Preamps w/ polypropylene caps in power supply?

I am just curious. Do you think think avoiding electrolytics with their usualy high capacitance is a good way to go. To be clear are you advocating the CJ method? I really don't know enough to think one way is better than another but am anxious to learn.

The Coincident Statement Linestage and the Purity Audio Design linestages have exclusively all poly propylene capacitor power supplies.I`m sure there`re others also.
Regards,

There's a whole subculture around caps. Poly caps in the power supply are theoretically "faster" and definitely longer-lived than fluid-filled electrostatic caps. The biggest advantages of electrostats is that they are quite cheap and compact for the value of capacitance that they offer. To achieve the same capacitance in a poly cap requires physically large poly caps or a bunch of smaller poly caps wired in parallel. Practically, there's usually not enough room under the chassis to do this easily.

Many people believe that the advantages of poly caps in the power supply can be achieved by bypassing the electrostats with supplemental poly caps. John Curl has written some interesting papers on this practice.

I have no specific experience in replacing electrostats with polys, although I've routinely bypassed them in some applications. The biggest wins have been in other areas. I have had sonic successes with tube amps where I've replaced or supplemented power supply filter caps with oil-filled motor run capacitors.

Frankly, for me the biggest buzz and sonic payoffs are usually found for coupling capacitors rather than in the power supply. Modern electrostats have much lower ESR than was true a couple of decades ago, so the poly caps are not such a big improvement any more.

Just my $.02

I have used poly caps in all my components and replaced the electrolytic whenever possible(space limitation, values of cap, cost etc.) Not all poly caps are the same. Some may be good for bypass and not good for coupling. One has to try until having the desired sound.

I replaced with poly caps in my speakers' crossovers, the speakers are more quiet and clearer sound with deeper bass.

I replaced them in my cd player and the sound of the cd player become smoother. Some cases it changes the character of the sound for the better.

For the preamp, I actually replaced the electrolytic in power supply one by one and compare the difference each time. Each replacement made the music smoother and sweeter. Yes, in the power supply. I did that until no more electrolytic.

you can try that with inductors (for speakers) and resistors (for all).

Enjoy.

Those film caps can and do sound great compared to electros in many designs. But it depends on the power supply design, design goals, and type of amp. I have used computer grade, huge can electos to great effect. They do great things for a robust and kick butt power supply. Those film caps just don't offer large enough values for some designs.