) I much later performed the same experiment between the RTX and the TFT with much the same results.

Five years ago when I designed and built the amplifier I currently use I spent months trying to find coupling caps that did not impart their character on the sound. (Those paper in oil foil types are very colored IMO, as are most film types.) I ended up with teflon types in the end, and those were ultimately replaced by a set of Vcaps that I received for a review I wrote for Positive Feedback. They were audibly better - so they stayed and I make no apologies for the differences I heard.

Edit: IMO Peter is right..

[SY]

Yes, but did applying the odd voltage somehow transform the dielectric?

[SY]

BTW, Kevin, I used the Vcaps in my latest little project. They are, cough, cough, really quite expensive.

[syn08]

Originally Posted by Stefanoo

SY suggested to reverse the cap every 15 minutes

That would be me. SY is stone deaf, don't listen to him.

I can sell you a computerized device that is optimally reversing the polarity, so you can get some sleep during the breakdown weeks. This device won't be cheap, but the sonic results will be amazing.

[Wavebourn]

Originally Posted by syn08

That would be me. SY is stone deaf, don't listen to him.

He has audio hallucinations, sometimes. For example, during BAF he claimed that some speakers looking like plumber's pipes produced Doppler effect, also he told me that my speakers were crossed over around 7 kilohertz, and he heard some peaks on that frequency.

[SY]

It's the drugs, no doubt.

[Wavebourn]

Originally Posted by SY

It's the drugs, no doubt.

Good drugs I have to admit, since my speakers indeed were crossed over around 7 kilohertz.
Also, I listened more carefully that pipes and found that I hear Doppler effect as well. Power of hypnotic suggestion?

[john curl]

kevinkr, it is probably very important to break-in the teflon caps. I am now using TFT in the Vendetta phono stage, and I found break-in useful. If I were to experiment, I might try cryoing the caps to reduce the break-in time.
We normally break-in with a 700Hz or so square wave generator, for up to 30 days.

[h_a]

Originally Posted by john curl

I might try cryoing the caps

Cryoing a cap as a whole, really? I see some point about cryoing solid materials like copper, but a whole cap? That could cause damage to its plastic housing or other parts of its mechanical structure due to thermal stress.

Have fun, Hannes

[john curl]

It might.