Cap types

[Aural Robert]

PIO vs PETP I know they have different materials in their construction, but I do not know when to use one over the other. I am trying to source some russian caps off eBay for my eros and find both types.

I suppose whatever is in there should be replaced with an equivalent type (like metallized poly should not be replaced with a pio)?

I searched the forums a bit for this but what I found does not really explain my query. Information is appreciated. TIA.

Aural Robert.
... confusion will be my epitaph ...

 

[johnsonad]

Most of it stems from where you want to use it at?  In there Eros there is a cap on the C4S that you can play with but has low return.  A nice poly will work there but the cap that comes with it is nice too. There are the RIAA caps which need to have matching out to 0.0001 if PJ had his way.  There is an electrolytic on the cathode bypass of the EF86 and there is the output caps.  I'm using monster film caps here but can't say I notice a difference.  The output cap will give you the greatest return on your cap rolling.  If you read through the threads, it can be a much smaller value than what is sent with the kits.  I'm assuming you have started there already.

I can understand your interest in the Russian caps but there are some great sounding affordable caps out there now and I've replaced all of my Russians with them.  Check out the Solen SA, SB, SE, SM, SN, SY Series Polypropylene Film & Tin Foil Capacitors.  These are cheap and sound really nice.  Also consider the Solen S3Q Series PTFE FEP Film & Tin Foil Capacitors.  This is what I'm using as output caps in my Eros and I really like them.  Plus, they are significantly cheaper than V-Caps and IMO, sound better than the Russian caps in my system. 

 

[ToolGuyFred]

My capacitor rules of thumb:

• Polypropylene for value, Teflon / PTFE for resolution.
• Foil generally sounds better than metalized film.
• Copper or tin sound better than aluminium. Silver is good for the deep of pocket.
• Always bridge an electrolytic with a small poly - anything from 2uF to 0.02uF seems to work fine.
• Don't rule out paper in oils - just be a bit cautious with new old stock stuff.
• Everything makes a difference.
• Other rules may apply.

My choice for good sounding caps for a brand Obligato on a budget or Audio Note if you want to push the boat out.

Re Russian stuff: we put some Russian teflon caps across the HT on my son's Paramounts and the improvement was quite obvious, although they sound much better for a few hundred hours use.

 

[kip.duff]

Re Russian stuff: we put some Russian teflon caps across the HT on my son's Paramounts and the improvement was quite obvious, although they sound much better for a few hundred hours use.

Could you clarify- more specific please?  Since I am running completely stock Paramount 1.1's with Psvane 300Bs, I'm starting to research  upgrades that make sense.  I have Russian K73-16, KBG, FT-3 types that I'm considering installing in Eros and BeePre I'm building.

 

[Tom-s]

• Don't rule out paper in oils - just be a bit cautious with new old stock stuff.

What's the problem with NOS PIO's?

 

[JamieMcC]

Re Russian stuff: we put some Russian teflon caps across the HT on my son's Paramounts and the improvement was quite obvious, although they sound much better for a few hundred hours use.

Could you clarify- more specific please?  Since I am running completely stock Paramount 1.1's with Psvane 300Bs, I'm starting to research  upgrades that make sense.  I have Russian K73-16, KBG, FT-3 types that I'm considering installing in Eros and BeePre I'm building.

,

You will probably be very happy if you decide to use the Russian 0.22uF 600V FT-3 in the Eros. Build it stock and swap them over later. But be warned they do take a couple of hundred hours to come on song. Burning in via a ipod is good way of speeding things up.

 

[kip.duff]

Jamie McC:

If you have a moment, do you have a specific way you use for: "Burning in via a ipod is good way of speeding things up."  As mentioned, I bought an SS receiver and burn-in CD, so I have a good source with line or speaker level out put.  I was hoping for a method not using speakers so I could do break in quietly- needs 100's of hours and I gotta think of my neighbor.  It bugs me to have to wait to figure out if I like the way a new component sounds.  Plus, my perception shifts due to age and noise exposure.

My question to ToolGuyFred was that I don't understand where he's installing the Russian caps.  "Across the HT" to me means an electrolytic at B+ (460DC) to ground.

 

[JamieMcC]

Jamie McC:

If you have a moment, do you have a specific way you use for: "Burning in via a ipod is good way of speeding things up."  As mentioned, I bought an SS receiver and burn-in CD, so I have a good source with line or speaker level out put.  I was hoping for a method not using speakers so I could do break in quietly- needs 100's of hours and I gotta think of my neighbor.  It bugs me to have to wait to figure out if I like the way a new component sounds.  Plus, my perception shifts due to age and noise exposure.

I used a 3.5mm trs jack to rca connector they are inexpensive on ebay and allow you to use most headphone outs on phones/ipods as a source using the volume control of that device to set the out put. You connect the Eros as normal to your amp/speakers  but use the ipod as the input source into the Eros I slowly up the volume from zero to normal listening levels on the ipods volume control then turn off the speaker amp and just leave the Eros on and the ipod playing on shuffle to break in quietly to what ever tunes you normally listen to. When you want to listen to a record you just swap over the Eros's ipod input rca leads to your turntable ones and your good to go again with your LP's.

Like the one below but if using a phone rather than ipod/music player use something with a longer length lead to keep the phone further away so the Eros doesnt pick up any phone noise.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-2m-Scan-Audio-Jack-Cable-3-5mm-TRS-Jack-Male-to-2x-RCA-Phono-Male-Black-/361922756619?hash=item544447000b:g:FdIAAOSwB-1Yvuns

 

[ToolGuyFred]

My question to ToolGuyFred was that I don't understand where he's installing the Russian caps.  "Across the HT" to me means an electrolytic at B+ (460DC) to ground.

Correct. Between B+ and ground. This is in addition to the standard electrolytics supplied with the kit. Not a replacement.

See this thread http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=8747.msg83950#msg83950 for more details.

See this thread for the pictures. http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=8733.0