Hello - having finally worked out that capacitors have a huge impact on the sound [quality] I would like to ask the following:
My KT88 PP amp has 4 x 0.47uf caps in the audio circuit. The manufacturer has told me these can be changed for values between 0.1uf and 0.47uf. As I am planning on going for Mundorf Mcap Supreme EVO Silver Gold Oil Capacitors [or similar] the difference in cost is HUGE between 0.1uf and 0.47uf.
Additionally it is 2 x 0.22uf caps that (as they put it) dump unwanted signal to ground - again 0.1 to 0.22uf specified.
What difference to the sound will result from 0.1/0.47 and 0.1/0.22 range make?
Many thanks to all those patient enough to reply!!
P.S. I live in Bulgaria and can not get 0.1/0.47 or 0.1/0.47 in the same brand to try this and find out.........
My KT88 PP amp has 4 x 0.47uf caps in the audio circuit. The manufacturer has told me these can be changed for values between 0.1uf and 0.47uf. As I am planning on going for Mundorf Mcap Supreme EVO Silver Gold Oil Capacitors [or similar] the difference in cost is HUGE between 0.1uf and 0.47uf.
Additionally it is 2 x 0.22uf caps that (as they put it) dump unwanted signal to ground - again 0.1 to 0.22uf specified.
What difference to the sound will result from 0.1/0.47 and 0.1/0.22 range make?
Many thanks to all those patient enough to reply!!
P.S. I live in Bulgaria and can not get 0.1/0.47 or 0.1/0.47 in the same brand to try this and find out.........
You need to use the specified 0.47uF caps if there is global negative feedback to ensure stability is maintained.
I think you have finally worked out that capacitors have a huge impact on the sound in a poor design. In a good design, all capacitors of the same type will sound identical.
Cheers
Ian
I think you have finally worked out that capacitors have a huge impact on the sound in a poor design. In a good design, all capacitors of the same type will sound identical.
Cheers
Ian
The audio signal can't read the manufacturer's logo printed on the outside of the cap. It can clearly 'see' the capacitance value, and can vaguely 'see' the dielectric. So most important is to get the right value. Next is to get an appropriate dielectric. Completely unimportant is to get the right logo.
People who talk about dumping unwanted signal to ground may not understand what they are doing.
People who talk about dumping unwanted signal to ground may not understand what they are doing.
Hi
The reason to go for such expensive caps is I am stuck in Bulgaria. If you look on a map Bulgaria is located in Europe, if you look on a calendar Bulgaria is located in the 19th century.
The aggravation of getting anything at all you literally would not believe, shipping is very high to Bulgaria and there is a 40% chance of the goods being stolen in transit. PLUS things are not delivered to your door, you have to drive to the couriers office to collect them. One package took me 3 weeks and 11 trips to the office to clear customs! If you are importing something it is usually a good idea to buy the best you can afford as you dont want to go through the process twice!
The amplifier is an Icon Audio Stereo 40 ii. The HT rail runs at 430V. I dont have a schematic - sorry. The information was provided by email from the guys at Icon Audio - I get them at a very very busy time and they replied with the info at 2.45 am UK time so I did not really want to bombard them with any more questions of clarification.
At the moment all caps are "piggybacked" with 1/100th and then 1/1000th, this made a substantial difference.
I am not religiously attached to the idea of spending wads of cash on caps - if the Supreme Evo's at about £7 would be more than good enough id be delighted - I could even order two values to try out and see the difference! But what ever I order is staying in there for ever - so it needs to be the right choice first time!
The reason to go for such expensive caps is I am stuck in Bulgaria. If you look on a map Bulgaria is located in Europe, if you look on a calendar Bulgaria is located in the 19th century.
The aggravation of getting anything at all you literally would not believe, shipping is very high to Bulgaria and there is a 40% chance of the goods being stolen in transit. PLUS things are not delivered to your door, you have to drive to the couriers office to collect them. One package took me 3 weeks and 11 trips to the office to clear customs! If you are importing something it is usually a good idea to buy the best you can afford as you dont want to go through the process twice!
The amplifier is an Icon Audio Stereo 40 ii. The HT rail runs at 430V. I dont have a schematic - sorry. The information was provided by email from the guys at Icon Audio - I get them at a very very busy time and they replied with the info at 2.45 am UK time so I did not really want to bombard them with any more questions of clarification.
At the moment all caps are "piggybacked" with 1/100th and then 1/1000th, this made a substantial difference.
I am not religiously attached to the idea of spending wads of cash on caps - if the Supreme Evo's at about £7 would be more than good enough id be delighted - I could even order two values to try out and see the difference! But what ever I order is staying in there for ever - so it needs to be the right choice first time!
Hi
I'm affraid you will be very disapointed changing your current caps for "audiophiles"one's, because you will not find any improvement in sound for the money you spent.
Some cap changes have an effect, but in very specific cases, depending of all the elements in cascade in your sound system, including the source and the speakers.
And caps are very secondary concerns in an amplifier. Output transformers are the main subject. And what about non-linear distorsion ?
My advice : don't buy, save your money for something more valuable.
Jacques
I'm affraid you will be very disapointed changing your current caps for "audiophiles"one's, because you will not find any improvement in sound for the money you spent.
Some cap changes have an effect, but in very specific cases, depending of all the elements in cascade in your sound system, including the source and the speakers.
And caps are very secondary concerns in an amplifier. Output transformers are the main subject. And what about non-linear distorsion ?
My advice : don't buy, save your money for something more valuable.
Jacques
Well on transformers I am lucky - one of the manufacturers of very high end hand wound Toroidal and C core transformers have a lot of there production done by the people in the villages up in the Rhodopie Mountains of Bulgaria - trust me, if you live in one of these villages hand winding a transformer is exiting!
The going rate for a dinner plate sized toroidal is two bottles of vodka or 200 cigs. That is about £15 - hence the number of single ended amplifiers for sale in Bulgaria with 40kg of transformers and 2 PLL86's or similar!
The going rate for a dinner plate sized toroidal is two bottles of vodka or 200 cigs. That is about £15 - hence the number of single ended amplifiers for sale in Bulgaria with 40kg of transformers and 2 PLL86's or similar!
caps can make bigger difference then a otp..go figure !
some russian caps are really good ....
nice guide Humble Homemade Hifi
My Capacitor comparisons: Mundorfs, VCap, Sonicap Platinum, Auricap, etc
some russian caps are really good ....
nice guide Humble Homemade Hifi
My Capacitor comparisons: Mundorfs, VCap, Sonicap Platinum, Auricap, etc
I have Russian PIO in there at the moment and they are remarkably good - when they have warmed up! I can not get the Teflons at the moment but I can guarantee there will literally be crates of them lying around somewhere. I have some Geiger counters and the like so I may have a look see if there are any inside. There are a few derelict Mig 21's around as well so I can have a look at the avionics see if there are any on there.
You would be amazed at the quality of the stuff made in communist times - the "hammerite" type paint finish on metal chairs etc is un-sand-able even with a belt sander! I have some LOMO speakers - the entire front baffle AND the driver cage AND the B/R port is one single piece of cast aluminium!
So - revised idea (ordering tomorrow) 4 x 0.47uf & 2 x 0.22uf Mundorf Supreme Evo's at about £6 each, piggybacked with something like 5nf polystyrene?
Does that sound reasonable?
You would be amazed at the quality of the stuff made in communist times - the "hammerite" type paint finish on metal chairs etc is un-sand-able even with a belt sander! I have some LOMO speakers - the entire front baffle AND the driver cage AND the B/R port is one single piece of cast aluminium!
So - revised idea (ordering tomorrow) 4 x 0.47uf & 2 x 0.22uf Mundorf Supreme Evo's at about £6 each, piggybacked with something like 5nf polystyrene?
Does that sound reasonable?
Sighted evaluations whose grievous flaws are well known says yes (to everything - that is their charm), while proper listening tests say Yes to the Science and No to the mysticism.
Nothing that I want to do. I've known people with imaginary friends all of my life, and in audio we have people who hear imaginary sounds. Live and let live!
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