I use X2 rated "safety" caps for audio coupling all the time. DC link caps are even better but you can't beat the price of the safety caps, that's for sure!
Tenta makes great X2 caps.
PRODUCTS | TENTA 天泰電機-[電容器專業製造廠]
Tenta makes great X2 caps.
PRODUCTS | TENTA 天泰電機-[電容器專業製造廠]
"For coupling purposes, quality is practically irrelevant"
Not sure what others thoughts are but from my own mucking around with components especially caps, it matters everywhere on the circuit, difference is only if it is more or less profound but in total it adds up to attaining good sound.
I mean from a deterministic, measurable point of view, which is generally a good starting point.
You are of course free to base your evaluation on more subjective criteria, but when something measures like crap in the first place, chances it sounds really good are slim.
Best to start with something objectively spotless, and evaluate SQ thereafter
Fantastic info here, and the other thread (Anyone familiar with these caps?) was great as well, ty all!!!
I cant imagine the price point of Yaquin that the highest quality anything went in to them, although I would guess that value engineering required some level of QC... I figured when I bought the amp, I would dive in and learn as much as possible. For the cost, I consider it a great investment.
The scribd link was fantastic, but the cliff notes reinforced most of what I pulled out of it.
Next, to jump off the OPT cliff.. Gonna run down a little later, check a few things and be pestering the guru's again !!!
I cant imagine the price point of Yaquin that the highest quality anything went in to them, although I would guess that value engineering required some level of QC... I figured when I bought the amp, I would dive in and learn as much as possible. For the cost, I consider it a great investment.
The scribd link was fantastic, but the cliff notes reinforced most of what I pulled out of it.
Next, to jump off the OPT cliff.. Gonna run down a little later, check a few things and be pestering the guru's again !!!
Any capacitor is inherently an entire network, more or less complex. They have the said capacitance value and some resistance and inductance. So the replacement of a cap by another will cause a replacement of a network with impacts in the transference characteristics of the amplifier. But I sincerely don't believe that this alteration be of such magnitude to be audible.
If you tap the capacitor with an insulating stick shaped object do you hear a sound in the speakers?
Well, what can I say. You can sit in your chairs and type that capacitors make no audible difference and you can state that first you measure them and then you listen. You can even be happy and secure in the assumption that you are right. But I'm pretty sure that you're smart enough to realise that in an A-B comparison where A is audibly better than B, the listener isn't going to solder capacitor B into his precious amplifier.
That does not answer the question.
If it sounds different, then I'm interested in understanding why it does sound different.
So, does it make a sound in the speakers when you tap it ?
If it sounds different, then I'm interested in understanding why it does sound different.
So, does it make a sound in the speakers when you tap it ?
The cathode bypass caps for the 300b output stage make no sound at all in the speakers when tapped by a solid metal stick. Does this prove something? I'm not following you here.
AudioFanMan;6620173 I cant imagine the price point of Yaquin that the highest quality anything went in to them said:
It rules out microphony as the cause of the observed difference, which is useful to know.
For example when testing a "low noise" regulator you must look at the output while tapping/flexing the board. Some have huge variations in output, ie microphony, which makes the "low noise" claim pointless.
But please don't poke into tube amps with a metal stick, that's worrying 😀
The Yaqin amps are pretty showy, and "overdressed" is a fair comment. Passed off as "high end" is also true - they use this term in the descriptions together with spin like "high-quality enameled wire of high strength" and "high quality metal precision resistors dedicated for audio frequency" etc. Not sure if "overpriced" fits though some Chinese amps are cheaper still. I wouldn't buy one because to my eyes a lot of them look horrendous and visually pretentious. But what do i know - most modern car designs coming out of Asia look equally horrendous and pretentious with loads of sculpturing and sharp edges.
Coupling caps of some types can definitely generate measurable distortion. D. Self treats the subject fairly exhaustively in one of his books (can't remember which one off the top of my head).
The simple solution is to make sure that essentially no AC voltage is impressed on the capacitor at any frequency of interest. Sometimes that is easier said than done, or creates other problems.
The simple solution is to make sure that essentially no AC voltage is impressed on the capacitor at any frequency of interest. Sometimes that is easier said than done, or creates other problems.
If Walter Jung says " a stunning upgrade in sound quality" is obtained form putting polypropylene caps in place of polyester,, then I believe him. He is a GOD of diyaudio electronics, and, having personally taken classes from him, I can verify that he is a genuine genius!
Your points echo mine, thank you.
I mentioned in another thread about my experiences with this brand, and others that are similar.
And not surprisingly, got some flack for my opinions.
And I stick to my convictions - these products are nothing more than flashy eye candy with equally flashy descriptions, designed to pursuade the fat wallets to open up.
The "snake oil" products are certainly not limited to simple things like fuses and speaker wire, etc.
Is this another slam China products thingy again ? I hope not cause there are good stuff coming out from there too.
Cheers
Cheers
So most folks understand you get what you pay for. Two good quality OPT's cost near what my 300b cost new, and more than what the amp cost me used. Figuring its over 10 years old, it cost considerably less than $100 per year. Considering its my first SE tube amp, purchased with the intent of upgrading it to learn more about SE amps, I honestly couldn't give a rats *** what anyone thought of it lol. But as an fyi... I got into this game less than 2 years ago. Didnt know what PP or SE meant. Knew I wanted to go down the rabbit hole, and chose the least expensive amp path I could. All while knowing full well I would drop a respectable amount for a much, much better piece at one point. This amp (like any other) amplify's a small signal and puts it out to my speakers. regardless of any hype you may have heard, it sounds terrific. Considerably better than any solid state amp I have ever had.
Sure, that's subjective but so are pretty women. This one fit the bill, is serving its purpose exceedingly well. Heck, if it was one that was already 100% perfect, Id have no reason to dig in and learn about repair or upgrading it... SO, I guess you could say there is NO better amp in the WORLD to repair than an aging yaquin ! Plenty to do with it, all while having a nice chassis... Whats to hate? Can you build one from scratch, that costs as much, that looks as good and sounds better ?? If you can, PM me with an invoice !!!
Sure, that's subjective but so are pretty women. This one fit the bill, is serving its purpose exceedingly well. Heck, if it was one that was already 100% perfect, Id have no reason to dig in and learn about repair or upgrading it... SO, I guess you could say there is NO better amp in the WORLD to repair than an aging yaquin ! Plenty to do with it, all while having a nice chassis... Whats to hate? Can you build one from scratch, that costs as much, that looks as good and sounds better ?? If you can, PM me with an invoice !!!