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
alexberger
904 posts
 
Does anybody try these capacitors?
Duelund JDM Tinned Copper Foil Capacitor
https://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/1-5uf-duelund-jdm-tinned-copper-600vdc.html
Are they sound close to Custom series or to RS series?
tablejockey
3,889 posts
 
Looks like you're making some progress there, jbhiller.

I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions after you've completed the project. I'd like to know which make the most noticeable change. I will likely just change those 2 or whatever, rather than a change and lets see, approach. The power supply  supposedly has been addressed with the AC offset feature, so I'm wondering if replacing anything there is money well spent? 

$500-700 doesn't seem out of line, considering what we spend in this hobby. I just dumped $1500 on a set of wheels for my bicycle-they were the "budget" model! They replaced worn out, $2K +plus models with "fancy" bearings.

What would be nice is getting ahold of the schematic and someone knowledgeable to determine which areas are indeed "weak". I'd like to think just because a component is inexpensive, it doesn't mean it necessarily warrants replacing it with a pricey one.

The PL cant be that far off from "super amp" status. It just needs the right areas tweaked.
alexberger
904 posts
 
I'm asking again - does anybody try these capacitors?
Duelund JDM Tinned Copper Foil Capacitor
https://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/1-5uf-duelund-jdm-tinned-copper-600vdc.html
Are they sound close to Custom series or to RS series?
abd1
156 posts
 
If I wanted to upgrade the caps in a PL Dialogue Premium amp (not integrated, not up) what size, and how many, Vcap ODAMs would I need? Thanks 
sns
3,202 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.
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