Coupling caps in ST35

[ThSpeakerDude88]

What should I use? Making my own, based off schem from DYNAKIT's website.

I have a few in mind:

Dynamicap

Auricap

Solen Fast cap


Of the bunch, which is best? And any others I should consider? I have heard that Auricaps give good price/performance value, and are close to the Dynamicaps. Seem more readily available too.

[anatech]

Hi ThSpeakerDude88,
They are all good. Take some advice though. Use the ones that fit properly.

Even standard film caps are far better than the original types. So just build it with sane parts. I don't think you will get a straight answer on which is the better one. It becomes a fashion contest.

-Chris

[kevinkr]

Other ones to consider include Erse and Clarity SA both available from www.diycable.com and very reasonably priced. A wider range of Clarity SA are available at very reasonable prices from madisound.

The Solen Fast Caps are great in power supplies and rather veiled sounding in coupling applications.

[mandolin]

I've listened to the Solens in various topologies, and as much as I hate trying to describe how something like a coupling capacitor sounds, I wasn't crazy about them. I've heard them described as "gray" sounding and I sort of agree with that assessment... I'd say "veiled" is a good adjective as well.

I'm partial to Wima caps for ac coupling. Readily available and reasonably priced.

[Andy Bartha]

If you want to try something different. Go to E-bay and find some .22 uf or similar value Russian teflon caps. I found the teflons superior to most kinds polyprops. You don't have to stress over the value any value around .22 or better will do. The .22 teflons are fairly common not overly expensive.

[kevinkr]

Originally posted by Andy Bartha
If you want to try something different. Go to E-bay and find some .22 uf or similar value Russian teflon caps. I found the teflons superior to most kinds polyprops. You don't have to stress over the value any value around .22 or better will do. The .22 teflons are fairly common not overly expensive.

I've been buying 0.1uF Russian teflons on eBay and so far have to say they sound pretty good.

[Andy Bartha]

If you want to do something completely different, there are 4 silver mica .2uf 350v caps available on ebay. I think that the siver mica caps make for the best sound coupling caps. The teflons are very good but the siver mica are better. The down side is the larger values are enormous. If size is not a concern you should try out the silver mica caps.

[mandolin]

I had to look those up, Andy... they're freaking huge! They'd probably sound wonderful as coupling caps, though.

[kstagger]

I use MIT RTX and TRT Dynamicaps for my personal gear - but they definitely are fairly expensive - and honestly I have a hard time justifying their price.

For the more budget minded, I've found some good deals on Ebay - the ERO line of polycarbonate or polyprop film capacitors. Some of the Russian capacitors - K40/K72/K75 - are good, but the bodies are large, made of metal and would be good in tight places to encase inside a plastic sleeve. You can sometimes pickup 'offbrand' vintage American made oil capacitors too.

Diy Hifi Supply has a line of budget priced Obbligato capacitors which are well priced and wound tight.

Allied Electronics carries Illinois capacitors and some people have also reported good luck with the 716P Orange drops. I've used both on some budget-minded projects with good results.

[ThSpeakerDude88]

hey thanks for all the great replies

I have heard the same thing about solen caps, and they are pretty cheap.

I am willing to spend about $10 a cap, as there are only 4 total, as long as its worth it for sound quality.

I thought wima's were pretty cheap?; Or am I thinking of something else?


I have a loaf of 715p's I ditched from a guitar amp- they sounded grainy and awful compared to mallory 150's, but that is guitar not hi-fi.

Got a good laugh out of those silver micas! their HUGE!!
These have to fit in a 12x10 chassis

So far it is sounding like ( no pun intended) auricaps might be the best way to go for price/ performance ...