What Caps?
- Thread starter mp9
- Start date
Paul Joppa
Moderator
Just a quick note here - non-electrolytic capacitor voltage ratings are related to lifetime; as an example suppose 20% over-voltage reduce the lifetime by a factor of 10. So a 100,000-hour cap will only last 10,000 hours. Testing to destruction for a minute or a day will never detect this. I see too many such tests "proving that a cap can exceed its ratings".
Then there are people like me. Read somewhere that Doc liked Auricap (might be true, might not!). Put some in, sounded good. Done. I suppose I have used Teflon, Obligatto, and some others here and there but when it came to Bottlehead, it was pretty much build it with Auricap and call it good. I never wanted to capacitor roll, I didn't even want to deal with replacing capacitors later. So I know less about what these capacitor upgrades did only ever having upgraded the capacitors after having listened to stock in my original Foreplay II. My point (finally) is if you want to obsess, great, if you enjoy that kind of tinkering that's great! If not, do what I did in my Eros. Pick a cap that has a good reputation. Stick it in. If it sounds good, listen to the music and call it a day. Your call!
Grainger49
New member
If the Jupiter HT caps look like the ones above please post a picture. I have no reference for size in the above photograph. I'm curious.
I grabbed 20 - 10uF/160V Russian MGBO's from Bulgaria for about $2 each. Unfortunately, if I use them in all possible places in my system, I will still have 16 left, lol.
I also ordered one of the varieties of balanced input transformers, and we'll work on putting up instructions for installation.
-PB
I also ordered one of the varieties of balanced input transformers, and we'll work on putting up instructions for installation.
-PB
johnsonad
New member
HF9 said:Did you settle on the Russian oilers? I was definitely considering them but I figured it would be a little difficult to mount a pair of 6uf 400V KBGs on each side of the amp
I did and for me they work very well. I'll find a home for the Jupiter's at some point. Their voltage rating is too low to use them in a power amp....
Would it hurt to go larger? Reason I ask is I was thinking Obbligato and I can either buy a 10 uf 630V or a 15uf 250V and the 15uf is cheaper.
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I know this may seem out of character, but I actually measured that 10uF was around the smallest we wanted to go for best bass extension into a typical 50K-100K load, on a scope.
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I know this may seem out of character, but I actually measured that 10uF was around the smallest we wanted to go for best bass extension into a typical 50K-100K load, on a scope.
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More uF is OK, I'd go for the smallest size you can get away with.
Yeah, I meant physical size. Personally, I wouldn't care too much about going under 10uF, but otherwise the voltage rating required is very low in the BeePre, so saving some money and space on 15uF caps with a lower voltage rating seems like a good decision.
johnsonad
New member
My KBG's are on longer extensions and sit on the floor under the preamp. It's not the best but it doesn't move very often. Plus it allows a little more air circulation or at least I tell myself this nothing says that you need to secure the caps to the chassis plate. Who knows, I might actually be helping the overall sound!
nothing says that you need to secure the caps to the chassis plate. Who knows, I might actually be helping the overall sound!
johnsonad
New member
I gotta tell you Paully, try PB's test first. I noticed zero difference in low end output with a 1.5uF cap vs the 10uF KBG. Really i should measure it out but audibly I didn't complain. I know you have caps lying around. I would suggest using first the Daytons that come with the kit. Once you have it settled in and have a good feel for it, try what you have around. I was very happy with a 1.5uF cap as far as the low end goes and if you have a SEX or other BH builds you probably have a few. I've got a handful of 1uF KBG's you can try if you don't have any. I used to double them up in my SEX.
galyons
New member
Paully said:
I don't have a BeePre, but do have an FP3X. I used additional stand-offs with an aluminum platform to mount my 2uF KBG's horizontally, (parallel to the top plate). That substantially reduced the required height, mounts them very securely and provides a better visual layout down under. I took the concept to a more extreme on my Crack fitting 6 MGBO 30uF's and a C7-X choke in the"basement", still remaining in normal base footprint.
Looking at a pic of the BeePre, there appears to be good availability to add male/female stand-offs above, (really below in the playing position), the two small regulator boards.
I tried Obbligato Golds, Mundorf Supreme SIO, OS Vitamin Q's and KBG's. (Bias clearly stated..I .don't like the sound of metalized polyprop caps). IMO the Vitamin Q's were much better that the MPP caps in timbre, imaging and sound stage. The KBG's bested them all...all of the good of the Vit Q's, but a more crisp sounding presentation providing a bit better detail and apparent speed.
Cheers,
Geary
