[cyclonite]

Hello guys, I'm building a high quality Meta42 and I was thinking of using Ansar audio grade Polypropylene capacitors for C1. These capacitors have 99.99%silver leads on the highest end models. They are costly but ppl tell me the sound if worth the investment. What do you guys think?

Or should I stick to my Panasonic ECQP series film & foil polypropylene capacitors?

Thanks.

Btw: Ansar's website is
http://www.ansar-ltd.co.uk/technical.html

Regards,

CyCloNiTe.

 

[zzz]

jumper across c1 and don't populate r2.

 

[guzzler]

Quote:

Originally posted by zzz jumper across c1 and don't populate r2.

ummm... you need R2, it forms a voltage divider with R1 and stabilises the input impedance...

g

 

[zzz]

Quote:

Originally posted by guzzler ummm... you need R2, it forms a voltage divider with R1

why would you want that?
Quote:

Originally posted by guzzler and stabilises the input impedance...

yeah, right.

it is only there to create a dc path to ground after the cap, otherwise the dc potential on the positive input to the opamp (and, consequently, dc at the output) would only be determined by various insulation impedances/leakage currents. if there's no input cap, there is no need for that particular dc path either.

 

[tangent]

Sorry, wrong answer.

R2 is in parallel with the input impedance of the amplifier. Since R2's value is far lower than the input impedance of the FET-input amplifiers favored for META42s, it dominates. This reduces the potential for noise pickup, because it means interference has to induce a larger current in the wires in order to create a significant voltage across the input impedance.

Yes, you can get away without having an R2 if you don't have a C1. Is it a good idea? I don't think so.

 

[zzz]

uhm. volume control together with r1 forms <15k to ground. paralleling 100k with that (c1-less) affect the situation how?

 

[cyclonite]

Thanks guys for your answers. Should I really jumper C1? what's the significance of this and how much would it really affect the sound quality?

would you rather jumper C1 or put a high grade cap across it?

Thanks.

Tangent, i'm Brian in case you didn't know

 

[Voodoochile]

Measure your source to see if there is any DC on the output. If not, and you don't use lots of varied sources, jumper it.

If you think you will be using the amp with all kinds of various equipment, put in the best film and foil cap you can get that fits well.

I have no idea about the R2 issue... Zzz and Tangent can work through those permutations.

edited horrendous typing!

 

[tangent]

Zzz's right, the pot performs the same function as R2 when C1 isn't in the way.

 

[Kelvie1234]

Quote:

Originally posted by tangent Zzz's right, the pot performs the same function as R2 when C1 isn't in the way.

So I can safely remove R2 because I jumpered C1?

 

[jeffreyj]

Quote:

Originally posted by cyclonite Hello guys, I'm building a high quality Meta42 and I was thinking of using Ansar audio grade Polypropylene capacitors for C1. These capacitors have 99.99%silver leads on the highest end models. They are costly but ppl tell me the sound if worth the investment. What do you guys think?

I took a look at the link you included and, frankly, I wasn't all that impressed. Making metallized film capacitors requires some very expensive, complicated and finicky equipment; equipment these "boutique" audio places generally can't afford. As a result, they invariably make *worse* capacitors than the major manufacturers like Evox-Rifa, Wima, Philips, Panasonic, et al.

I use Wima FKP and MKP series capacitors in switchmode power supplies all the time. They exceed every spec that Ansar cared to share and probably all the ones they didn't (like the maximum rate of change in voltage and current the capacitors can tolerate; the equivalent series resistance and inductance; etc.). Oh, and they cost a lot less, too (eg - 0.1uF/100V/FKP2 cost $0.28/ea. in 1k+ quantities).

99.999% silver is a joke. How anyone can believe this makes any sort of difference is beyond me. Even if the wiring throughout the entire audio chain used silver as the conductor - from the mikes in the recording studio to the drivers in your headphones - it would be difficult to imagine any improvement coming about. Oh, sure - you get people claiming all sorts of voodoo physics about crystal alignment and oxide inclusions, but, frankly, I have to wonder how long they've been off their meds when I read that kind of tripe.

Good audio reproduction comes from good engineering, not snake oil, smoke and mirrors.

 

[cyclonite]

Quote:

Good audio reproduction comes from good engineering, not snake oil, smoke and mirrors.

That's a very nice way of putting it

Thanks for all your input jeffreyj

jeffreyj: the thing is, I've spoken to an audiophile who makes custom amps for ppl and he told me that the Ansar caps were very very impressive.

Anyway what do you guys think about the Panasonic ECQ-P series caps which tangent recommended on his parts list?

Thanks.

 

[Voodoochile]

The Panasonic ECQ-P caps are excellent, especially considering their relatively inexpensive price. No big name appeal, however. There are surely other better caps, but the Panasonic is very appropriate for the Meta, it makes a nicely balanced amplifier.

 

[Nisbeth]

If you want to make your amp "jeffreyj-compliant"

, WIMA's MKP10 range will fit in the META-board up to and including 330 nF/160V. I can't get the Panasonics where I live, so this is what I use and they work great.

Oh, and cool down jeffrey, I believe you're absolutely right in what you are saying

/U. - Team Smoke & Mirrors

 

[jeffreyj]

Quote:

Originally posted by cyclonite jeffreyj: the thing is, I've spoken to an audiophile who makes custom amps for ppl and he told me that the Ansar caps were very very impressive.

So you're saying that because one audiophile told you he thinks Ansar caps are very impressive that you'd be willing to spend, what, 10-100x more for them? I have a better suggestion: determine if the DC offset from your source devices even warrants putting this capacitor in the circuit: there's no better capacitor in audio than none at all (even ppl will agree with me on this one).


Quote:

Anyway what do you guys think about the Panasonic ECQ-P series caps which tangent recommended on his parts list?

They are great caps, and available from Digi-Key (unlike the Wima's, which must be purchased from a distributor of the factory).

The BC Components MKP 416 series, also available from Digi-Key, seem to be promising, but I couldn't find data on this product series at BC Components website...