2. amps-preamps
  3. 162595-18279

V-Cap CuTF .22 on Gain Tubes-- Primaluna Dialogue HP Integrated

I'm about a week into swapping out the Mundorf MCap EVO SilverGold capacitors located on the two innermost gain preamp tubes in a Primaluna Dialogue HP integrated.  

These were a bit above what I'd normally spend on such a tweak, but hey, we people spends hundreds and thousands on cables, treatments, etc.  And, I had ordered them for another project and decided to use MIFLEX (Polish caps) in that amp.  So, returning the V-Caps was too much work.  Confession--no it wasn't; I just wanted a $250 Christmas gift. 

One week into playing them and they are alive and dynamic.  They are clean, glowy, musical, and engaging.  They are smoother so I can push the volume up a bit with less fatigue.  They are bigger sounding in all respects.  They sound really together but not buttoned up.  I'm impressed. 

I'll spare all of us the audiophile descriptors, but instead I'll just say the words that kept popping in my head this week--"These are seductive...just keep drawing me back for more listening."  

Highly recommended. 30 minute tweak that is worth every penny. 

Now, the question is, do I go back in and upgrade the host of DuRoche caps linked to the power tube sockets and the two caps smoothing out the power supply side?  I cannot afford to do all V-Cap CuTFs throughout--nor will they fit in all places. 
128x128jbhiller
sns
3,363 posts
 
I upgraded caps in my PL Dialogue Four with Miflex and swapped out resistors with Takkman carbon film. Much closer to my SET amps in triode mode,in stock form rather sterile. Grannyring has me thinking to swap in Odams.

I do use Audyn True Copper Max in my custom built 300b monoblocks and Klipschorn crossovers. I wouldn't want to swap anything else in for these, seem to have just right voicing for me. Never tried the True Copper.
I've never been unhappy with any of the copper foil caps I've tried, yes, its likely some work better than others in certain positions. I don't think you can make a bad choice.
jbhiller's avatar
jbhiller OP
1,437 posts
 
@abd1,  I'm not sure.  You'd have to open it up and put a picture of it up on your virtual system page--then we can look at it.   
bigkidz
3,400 posts
 
We tried these Audyn TruCopper caps in our designs and they just seemed OK to our ears.  The Milflex coppers were better to our ears.  The V-Cap OIMP outperformed both in our 6SN7 tubed DAC.  The copper V-caps are fantastic but we do install them in our products unless requested.  We have used both the ODAM and OIMP capacitors but have not done a direct comparison in the same component yet.  a number of years back we tried Duelund copper ad hybird caps and while most people find them a natural sounding capacitor, we did not come to the same conclusion - we felt that they were artificial sounding at that time.

Happy Listening.
abd1
157 posts
 
@jbhiller once I get time I’ll open it up and take a look. I just thought maybe someone had upgraded one of the amps before and would know and save me some time. 
s23chang
620 posts
 

@alexberger

To answer your question on Duelund JDM ( tinned copper I have ) vs the old RS ( Alexander ) :

I have installed both in the Dynaco vta ST-70 board. One is the CCS and one is the original 12AU7 driver circuit.
They both sound identical with very similar tonal quality.
I have not broken in the JDM yet. Based on the initial impression, the older cap seems to have more punch in bass, whereas the JDM seems to have cleaner mids.

Roy from VTA suggested using V-Cap ODAM. Based on your experience,

Is the V-cap ODAM a darker tone than the Duelund?

I have yet to try TrueMax Copper ( the capacitor leads are too thick to fit the circuit board ) and Miflex, but I like the JDM tinned as it sounds the most natural. I was listening to Jazz and vocals.
 

More to discover