Finished some upgrades today!
Prolonged listening last night made me realize the C-7X choke gives an improvement in detail, and the sound has a brighter signature compared to the stock resistor it replaced. Seems similar to the changes a Tung-Sol 5998 makes compared to the sound of the Sylvania GB6080 and RCA 6AS7G. Also, before, when the volume pot was maxed -- without music -- there was some hum and scratchiness, and now, with the C-7X, it's gone. No music and maxed volume makes me imagine I'm wearing a lab coat in a clean room. I'm happy with this new horizon of clear and clinical sound, but I kept thinking and hoping for nightfall and tomorrow, as I imagined my Audyn film caps being loaded into the local USPS truck. I've been using Mallory 100uF electrolytics, though I couldn't tell a difference from the stock caps.
And here we have another new day! I got my Audyn (Q4 68uF 400V) caps!
OUTPUT CAPS: I've read from others saying they
might have noticed a difference with their new film output caps but, for me, these caps made an obvious difference in tone, smoothness, and body. I can turn up the volume higher and it doesn't get as harsh and mechanical sounding as before. Highs are still far-reaching and clear but now have a purity and roundness in their demeanor. Sounds very high class. Notes come and go with poise.
LAST PS CAP: The third Audyn cap in the last PS cap position reinforces the output positions' smoothness, purity, and poise. I'm very, very happy. This is less obvious, but it seems there's more weight to the sound.
MORE NOTES WHILE LISTENING:
- Tube rolling, for me, is no longer as important as before. I can live with any of my tubes really, but my favorite 6SN7s of course make it that much better.
- I keep thinking about how poised the notes present themselves as they fall into place one after another. It's like they discussed the game plan of each song and movie soundtrack and have practiced their execution unendingly. I keep signaling each note's landing by waving my hand in the air and swooning like a conductor.
- During research, before hitting the "submit order" button, I really hoped there wouldn't be any downgrade with 68uF caps in place of 100uF ones. And there is none. The fact that it's a film cap is the important factor here -- as is my using 600ohm AKGs. In fact, bass is more forceful with the 68uF Audyn's, and reaches deeper. Also, bass lines are noticeably more distinct as are the other instruments and voices. So I can focus on one instrument or vocal but
I'm not forced to -- meaning the sound is still coherent and musical, it's not matter-of-fact and strident like Christopher Hitchens at his best. It's classy and honest, always seeming to beautifully deliver the right answer ...like Christopher Hitchens at his best.
- I remember reading someone else's impression that film caps take away hash and glare (or schreechiness) from the treble, and I would agree; that's another way to explain what I said was smoothness and purity in the sound.
- Overall, I'm very happy! Here are some pictures! Cheers and happy listening!
