What's in place at the moment make/model/value uf and volts, polarized or non-polarized
Cheers George |
Dac is altmann attraction dac with 3.3uf wima mks2 63vdc output coupling caps. Amplifier is a diy chip integrated amplifier with 4.7uf wima mks2 63vdc input caps.
Both working with 12v.Using 35v plus will be enough I think.
Source is linear psu powered esi juli xte sound card. Speakers fostex full range bass reflex.
I tried to change wima leads with non-magnetic leads. There was an improve ment.
I also tried to use beeswax filled electrolytic cap(it is a diy effort) for input of the amp.I started to get soundstage information and vocals had more clarity.
But electrolytic caps seems unstable performance for dc blocking. And I realized a good cap can be very good :)
Still I don’t understand why wima caps aren’t good enough. But I decided to try a good cap. But they are pretty expensive and probably all of their website has no information about their products.
Audiocap rt or theta ppt
Jantzen alumen z cap
Rike audio s cap 2
Jupiter condenser beeswax ht or wax ht
Lefson c-mod
Intertechnik audyn tri reference
Clarity Cap cmr
Audience auricap xo
Jantzen superior z cap
Mundorf supreme evo oil
These are all I listed from reading all over the internet.. :)
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I really like Cornel Dubilier over Wima's.
Cheap, small. Worth trying.
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RIFA 450 are inexpensive and better than Wima. But try 3.3uF and 4.7uF Jupiter Copper foil wax if you want the best.
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Still I don’t understand why wima caps aren’t good enough.
They are, I would suggest save the money and look for a "direct coupled output" dac with TDA1541 or better still PCM1704 even 1702.
Cheers George |
Second thought, since you have a non polarized 63v cap on the input of the amp, just bypass the one on the dac (direct couple it) there’s no need for it, at least you get rid of one "pita" cap.
But make sure you power up the dac first then the amp.
And turn off amp first (wait) then turn off the dac.
Cheers George |
George actually I tried to change The dac output caps with wire. Not too much change. (just a feeling some thing removed :)
Because of this, I started to think amplifier input cap more important than dac output caps(>>>>).
But you guys more experienced than me probably. Maybe someone has similar experience or explanation.. |
Not too much change. (just a feeling some thing removed :)
Shows you the Wima's are pretty transparent, just leave them be. Cheers George |
I ordered New wimas from mouser, I will try them next week.Maybe my amp input wimas are fake ones. Maybe it makes a difference.
What do you think which one is more important caps, amplifier input or dac output? |
What do you think which one is more important caps, amplifier input or dac output? Just leave the amp ones in, and leave out the dac ones. But then only use that dac with that amp! Cheers George |
I agree with all of @georgehifi 's comments so won't repeat them. The only thing I can think of that could affect the sound is if the roll off is close to the audio frequencies. Seeing as all the MKS2 caps come with the same pin pitch, you could try the 10µF version (which would move the roll off further away from the audio frequencies) although I still doubt that would make much difference. |
+1 for 10uf
Bass will go down another octave "if" it was cutting off a little too early with 4.7uf
Cheers George |
Amplifier input cap isn't related to cutoff frequency in this chip amp. (cutoff frequency determined with feedback cap and feedback resistor value wrt to datasheet).
I begin to guess amplifier input cap is much important than dac output caps(if amp doesn't have input cap, then dac output cap becomes have same level importance).
Just I wanted learn you/someone have similar conclusion..
I also don't understand why manufacturers don't have any info about their capacitors.
I don't expect too much thing from a capacitor. Enough clarity with vocals, good soundtage stage info, good bass, neutral, coherent, neutral tone..
Basically it should be transparent(in my perspective it is The same thing with clarity).
I don't know what these words mean in science..
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Amplifier input cap isn’t related to cutoff frequency in this chip amp. It will relate to the low frequency cutoff with input impedance of the amp. If the amp is 47kohm input and the cap is 4.7uf then the bass rolloff is -3db at .7hz (a good figure) If the amp is 1kohm then it’s -3db at 33hz (not good, bass light) and I’ve seen some chips amps with 1-2k input impedance Cheers George |
Input impedance is 30kohm wrt datasheet. |
.9hz -3db with the 4.7uf cap fine, just bridge out the dac cap.
Cheers George |
I didn't like the scratchy noise while I moving volume pot when I removed the dac output caps. I am planning buy an headphone amp which have not input caps. This can be problem. |
I didn't like the scratchy noise while I moving volume pot when I removed the dac output caps. Sounds like you have DC at the pot... is the amplifier AC coupling downstream of the pot? A small DC offset in the low level signal will most likely result in pops and clicks from switches and pots. A large offset would likely be the result of a failed component or poor design/construction - that could result in distortion or component failure. Where you really don't want an offset is on the output of the power amp as you may damage your speakers. DC blocking caps should be rated so that they are effectively a short at audible frequencies, so they have little if any impact on the sounds you hear. I'm not sure how much mileage there is in swapping out coupling caps as they are one of the more benign components in audio circuits. But if you really don't like caps then you could look for components that use DC servos instead - they provide protection from DC but are more complex and use more components which means they are more prone to failure. |
Volume pot is between rca input and input coupling caps of the amp..
I read lots of comments on the internet about caps between dac and amp.
Generally people have tube amp(only have interstage and output capacitor) & dac(have output caps), they say dac output caps have large impact on the sound..
Scientifically, it is not meaninfull..
Even I really doubt boutique cap manufacturers design their capacitors based on pure science..
Everything so confusing.
I read a review saying Jantzen silver z cap have much more detail than jantzen superior z cap. Manufacturer says only difference is silver z cap just uses silver leads!!
There are lots of experienced people in this forum(I am guessing :)
Still there isn't any real answer to my question..
I also thanks to people trying to help me.. |
Even I really doubt boutique cap manufacturers design their capacitors based on pure science.. Many "design" their caps just on the re-labeling of caps like Solen, get some of the data sheets and compare dimensions lead length ect ect of some of these boutique caps to Solen you’ll find identical data between the two. Just the price is 20 x different, just like what goes on with the boutique snake oil AC mains fuses. Cheers George |
Do you know anything about these brands and capacitors?
Audiocap rt or theta ppt
Jantzen alumen z cap
Rike audio s cap 2
Jupiter condenser beeswax ht or wax ht
Lefson c-mod
Intertechnik audyn tri reference
Clarity Cap cmr
Audience auricap xo
Jantzen superior z cap
Mundorf supreme evo oil
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Solen is one of the largest cap manufacturers around, that do Hi-end audio caps.
I’m not going to name the brands that I strongly suspect of doing re-badgeing work, you’ll have to look for yourself on the data sheets and compare all the parameters, it will be obvious.
Cheers George
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