best capcitors for diyMod(iMod)

[Aiyo]

What are the best caps for a diymod?

 

[FallenAngel]

Teflon

Didn't likely want to hear that answer did you? Well, when you ask for "best", you get recommended "best". Want a recommendation to suit your needs, ask a more specific question.

Had to pick on you a little since I'm FallenAngel and your location is "heaven"

 

[qusp]

oh you are evil FalenAngel

but you are also right; given that open-ended question the VCAP teflon is the best that I have tried. also mundorf SGIO... actually I prefer the mundorf, but in 3.3+uf its a bit too large really, but both of these have to be housed in a case not a cable. for its size the Blackgate NX-HQ really is the best IMO, with the elna silmic close behind. a decent film cap will wipe the floor with them any day, but in a small package they cant be beat.

 

[Good Times]

First thing you may want to clarify is whether you plan to install them internally or externally.

 

[qusp]

well hes doing it on ipod video and no CF mod, so I doubt internal. Although it is probably possible with some modifications to the internals it would be too much of a PITA IMO to do it internally. Plus he would then lose the ability to use a VCAP dock or similar in the future. i've never actually seen the advantage of doing internal as you are stuck with those same caps with everything. Plus I suppose its because I dont care for using premade accessories as I can always make my own whatever to suit

 

[EFN]

There's no such thing as one caps best for all. It all depends on the rest of the component. The type of amp you use and surely the type of cans used as well. Synergy is the key.

Unfortunately this means you will have to experiment with caps rolling to get the sound that suits you the best.

 

[Aiyo]

Well I had an iPod video that i was going to send to qusp to get modded... but it got involved in a magnet accident when i was making a speaker. I've diagnosed the problem to be the hard drive and the LCD got cracked. So I got an idea. Why not make a project for a diyMod to fit the capacitors on the inside. I'm planning to replace the HDD with a 32GB compact flash drive. This would give me some room to try and fit the capacitors inside the ipod. If it doesn't fit in a 30gb backplate then I'll use a 60/80gb backplate. So I want to know what capacitors are really good.

I'm still getting a diyMod from qusp though. >.<,

 

[AudioCats]

I supposed it depends on the kind of iPod.

iPod video 5G is relativly flat/even sounding, so it is best coupled to a meaty/spicy cap.

I will say try some Cardas.

 

[qusp]

do cardas have any small enough to fit inside or in an LOD??

 

[AudioCats]

no. But neither does Mundorf.

 

[Aiyo]

what do you recommend i buy from cardas? This is my first time buying so i have no idea where or what to buy >.<


also where would i buy Blackgates NX Hi-Q capacitors? i cant find them anywhere

 

[qusp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioCats /img/forum/go_quote.gif no. But neither does Mundorf.

NO way, they wont even fit in the same hammond case as the VCAP. was a harmless question, because I havent been exposed to them (cardas), dont have a clue what they look like. what construction are they?/ film caps??

 

[qusp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aiyo /img/forum/go_quote.gif what do you recommend i buy from cardas? This is my first time buying so i have no idea where or what to buy >.< also where would i buy Blackgates NX Hi-Q capacitors? i cant find them anywhere

wow you mustn't be looking very hard; they are everywhere. parts connexion has (or had not sure when it ends) a special going on at the moment and they are a head-fi sponsor. also percyaudio.com is a good source of blackgates. blackgates and elna/silmic are the only ones out of those mentioned that will go anywhere near fitting inside the ipod or LOD. all the others mentioned are likely film caps which are usually quite large. I really think you need to slow down a little and do some research. pretty much all of these places will have a minimum order as well, so you wont just be able to buy 2 caps. unless of course they are of the silly expensive kind of course

 

[FallenAngel]

Or give up this notion that it must fit into an LOD and go with something good.

 

[AudioCats]

Cardas "golden-ratio" are big/huge film caps, supposedly have teflon-composite dielectric (my guess is one layer of teflon with one layer of something else, that something else is for ensuring the tight tension since teflon likes to stretch). The sound is detailed and rich and super warm with very rounded bass. It can sound too juicy and bass heavy depends on where you are using it, but that can be a good thing for the rather flat iPod 5G. For a desktop CDP I will pick Mundorf SIO first, but to add flavor to the iPod video, the Cardas might be a better choice.

and like the Mundorf, the Cardas is huge and super expensive, cost even more than the SIO