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Crossover Capacitors for Accuton Tweeters - Solen -> ClarityCap -> Jupiter -> Duelund

I've got Coincident Pure Reference Extremes with an Accuton ceramic tweeter and have moved through four different capacitors to provide my high pass filtering.  The speakers only have one 4.7uF capacitor in the crossover (no resistors or other components), so it was pretty easy to hear the sound of each cap. 

Started with stock Solen's, then tried Clarity Cap CMR, then Jupiter Copper Foil & Wax, and finally Duelund Tinned Copper CAST.  Just installed the Duelunds on Monday and despite not being broken in, they sound absolutely amazing.  Smooth, sweet, and detailed without any grain or harshness.  Just really spectacular, they let me hear more details while also preventing the tweeters from being aggressive, which has been a problem I've had to work hard on ever since owning the speakers.  

To comment lightly about the other caps I heard, I actually thought the stock Solens were pretty good.  They had a nice sense of color... when I changed out to the clarity cap, things got a little clearer, but felt too neutral.  I read that they are "ruler flat" and found that a good description.  I liked the cleanness, but missed some of the tone & color from the Solens... felt like I got a good combination of those two traits when upgrading to the Jupiter Copper Foils.  After about 6 months of the Jupiters I finally bought the Duelunds as a self-birthday present, and they completely lived up to my (very high) expectations.  Just beautiful, organic music.  Can't wait to see where they go over the next 200 hours.  Only have 10 to 20 on them so far.  

If you've got an accuton tweeter and can handle the stupid cost (and size), I concur with everyone else's recommendations (thanks humblehifi, jeff's place, @charles1dad, & @grannyring), they will make your speakers sound better.
128x128cal3713
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Rodman99999,
Very well stated. For Raul to suggest that his system/approach gets it right and cal3713's results  are merely pleasant distortion and coloration is the height of arrogance and condescension. 
Charles 
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
@cal3713 , thanks for the update on your journey through the amplifier jungle.  Pretty fascinating stuff.  I am a little surprised that the F4 clones ended up on the top of the heap.   I've had an itch to try one of the Pass or First Watt amps myself, and I think I would also enjoy the diy experience.  @grannyring may have created a monster by holding my hand through the rebuild of my Super Victory II crossovers.  Please keep us informed after you have a chance to evaluate the SITs vs the F4s.  
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Bill (brownsfan),
I had the pleasure of using a professionally built Nelson Pass D.I.Y. designed S.I,T 2 push pull version that is 40 watts per channel for about 3 weeks (thanks to a generous Audiogon member loan). I can tell you it was a ’VERY’ good sounding amplifier without question. It is a solid state amplifier I could happily live with.

Quite competitive with the Frankenstein in many ways. Both are very open and transparent. Ultimately I preferred the Frankenstein as it was a bit more tactile, 3 dimensional and had just a bit more tonal/harmonic fullness/richness. More humanity if you know what I mean.   But again the PP S.I.T. 2 was excellent. Your speakers require a little more power and current than my speakers so I believe that they’d be a good match for you.

I certainly can’t say you’d choose them over your Atma-sphere amps but I think you’d find them legitimate competitors.
Charles
cal3713's avatar
cal3713 OP
1,421 posts
 
@brownsfan Me too.  If not trying to find a booster amp to augment the Franks I wouldn't have ever tried the F4.  In the end, I just think it's a case of a particular design working well for a particular speaker. 

Of course there is this quote from Nelson in the manual:  "The combination of a simple Class A circuit operated without feedback and the good objective performance gives us a superb sounding amplifier. The low distortion, bandwidth extension, and high damping results in midrange clarity, treble detail, and control on the bottom end. While these are available from most good solid state amplifiers, the F4 also brings depth, imaging, midrange warmth and top-end sweetness. Overall, it is one of the best sounding amplifiers, and if you can live with unity voltage gain in your amplifier, it is possibly your best choice."
cal3713's avatar
cal3713 OP
1,421 posts
 
@charles1dad Also, I did compare a FW SIT2 (from reno) and the Franks back when I was buying an amplifier for the Super Eclipse IIIs.  I preferred the Franks as well.  I'm sure if the PREs were an easier load I'd never have moved on.  
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