[]eep]

That's why it's winter every so often. So the snowflakes don't melt...

There are a lot of premium caps nowadays. Even at ridiculous prices. Fortunately coupling caps have smaller values like 0.47 or 0.33 that are not so big (even in 400V) and thus not as expensive as your average speaker cap.

The best types are paper in oil and premium, tightly wound mkp. Teflon if you can find them (rare and huge). Jantzen, Jupiter (huge), Mundorf, Clarity Caps, Duelund. Or the old ones like Sprague, Gudeman, Sangoma, Cornel Dubilier, Russian Ky42. There are some comparative capacitor tests online and specialist speaker shops have good info too.
https://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html
https://www.hificollective.co.uk/blog/dac-output-stage-capacitor-sound-test.html has a lot of premium parts in their shop with good descriptions.

I also use a lot of Chinese premium caps for my speakers. They look like 'audiophiler' in shiny silver coating. I took the risk to try a few but I wasn't disappointed. I like them a lot. I would rate them 8 or 9 in the HHmH test. They are the most costly on Aliexpress yet still very moderately priced (<10€).

 

[The Jester]

Mundorf caps were an upgrade option when I bought my HP8 headphone amp so went with them, previous speaker build I used Jantzen Silver Z caps for the tweeters and was more than happy with them …

 

[FYFL]

Cool, cool. Thanks guys for your feedback. I’ll definitely order some and see how that goes.
Canadian online store that I like, got most of the above mentioned brands in stock and offers pair matching for a $1. So I think that I will stay clear from eBay or Ali and just go with shop I already dealt with in the past.
I’ll take some gut pics of my phonostage over the weekend and post them here for you to look at.

 

[]eep]

Good. Let's have a look. Jantzen makes very good caps at a reasonable price.

Also, one thing I forgot to mention is bypass caps. If you combine 2 caps with a large one that is the value you need and put a small one of special quality of roughly 1/10 the value next to it (solder points together, ie in parallel) you will get the character of the big one for bass and mid and most of the character of the expensive one on the treble. Air, detail and spatiality. It's a trick used by designers that understand the value of good caps.

 

[FYFL]

Good. Let's have a look. Jantzen makes very good caps at a reasonable price.

Also, one thing I forgot to mention is bypass caps. If you combine 2 caps with a large one that is the value you need and put a small one of special quality of roughly 1/10 the value next to it (solder points together, ie in parallel) you will get the character of the big one for bass and mid and most of the character of the expensive one on the treble. Air, detail and spatiality. It's a trick used by designers that understand the value of good caps.

Saturday I’ll be meeting some guys who developed some sophisticated switcher and see it in action. So, I’ll probably post pics on Sunday. As to more in depth conversation on “how-to”, I’ll message you in private for some tips and pointers.
Good to have you guys around.

 

[The Jester]

Good. Let's have a look. Jantzen makes very good caps at a reasonable price.

Also, one thing I forgot to mention is bypass caps. If you combine 2 caps with a large one that is the value you need and put a small one of special quality of roughly 1/10 the value next to it (solder points together, ie in parallel) you will get the character of the big one for bass and mid and most of the character of the expensive one on the treble. Air, detail and spatiality. It's a trick used by designers that understand the value of good caps.

CJ have done that on their top tier models using expensive Teflon bypass caps, only downside is reports of up to 500 hours “burn in” before optimal results are achieved, I’m guessing the nature of the small bypass cap means minimal current flow compared to the larger cap extending the “burn in” time … easy to see why bypass caps are an attractive alternative by looking at price lists of say the VCap … top tier model 0.1 uf $100 compared to 8 times that for the 1.0 uf, easy to see why esoteric Hifi components are priced the way they are ..
But then again, any gain in sound quality from hardware is heard with every LP played …

 

[FYFL]

CJ have done that on their top tier models using expensive Teflon bypass caps, only downside is reports of up to 500 hours “burn in” before optimal results are achieved, I’m guessing the nature of the small bypass cap means minimal current flow compared to the larger cap extending the “burn in” time … easy to see why bypass caps are an attractive alternative by looking at price lists of say the VCap … top tier model 0.1 uf $100 compared to 8 times that for the 1.0 uf, easy to see why esoteric Hifi components are priced the way they are ..
But then again, any gain in sound quality from hardware is heard with every LP played …

I mean it all adds up, right? Little “improvement” here, little tweak there can go a long way. Most importantly, you are able to raise personal enjoyment for subjectively not a lot of money and personalize sound reproduction towards your personal preferences. That’s why I put improvement in quotation.

As a side note. I finally found someone to look a my 300b monos and fix whatever needs fixing (probably a bad cap or bad solder joint). Miss those amps a lot.
Not saying that my Decware monos are locking, In fact they are quite awesome for the money. But those 300B are special kind of experience.

 

[]eep]

I would like to depersonalise and nuance that. When you have a component that is designed without any constraints in price or material or size even then you will run into boundaries. As the wise man Scottie of Enterprise would exclaim: "I cannot change the laws of physics Jim!"

When you run into those boundaries you will have to make a compromise. Balance properties. Then it comes to experience, insight, wisdom, art, vision. It takes a designer to make a decision weighing all the consequences. And that is where it becomes personal or as you say a matter of preference. Or better; taste. Like you drink red wine with red meat, a heady strong woody red wine with venison and white wine with fish. It's not a matter of preference but it just doesn't taste good. That is synergy.

Synergy should bring out the strenght of the system. Building on strengths instead of balancing flaws.

One constraint that is often the limiting factor is money. Time and quality to make something, rarity of material all costs money. Thinking costs money. Education costs money. Stupidity costs money too. And it can hurt as hell (said the man typing with a bandaid on his index finger).

Fortunately there will always be true artists and geniuses who can sail the waters of compromise. But I don't have a lot of hope for our younger generation raised with a mobile phone stuck to their face.

Here's what happened last Wednesday... I got a young person at my door selling energy contracts (a real plague here), a so-called 'energy advisor'. Fed up with the constant harassment I decided to throw the net over the other side and throw him off his script.
Me: "Ah, you know about electricity. So I've been thinking, I use do little electricity, it's all Led lighting and low power stuff, could you deliver me DC power? Direct current"
- Eh, sorry sir? What? What is that 'direct current'??? (deer stops)
Me: Well you know, you want to sell me on alternating contract for current but I want to have direct current. Like with the solar panels and wind generators directly making current. I want that.
-Ah, yes of course sir, we have that, we... (deer still thinks of food)
Me: Yes, but that is converted to 50Hz AC. If the net collapses you need to insert a 50Hz tact to get the AC power net going again. No I want DC. I want it direct without conversion. I don't want to alternate energy contract.
- What is that 'Direct Current'? (deer is curious)
Me: You never heard of that? Thomas Alva Edison and the elephant? To prove Tesla's AC was dangerous?
-Who? (deer is confused)
Edison. The 'inventor' of the light bulb?
- Wow, so you see you learn something new every day... (deer in the headlights)
Me: Yes, I suppose. But I notice you can't help me with DC. So I wish you a good day. Goodbye! *THUD* (Oh deer)
I guess he is still wondering where in the conversation he lost control. I know: when he looked down to reach for his badge. Or actually when he showed no interest in education. But he can sell stuff! Yet he wasn't very 'current' at how stuff works.

 

[FYFL]

I got one better. Lmao
It might sound like I’m trying to shield my daughter from some cruel perception but, as a father I GOT to.
She is well educated, medical professional (Physician Assistant. I don’t believe there’s a EU equivalent..?) that can save your life. However, when it comes to technology or advanced mathematics? I sort of failed as a father.
To keep it short. She purchased one of those LED light rope/strips that can be controlled via phone app. Intent was to mount it under her bed in her new apartment.
Problem number one.
It surprised her that it needs to be plugged into a wall since it was advertised as “wireless operation” device on Amazon page. OK…… ?
Problem number two.
After cutting it into two pieces that supposed to be mounted on opposite sides of the bed, she was puzzled and disappointed that piece that was cut away from the main unit, didn’t respond to “wireless” phone application.
I’ve tried, I really did try to keep a straight face when she presented facts of her investigative journey.
And I did… and I did it only for one reason. No, no, no, not because I love my little girl. Ofcause I do. But to ask my wife to come over and see what she things about that.
After my daughter went over her technical difficulties with this installation my wife asked her:
“What is wrong with you?”.

I’m confident that her patients are in good hands but God forbid hospital lights go out…

 

[]eep]

Lol. Oh dear. Although I can tell you from experience that it's not always easy. I had a steep learning curve with all those wifi protocols for the controllers. I settled on Tuya since it doesn't require a hub. And soldering the part that you cut off to a new 12v plug to attach it to a different controller (or wire it back to the first strip) can be really tricky soldering. I made the lighting for a large wall wide bookshelf cabinet in 7 parts in RGBWW. So that is 6 tiny contacts on 1/4". And that times 7. Blood, sweat and tears. Literally. I've been back 4 times to fix it. Soldering high overhead. Turning on the lights and I got 5 red and 2 green, or white and 2 orange. AARGH..

I made this. The bamboo together. Our first really big job.


I just found my confidence back soldering the tube phono. Just now I did a little mod on a little Chinese opamp phono with seperate linear PS. I did a little bypass cap across the output cap. No room for much else.


A collection of cheap alternatives...

L2R Audiowind A310 in a stomp box, Fx-audio MM , Zero Zone opamp+LPS, Zero Zone 5670 tube phono and finally Yaqin MS23B. Tubes are fully modded and totally hum free.

 

[FYFL]

I read or watched someone talking about that Yaqin phono and some mods done to it long ago. He was quite happy with the results. Personally, I’ve never had an opportunity to try or hear one of those budget phonos. From cheaper option phonos, I’ve some experience from Vista Audio phono out of Croatia (not sure if they’re still in business) and small thing from Creek Audio, which I still own and use occasionally. Both are/were fine for the money I guess. But I really never did any meaningful comparison between them or more expensive options.

Great job with LEDs btw. Not for me thought since my eyes are super sensitive. Especially to LED or monitor light. Even bright LED indicator lights on some components irritate me. And often are masked with piece of electric insulation tape. Lol

Also, I took a bunch of pics of my phono circuitry. Not sure what is relevant and what isn’t? So, I will post all pics that I’ve got. Let me know if you see something that peaks your interest?

 

[]eep]

Aha. Just like I already said. It's the yellow caps. Those are the output caps. Rel cap 0.22 uF. You can probably do better there. 0.22 uF caps won't break the bank.

All the black Solens do not appear to be in the signal path so those are fine.

Also the tubes, while Electro Harmonics 12AX7 are solid performers you can probably do a lot better now. Or use old stock.

I must say I really like the insides. Especially that they use transformers for the MC input. Relays next to it. Very nice.

 

[FYFL]

Aha. Just like I already said. It's the yellow caps. Those are the output caps. Rel cap 0.22 uF. You can probably do better there. 0.22 uF caps won't break the bank.

All the black Solens do not appear to be in the signal path so those are fine.

Also the tubes, while Electro Harmonics 12AX7 are solid performers you can probably do a lot better now. Or use old stock.

I must say I really like the insides. Especially that they use transformers for the MC input. Relays next to it. Very nice.

So those Rel caps are what you think might look like an “upgrade” path to take as far as tweaking is concerned? Any suggestions on particular options? I checked out those Rel caps and they are not particularly cheap. Not saying a premium parts by any means but also not in trash category.
And yes, they do use tranies for MC which I also appreciated. Don’t know where they sourced them out from tho. Overall, unit is very quite and with more than tolerable low floor-noise. Something I have issue with when it comes to Solid State MoFi phono.
As to those 12AX7s….. yeah, I notice some room for improvement.
To be honest, I didn’t really remember what tubes where in there? Or if I have tried to swap them at some point or not?
My guess is that those are probably the original tubes that this unit came with. I have bunch of those in my basement. But finding a matching pair might be a bit challenging. Not to mentioned finding some with low noise/hiss. So, I just might get few matched pairs from reputable source. I am guessing a decent ones will cost me around $50-100?

 

[FYFL]

….Also, what about that single Solen cap between Rel capacitors?
I should also mention that there’s additionally exterior power supply enclosure. Not big deal but I like how they have tried to isolate power supply from phonostage signal circuitry. Even placing power supply transformer on the opposite side, as far as possible from other sensitive components like MC tranies.

 

[The Jester]

All sorts of things to explore with Valves (tubes) the Russian EH stuff is pretty good and they do a gold pin version too, lots of expensive options with NOS but for new stuff I prefer new Russian Gold Lion to EH in my preamp FWIW …