2. amps-preamps
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Preamp Caps?Auricap,Mundorf, Hovland, jensen,solen

Hello,
I have a preamp with only 2 Signal caps directly in front of two tubes shot right out to the amps, extreme simplicity and excellent sound. This is the first preamp that came stock with Auricap's I have owned or heard, most in the past have always had Multicaps, Kimber caps in my previous pre's. I can say I think the Auricaps are quite a bit better but not that expensive or the end all-be all that I understand. Now I have had some crossovers and a Preamp with Solen fastcaps in it, and they are the best in Bass I have heard out of all of them, not that it makes them superior just an observation. I have also purchased Jensens oil and put them in Tube equipment in the past, not bad but did not blow my doors off.. And Finally Hovlands, not my Cup if you know what I mean, I found them the most expensive and the least impressive, could be the mix of component used in, but whatever too dry for me. Mundorf is a little newer on the scene to me and I thought the Hovlands were pretty obscene in cost, however these are the new Cost and hype leaders from what I can tell today. I am considering trying the Mundorf Silver in oil supreme caps at no small cost to see if they are gonna create more magic than the Auricaps. . What is the character of this cap? I want very 3d and open yet still have some intimate warmth and very powerful bass. Is this a cap worth venturing over all the other explanations I left here? Needs a liquid sound, and get that fairly deep bass solen seems to be capable of for only a couple dollars a cap, cause I do not want to soften the already slightly soft Tube bass. Thanks to all that know about this tweaking and expereance with these caps . . Again its only 2 Caps, very easy to install so its hard to keep my hands off, but do not want to go backwards or waste the cause if its not gonna be very significant in this specific application, Anybody know of any good tube equipment or preamps using these mundorf super caps? By the way my tubes are Mullards NOS. Preamp manufacture would seem to be irrelevant here and yes I am pretty dang happy with the sound for the money already, but there is always more right 
undertow
jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
Sherod: "As I understand the formula for determining the preamp output cap value, the lower the cap value, the lower the bass -3db roll-off point..." No, Sherod, that's backwards. The formula for determining the -3dB ("filter") point of a hi-pass cap is F = 159155/RC where F = frequency in Hertz, R = resistance in Ohms, and C = capacitance in microFarads. Since the F is in the denominator of the fraction, a larger C causes F to decrease. So higher-value cap = lower filter point.
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dgarretson
2,597 posts
 
Sherod,

Though my experience with substitute couplers is not extensive, in the course of web searches I came across several reviewers with similar observations of discontinuous treble as a result of bypassing non-teflon couplers with small teflon caps.

I've heard substantial improvement with Mundorf Silver/Gold in place of REL styrene in my tube pre, and V-Cap TFTF in place of BAT OIP in my tube amp. In another line-level component I'm about to replace Hovland Musicap with Mundorf Silver/Gold. My listening experience with the V-Cap vs. BAT oilers reveals that at this level teflon is more precise, revealing & linear across the entire frequency range, with less swelling in the bass and midrange.

The Silver/Gold & V-Cap TFTF are both great caps!
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Thank you everyone for your input. I am determined to get the right combo of values using these V-caps for my preamp outputs. I know it's a matter of trial and error, but the costs of these V-caps makes it a very expensive trial. I was hoping for some input from other V-cap users, particularly for the output cap in their tube preamp. I'll try to keep you posted on the developments.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Wow! A lot can happen in a couple of years. In the meantime, a new "kid on the block", Claritycap MR( stands for "minimum resonance") has gone into the outputs of my preamp and they are an amazing cap. So far, the best cap that sounds (or should I really say it sounds like "no cap") more neutral and transparent,along with incredible dynamics, than any other cap, including those mentioned, in my preamp. This cap has taken my preamp to new heights.
undertow OP
1,033 posts
 
Ha, yeah wow... totally dug this one up from the grave! Big changes over the years, now I totally tear apart and do everything myself, far simpler and way cheaper once you have some skill's and tools to do it, oh and ears that can find the right mix!

Yes best cap and newest over these spoken about back then are in fact the Clarity cap MR's as Sherod points out... Best cap for the money available today. Duelunds are great too, much better than mundorfs, but pretty pricey and very hard to get a hold of.
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