Preamp Output Capacitor: Mundorf Supreme vs. Supreme Silver Oil

Hi @c_avila1 ,

I’m agree with you. Everyone has their own system and taste. So the best way to try by yourself in your system.

@kalali ,
IMHO, the value accuracy of coupling capacitors is not so important. Is doesn’t matter to much if cutoff frequency 1 Hz or 2, 3 Hz.
The quality and sound signature is much more important!
The other story in crossovers and RIAA correction where accuracy is the must.

Regards,
Alex.

These ODAMs have been a revelation and I'm glad I contacted Chris before spending more money on Deulunds, which gets lots of praise but size and cost is their drawback...

Excellent thread guys, keep it coming.

Wig

I would be very careful when comparing and making claims on  capacitors, in absolute terms, to make sure the value used is large enough for an accurate listening test.

For instance, testing a 0,68uf with a 100k load vs a 2uf with same load.
If the capacitor is indeed accurate in absolute terms, the 0.68uf will sound thin. If it sounds full enough, then the capacitor is "artificially flavoring" the music.

A proper, truly accurate 2uf capacitor, in absolute terms, will be more accurate than the 0,68uf capacitor in almost all circuits.

cheersAG

AG, not necessarily.  A 0.68uf cap into a 100K loaf will have a rolloff that is -3 dB at 23 Hz.  That is not going to sound “thin” on most systems.  The 2uf cap extends the -3 dB freq to 8 Hz.  There would be virtually no sonic difference between these two caps provided they are otherwise identical (same brand, same model) at least on most systems.

You are right, there are a few criteria.
1. I am not talking "most" systems. I am discussing excellent systems. Many average Joes probably won’t care that much though. But it is important to others.

2. I am not considering bumping the woofer’s Qts above 0,707 in order to artificially boost the system’s low end response. The problem with that is a phase deviation, bloating, or even synthetic bass (RCA Radiotron Designers Handbook, 4th edition, 26+ engineers). And can one ever really obtain flat response with such a measure?

3. Another problem is that dbs add. By that I mean each components deviation is additive. If we have three components, we add the db variation of each. For instance, -0,2db plus -0,15db plus -0,2db gives us -.55db from flat. A deviation varies vs frequency, and exists over many octaves. (RCA Radiotron Designers Handbook, 4th edition, 26+ engineers explains this plus the next paragraph.)

Another concern is if we limit the bass response, we also need to limit the high frequency response. Visa versa as well. (RCA Radiotron Designers Handbook,)
We need to keep each component’s frequency response as flat as possible, minimal deviation to protect the musical information.

4. I am discussing capacitors in absolute sonic terms (not measurements), so as to not cover over another fault in a poor/average design. The capacitors I am talking about are not a 716P orange drops.

5. Every time one compromises sonic quality in a part, a stage, in a component, the synergy will not be as optimum as it could be. Design and parts quality is very important.
By the way, imo, -3db at 23 hz is extremely poor frequency response unless one is purposely constructing a high pass filter to limit the bass response, which is useful for certain purposes. Cheers
ag