AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Virtue Audio Owners => Topic started by: Jason T on 17 Jul 2011, 06:43 pm
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Duane will have to let us know 8)
a pain in the butt to fit inside the amp but damn do they look mean ! :thumb:
this upgrade is only available through me directly for $220 and cannot be ordered through the websit contact me at jason.terpstra@gmail.com
Before
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=48930)
After
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=48931)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=48932)
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Still looks like there is some room for bypass caps... :D
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Can't, stop, staring at 'em :o :drool:
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Can't, stop, staring at 'em :o :drool:
I must agree! I can't wait to get this in my system with the Dodd battery power supply and Nirvana speaker cables. I will be sure to let you know how it sounds. I also have a couple of different tubes to try in the buffer. Duane
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I will take some if they sound better. But I am using my Sensation on the 80HZ bypass setting. Do they work there?
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Oh,and the speaker hook up wire was also changed to the Auric.
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I will take some if they sound better. But I am using my Sensation on the 80HZ bypass setting. Do they work there?
Tom
I would have to use a .1 cap if your using the highpass jumpers.
https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=170&products_id=9027 (https://www.madisound.com/store/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=170&products_id=9027)
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I think having ones and twos in stock to sell at all times would be much better than all the sensations and mega sensations that one could conceptualize. Not to mention pianos.
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Fred, I hear ya. I'm really sorry we ran out of ONEs and TWOs. It nearly put us out of business last time this happened. 6 months with no amps to sell. Aaron keeps giving me good status reports on the THREE.1, which will be made in ONE and TWO versions eventually as well (ONE.3, TWO.3). When the next prototype is approved we'll open up pre-orders at a sick discount. It would not be fair for me to do a new production of 250 ONEs and TWOs when a major upgrade is so close to production.
If Sensation is out of budget and you want one, send me a PM and we'll try to work something out. Again, sorry for running out of the ONE/TWO. We make big batches and hope the last until the next production or version is made. At my prices, there is no onesy twosy production -- more power to Vinny (Red Wine) for pulling that off!
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Don't they make them in lower voltage ratings?
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Don't they make them in lower voltage ratings?
Nope,that's all they offer.
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Love that grounding scheme gong on there. The clarity cap should improve on the Auri cap. Just the tolerence difference alone is a major factor. The Auri as musical as it is cannot stand up to the clarity of the Clarity cap. No pun intended.
If one takes the plunge spend a buck or two more and have them matched. Can't hurt.
Whatever you do a fine product you will still have.
charles
SMA
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According to the tracking I should receive the amp on saturday. I will run it in for a week straight but I will let you know how it sounds along the way. I have to give a big thanks to Jason for such quick work and awesome communication along the way.
I'm going to start out with the stock tube and after break-in put in the Create Audio 12AX7 that I have just waiting it's turn. My sources are a Magnum Dynalab MD90 fm tuner and Oppo BDP-95 universal blu-ray player. Speakers are Mark & Daniel Maximus-Ruby,a fairly demanding standmount speaker,and Amphion Athene II, small floorstanding speakers that are quite revealing and play damn low and clean. It's going to be a long three day wait!
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Jason turned me on to the Clarity caps and I put them in my 2 way stand mount speakers, and they took a big leap forward in musicality and blackness of background and of course clarity. That was a great discovery for me. When I get another Virtue amp, I want the Clarity caps for sure. :P
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=49039)
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I received the amp on saturday and I finally got a chance to get things hooked up this afternoon. First I would like to say that Jason did great work and it all looks professionally done. I couldn't have asked for better service from Jason or Virtue Audio as they both exceded my expectations.
It has only been playing for one hour so these are very initial thoughts. Right off the bat the amp seems to have more drive,playing slightly louder at the same volume setting. The bass is great already and can really hit hard,the mids sound very natural and clear, but the highs are etched and bright. Diana Kralls voice on the Girl In The Other Room sacd sounds natural and expressive,the bass sounds clear clean and extended,but the cymbals are sharp and piercing. The highs should smooth out with a little more time if my previous experience holds true this time also.
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I just put in the Create Audio tube and the sound got even more open and defined with even better bass and more "they are in the room" midrange but the treble is still bright. However, the speaker hiss is way lower now as to be almost gone too. So,one step back two steps forward.
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Hey guys my Two is at Virtue right now being fixed and I'm contempating a hi-pass cap upgrade. I initially wanted to go Sonicaps with Sonicap platinum bypass caps (just like.. the official Virtue upgrade proceedure when buying a new amp), but Jason is telling me that's a bad idea and they sound bad and I really want ClarityCaps.
The advice I can offer you is it depends on YOUR ear. To my ear the Sonicaps tend to be harsher and open up the highs too much and make everything sound tinny in every amp I've heard them in. I prefer the virtucaps or auricaps because they keep more warmth in the music. However, I also have yet to find a set of speakers and amp that I can stand soprano sax at a reasonable volume level without having a "i'm going to grab a sledge hammer" reaction. If you listen to music with less alto and bass ranges and its all mostly higher range (Lots of wind instrument jazz or symphony) then install the Sonicaps, I've heard from multiple people that the sound is unbeatable for the money. However if you're like me, and enjoy mellow piano, hard rock, spanish guitar, swing and Norah Jones go with a different cap, IMO. Also, if you like Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy or Michael Buble go with something other than the Sonicap unless you like the highs to be bright, crystal clear and sharp, as mentioned above. I've learned very quickly that everyone has a different ear and many people try a few different caps in their amps and speakers before they find the one right for them. As for the hi-pass Bypass caps, whatever Jason says is probably a good measure, but we have quite a few people on this forum with the full cap upgrade who should have some input :)
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I love my auricaps, and Cami is right I read alot where folks are not real crazy about the Sonicaps.
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My sonicaps are still burning in on my Sensation, but since I still have a Virtue One with VirtueCaps I would agree with Cami.
To my ear the sonicaps really pair best with the tube buffer, with only a few cavaets such as maybe electronica where sharp as a tack is an asset. Some vocalists that I listened to such as Aretha Franklin, and an Australian singer Little Birdy are less engaging in general than the Virtue One even with the buffer in. On the other hand if I tried to turn up the Virtue One some higher full notes at volume from say Tedeschi Trucks Band and those others could induce a wince whereas the sonicaps/sensation never overdo it.
In other words the Virtue One/virtuecap is fun but flawed, whereas the sonicaps (with plat. bypass) are incredibly analytical and detailed by themselves, and a more full bodied slightly less analytical with the buffer in, but not for people who value emotion over detail.
I can see myself in the restless camp that keeps swapping caps. Maybe a switch for caps as well as the buffer lol.
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I am happy to report that the break in is coming along nicely. Most of the brightness has gone and a much smoother more extended treble is emerging. The sound of the M901 with the auricaps was slightly warm with big bass and smooth highs that were slightly rolled off,a very pleasant inviting sound.
With the clarity mr caps the sound now has more drive to it with deeper tighter bass. The mids are very neutral,but not cold,with a much greater clarity. The treble is now more open and airy with great extension. The sound has really come to life with a density of information and spacial cues that had been supressed with the auricaps. The sound from my speakers pretty much filled the room before this upgrade but now it has made my walls disappear with sound that surrounds me seemingly coming from a room away.
The opening to Avatar has a strong drum strike that really sets the mood. This drum stroke rolled through the room from front to back before but now it sounds like I am in a vast open space when that stroke hits and it rolls past with more authority and more clearly defined.
I felt that the sound with the auricaps was balanced toward the lower midrange and softened at the low bass and upper treble. The clarity mr caps seem to be giving a completely balanced range from top to bottom. This additional range makes the amp sound more dynamic and more live. The initial brightness is being replaced with a more real sounding metalic bite to cymbals. All of the sounds that used to lurk in the back of the mix or that were almost totally obscured are now brought out to hear more clearly. The best way that I can sum it up is that the sound is vibrant and full with so much densely packed information and spacial cues that I am hearing familiar music and movies in a totally different way.
I have to say that I am a bit shocked by the difference in sound between yesterday at 7pm when I listened to Bluetech's Sines and Singularities and when I listened to it this morning at 11am. The sound has really opened up and smoothed out while exposing more of the hidden sounds in the mix.
If you can't tell by now I am very satisfied with this upgrade and can't wait to hear what the amp sounds like in a few more days.
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All I have to say is good luck fitting those monsters in a TWO.2 chassis!
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All I have to say is good luck fitting those monsters in a TWO.2 chassis!
That seems difficult to do. Even harder to do in a THREE.1 chasis with all the extra stuff in it. :lol:
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All I have to say is good luck fitting those monsters in a TWO.2 chassis!
Ah,the Two.2 "Hunchback" edition. :wink:
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I am happy to report that the break in is coming along nicely. Most of the brightness has gone and a much smoother more extended treble is emerging. The sound of the M901 with the auricaps was slightly warm with big bass and smooth highs that were slightly rolled off,a very pleasant inviting sound.
With the clarity mr caps the sound now has more drive to it with deeper tighter bass. The mids are very neutral,but not cold,with a much greater clarity. The treble is now more open and airy with great extension. The sound has really come to life with a density of information and spacial cues that had been supressed with the auricaps. The sound from my speakers pretty much filled the room before this upgrade but now it has made my walls disappear with sound that surrounds me seemingly coming from a room away.
The opening to Avatar has a strong drum strike that really sets the mood. This drum stroke rolled through the room from front to back before but now it sounds like I am in a vast open space when that stroke hits and it rolls past with more authority and more clearly defined.
I felt that the sound with the auricaps was balanced toward the lower midrange and softened at the low bass and upper treble. The clarity mr caps seem to be giving a completely balanced range from top to bottom. This additional range makes the amp sound more dynamic and more live. The initial brightness is being replaced with a more real sounding metalic bite to cymbals. All of the sounds that used to lurk in the back of the mix or that were almost totally obscured are now brought out to hear more clearly. The best way that I can sum it up is that the sound is vibrant and full with so much densely packed information and spacial cues that I am hearing familiar music and movies in a totally different way.
I have to say that I am a bit shocked by the difference in sound between yesterday at 7pm when I listened to Bluetech's Sines and Singularities and when I listened to it this morning at 11am. The sound has really opened up and smoothed out while exposing more of the hidden sounds in the mix.
If you can't tell by now I am very satisfied with this upgrade and can't wait to hear what the amp sounds like in a few more days.
Duane
thanks for sharing, I really like the Clarity caps and on my system using many different speakers I have yet to find a cap that will better them.
in my opinion they are more neutral across the board than other caps.
I'm fairly certain you will keep hearing small changes in the caps for about 300hrs, keep us informed.
Duane, do me a favor and listen for a bit without the buffer on and let us know what you think for those guys without buffers that are thinking about a cap upgrade.
Guys for any of you interested the Mod I did for Duane consisted of Clarity Cap MR-3.3uf caps, Auric 18awg wire in twisted pairs (2 per + 2 per -) and costs $220, you pay shipping both ways.
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I have finished comparing the upgraded amp with and without the tube buffer in-line. The results were the same for every movie/music selection I tried. This turned out to be much more interesting than I had expected as I thought it was going to be quick and easy in favor of the tube buffer. With the stock amp I always prefered the tube buffer on to give the sound a little added liquidity and space. The upgraded amp with the tube buffer on also gives the sound a little added liquidity and space but the sound is also a little more diffuse with a little less body and it is a little brighter making the sound a little more vivid. With the tube buffer off on the upgraded amp the sound is a little less spacious and a little less liquid but it is a little more focused with more defined images that have a little more body to them partly because the bass is better defined. The tube buffer also has a little better decay to notes as they trail off into space but then again this may be because it sounds a little further away to begin with. I am having a much harder time deciding which one I prefer and it usually just comes down to the material being played. For most of the movie selections I prefered the buffer off but for most of my music listening I prefered the buffer on for that added space.
Listening to the upgraded amp with the tube buffer off has really made me realize what an upgrade this is. If the amp had sounded like this to begin with I don't think I would have gone for the tube buffer,unless curiosity got the better of me. Now the amp can sound like a very good solid state amp or a very good tube amp at the flick of a switch which is just mind boggling to me. Don't get me wrong on this though,the stock amp sounds really good and is an exceptional value but sometimes you just don't know how good something can sound until some of the cost considerations are taken out of the equation.
I have been comparing the M901 to my Marantz PM-11S2 integrated,which is a 4k amp that some say is the best integrated amp under 5k. I always preferd the Marantz over the stock 901 even with the tube buffer but this upgrade has taken the 901 past the Marantz in every category. Needless to say,I have sold the Marantz. In comparison to my Accuphase E-213 integrated amp the upgraded 901 solid state sounds almost identical. I don't know if I could reliably pick one over the other in a blind test. The upgraded 901 with the tube buffer on has a different enough sound that it would be quite easy to pick in a blind test. I always prefered the Accuphase to the Marantz but now I prefer the upgraded 901 to the Accuphase because they sound so similar in solid state and I have the option of turning on the tube buffer for that tube sound. Needless to say,I have sold the Accuphase.
I had gotten a little crazy over the years and thought that I needed a stereo system in every room I might be in but lately I have been trying to sell most of this stuff and just have one system in the living room for all to enjoy. I am very pleased to say that this upgraded M901 has made that possible. On my way up the audio ladder when I was willing to spend plenty I don't think the 901 would have even gotten my attention,and obviously it didn't,but because I was looking for something like this I decided to give it a try and boy am I glad I did!
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Wow, what a thoughtful analysis. Thank you!
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My pleasure,thank you for producing such a fine product. When I put the 901 in our main system my wife said "THAT'S the amp? That little thing right there? Hmmmmm" Then she played some of her music and became a believer. I have to say that I am amazed by the amount of drive this amp has with the battery power supply hooked up to the Mark & Daniel Rubies. The amount and depth of the bass is something else. I have been looking at a couple pair of 92db floorstanders and may just give one a try now that I know the amp is up to it.
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And for those wondering, my room is 14'X19'X9' with a door at the back left of the speakers that can be opened to act like a bass trap and very large pocket doors on the opposite wall just ahead of the right speaker. The house is 100 years old so the walls are plaster and lathe with the original wallpaper that looks and feels like silk which I think has a lot to do with the great acoustics of this room.
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And for those wondering, my room is 14'X19'X9' with a door at the back left of the speakers that can be opened to act like a bass trap and very large pocket doors on the opposite wall just ahead of the right speaker. The house is 100 years old so the walls are plaster and lathe with the original wallpaper that looks and feels like silk which I think has a lot to do with the great sonics of this room.
What tube are you running? You might have mentioned it.
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What tube are you running? You might have mentioned it.
I'm currently using the Create Audio 12AX7 which I prefered over the stock tube.
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I have Sonic caps in my One.2 and they have never sounded harsh at all to me, just open sounding.
I think they will reveal any harshness upstream though. My 2 cents.
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This upgrade sounds enticing. Is it adding more power and authority? Its not required in my set up. Any additional benefits besides improved balance?
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OMG I am such a sheep. but I've read nothing but supremely good things about these caps, and learned some stuff about the company itself so I think I am primed to go ahead and let Jason put a pair into my TWO. I was at first quite adamant about Sonicap gen II's bypassed by Sonicap Platinums, as seems to be the Audiocircle default choice, but I get that there are other options out there and what I've read about the ClarityCaps seemed just as compelling. No bypass required.
I am quite familiar with the VirtueCap sound having run the amp in hi-pass for some time before sending it in for a little TLC. So even though it will be from (a rather sharp) memory I think I will be able to give a rough comparison once it comes back.
It is a little scary, knowing these caps are so large that installing them effectively permanently disables the preamp (Auricaps removed... Hey I'm gonna want those back just to have), but I found the preamp section didn't sound as good as my Emotiva XDA-1 DAC with volume control so I never used it. I was always running the VirtueCap section. Sounded mighty fine as was so hoping for an improvement with ClarityCaps.
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Perhaps a crazy reckless thought but can one do this cap upgrade oneself? The hassle and expense of shipping from Canada and being without tunes for a couple of weeks makes me hesitate.
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Perhaps a crazy reckless thought but can one do this cap upgrade oneself? The hassle and expense of shipping from Canada and being without tunes for a couple of weeks makes me hesitate.
My buddy is shipping his from Hawaii. Shipping is so high to and from Hawaii. I am still looking for my box so I can get mine to Jason.
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Perhaps a crazy reckless thought but can one do this cap upgrade oneself? The hassle and expense of shipping from Canada and being without tunes for a couple of weeks makes me hesitate.
Cap upgrade isn't hard - as long as you have a little soldering skill, and can work from the wrong side of the board :)
Scott
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I think I can handle soldering. Are you say that the board should come out? That doesn't appear too daunting. Are the bypass caps history then? I run full range so maybe that doesn't matter.
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Even though I run my amp fullrange also Jason managed to keep the bypass caps in. If you look really close you can just see the edge of one peeking out from under the mr caps.
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Hmmm... I take your word for it 'cause I can no see no ting.
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I had trouble uploading the image to this thread so I had to put it in the gallery. Just click on gallery and it is titled "There she is!".
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Even though I run my amp fullrange also Jason managed to keep the bypass caps in. If you look really close you can just see the edge of one peeking out from under the mr caps.
I think that most people do the cap upgrade without taking the circuit board out. Which means that you are soldering to the wrong side of the board. But it still works fine. And it's a lot less work than removing the board.
Scott
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Thanks for that Scott. It took me over a year to get my 901 on batteries because I was a little skeptical about the improvement over the big PS. All I can say now is 'wow'. Across the board everything is mo better. What is most striking is the increase in dynamic range. Quiet passages are quieter but when things kick in look out! The tube buffer wasn't an option when I bought and I never sent it in. DIY'ing the buffer seemed too ambitious. So now I'm wondering if I can do the caps. geared4me gives a pretty positive review so I look forward to others posting their impressions.
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Ok, I just sent payment to have these same ClarityCap MR's installed into my Two.2. Should be interesting!
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Ok, I just sent payment to have these same ClarityCap MR's installed into my Two.2. Should be interesting!
Whoever can fit those caps into a Two.2 deserves every penny!
Is that really possible? I want to see pics :)
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Ditto. As has been said 'pics or it didn't happen.'
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Whoever can fit those caps into a Two.2 deserves every penny!
Is that really possible? I want to see pics :)
Rclark is getting the highpass caps only (clarity Mr. 1uf caps) the 3.3uf caps I used in Duane's sensation will not fit (not even close)
I'm hoping to be able to leave his full range caps entact but if I can't he'll be getting them back with his amp in a baggy :-)
To make this perfectly clear for everyone.
The one.2 and two.2 will NOT accapt the larger clarity caps they are just to big, sorry but if your using the highpass circuit I can't install the smaller. 1 clarity MR caps in your one or two.
I can't even fit both sets into the sensation it just won't happen.
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My amp is back from Jason and I am tentatively cautious, it's playing right now.
The installation of the ClarityCaps into the TWO required bypassing the volume and completely removing the Auracaps. It is now strictly a power amp with 80hz cutoff.
So far, just a few minutes in (and yes, these ClarityCapMR's require 200hours, I know), it's a bit harsh, but I can tell there is massive potential here and it is already far superior to the VirtueCaps that were in there.... Definitely a different character.. Very... CLEAR. I'll have more impressions later. So far, I'm just happy that my amp is working, but it's a neat treat, burning in some nice caps.
:thumb:
Woooooow! I'm impressed! I can't wait to see where these go! This has definitely taken the amp to a new level of performance. Thanks Jason.
Despite being a rather prickly customer (me), Jason was able to suggest me away from the de-riguer Sonicap+platinum bypass option and try these instead (for pretty much the same price). These are so good they apparently require no bypass.
Anyway, more listening. I'll be back in a few days with more thourough impressions.
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You mean tenatively euphoric, right?
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Cautious because of the channel issue. But looks like the pot was the issue... It's playing fine. full volume on both channels.
And I took a power sander to my cables today to make sure there would be not even the slightest bit of enamel.
I'll tell you (still only half an hour into listening) I can hear the background of my CD far more clearly. Listening to a Led Zeppelin remaster and I can hear the hiss of the background of the recording. There is real power and drive as stated, and it's definitely "livelier" and punchier... I'll let that be it for now...
... btw they seem to open up, volume wise, fairly fast. I've been steadily turning down my volume since I started.
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I really hope this thing can drive Maggies because it's like I just got it.
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Damn I'm good :wink:
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The installation of the ClarityCaps into the TWO required bypassing the volume and completely removing the Auracaps. It is now strictly a power amp with 80hz cutoff.
You mean I will lose my remote with the upgrade?
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You mean I will lose my remote with the upgrade?
No no.
The volume pot is still usable but he wanted his bypassed although the upgrade to clarity Mr.1uf caps does require removing all other caps inside the Two.2 for the .1uf clarity caps to fit.
If you own a sensation I can fit the 3.3uf clarity caps but not both they're just to big.
What I've been doing with sensations is leaving the stock bypass caps because they are small enough to fit under the big clarity caps.
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My amp is back from Jason and I am tentatively cautious, it's playing right now.
The installation of the ClarityCaps into the TWO required bypassing the volume and completely removing the Auracaps. It is now strictly a power amp with 80hz cutoff.
So far, just a few minutes in (and yes, these ClarityCapMR's require 200hours, I know), it's a bit harsh, but I can tell there is massive potential here and it is already far superior to the VirtueCaps that were in there.... Definitely a different character.. Very... CLEAR. I'll have more impressions later. So far, I'm just happy that my amp is working, but it's a neat treat, burning in some nice caps.
:thumb:
Woooooow! I'm impressed! I can't wait to see where these go! This has definitely taken the amp to a new level of performance. Thanks Jason.
Despite being a rather prickly customer (me), Jason was able to suggest me away from the de-riguer Sonicap+platinum bypass option and try these instead (for pretty much the same price). These are so good they apparently require no bypass.
Anyway, more listening. I'll be back in a few days with more thourough impressions.
I think you are really going to be impressed as they smooth out. :thumb:
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I"m going to give it a few more days but so far I'm blown away :thumb:
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I"m going to give it a few more days but so far I'm blown away :thumb:
What is it that you think needs to improve over the next few days?
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I just want to keep listening to it some more
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I just want to keep listening to it some more
When I first installed the clarity Mr caps in my amp I couldn't believe my ears. I wanted to keep listening to see what could possibly get better. I understand where your coming from.
I felt that in the first 50 hours the caps changes drastically and then mildly for the next 100 or so hours (quit keeping track)
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Damn I'm good :wink:
:eyebrows:
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Ok, so thoughts.
One thing about having a really nice system is that I can listen to genre's of music I never took seriously before, like Jazz, because IMO jazz simply sounds boring on low level mass consumer gear. Even on decent multimedia speakers, which is what I was running before all this, there is simply no comparison to the way the music just opens up and becomes alive on a real-deal audio system. I've been running through a very diverse series of albums to truly get a grip on what changes have occured with the new caps.
The first revelation was the Rush album "Permanent Waves". Normally I would have just played this album as maybe some background music, something different to listen to. Not this time...
But first a disclaimer. The Two.2 bypassed at 80hz uses VirtueCaps. I loved the sound. I loved them even better (oddly enough) than the full-range Auricaps. But that might have been due to the lesser load of 80hz. I'll never know. Either way, I liked them, and the stock Two.2 is everything anyone has ever said about it, it is a fantastic sounding amp and truly doesn't need any upgrading. Adding the Two.2 had my jaw on the floor from the first minute, even with the stock supply. Point: The Two.2 is a ridiculously good amp worthy of all the praise heaped upon it. They should change the marketing to "Virtue Audio: come get some ear candy", because that's what the amp gives you. I honestly think if I can swing it, a Three has to be my next amp, and when the time comes to swap out my DAC for something better, I'm going to take a good hard look at the Virtue Dac because the Two.2 is just irresistable.
But.... with these ClarityCaps installed, yes there is improvement. I don't have decades of experience and therefore the full audiophile vocab to draw from (apparently much of that stuff is bull**** anyway), so I'll keep it simple.
Back to the Rush album. There are lots of stereo effects and high value production stuff that I'd never noticed before, but these new ClarityCaps seems to have not only increased the, yes, clarity, of the amp, but also increased is the spatial nature of the music, and the soundstage front to back is much more obvious than before. Also the seperation of instruments, while fantastic before, is more defined here. I was hearing the music as intended, with very cool stereo effects produced in the music very clear and dancing between and filling the space between the speakers, around them, it was awesome. I didn't notice that before with the original caps. From beginning to end the album was a true audiophile experience. And the same was true of any well recorded album I own.
I think you just get a much better signal through these caps, and it makes things that were there before, it brings all that to your attention, is the best way I can describe it.
I would guess (it has been a month) that it sounds a little less "warm" than it did before, but I don't care, I'm more into fidelity than coloration. But in every other area, I count improvement.
Right now I'm running GR Research-Insignia monitors, and there is a mix of caps in those speakers: Erse bypassed with Sonicap Gen II's. If I weren't moving to Magnepans next I'd probably be interested in rebuilding the crossovers in those with ClarityCaps, simply due to the very nice performance increase realized in the amplifier.
A worthwhile upgrade.
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f17/iostream1/WP_000688.jpg)
Are those ClarityCaps or are you just happy to see me? Notice the tiny black VirtueCaps above, those were what was replaced by the boys in blue.
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Oh and I want to thank Seth for making such a nice amp, and to Jason for doing such a bangup job repairing mine.
Mine went in for a little TLC (I'd bought a used one that developed some issues, who knows how, used) and it has come back a lil' champ.
Thanks again Jason.
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Oh and I want to thank Seth for making such a nice amp, and to Jason for doing such a bangup job repairing mine.
Mine went in for a little TLC (I'd bought a used one that developed some issues, who knows how, used) and it has come back a lil' champ.
Thanks again Jason.
That's what I'm here for :D
Thanks for the writeup.
Those caps were a major pain to fit in that little amp!
As you can see from his picture the clarity cap Mr.1uf caps are bigger than the auricap 2.2uf caps.
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Anyone know where to purchase the ClarityCaps?
Also, why did you decide to go with the 3.3uf - rather than 2.2uf?
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Anyone know where to purchase the ClarityCaps?
Also, why did you decide to go with the 3.3uf - rather than 2.2uf?
http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/mr-cap-630vdc/
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Anyone know where to purchase the ClarityCaps?
Also, why did you decide to go with the 3.3uf - rather than 2.2uf?
Gary Dodd found the 3.3uf caps have a little more extended bottom end.
When I tried them out in my sensation I came to the same conclusion. The lower bass notes seemed more effortless and defined so I stuck with it.
The difference is minimal but worth the small extra $ needed to get there.
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I wish I had a stock Two.2 so I could more accurately guage just how much of an improvement there is.
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Is bigger always better? I asked my wife and she said yes! :lol:
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My buddy in Hawaii just got his 901 back from the Clarity cap upgrsdes, and it is already amazing him.
I will get mine boxed this weekend Jason. I can't let my buddy out do me.
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My buddy in Hawaii just got his 901 back from the Clarity cap upgrsdes, and it is already amazing him.
I will get mine boxed this weekend Jason. I can't let my buddy out do me.
May want to wait a week or two until Jason is settled in from his move. You don't want to be without it for long, right? :)
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..Also didn't seem to experience too thrilling of a break in, either. It started out a little rough but seemed to settle out over the next several hours. I was too busy enjoying the music the last several days to notice any real changes, but any very obvious differences in sound I would have noticed.
It is recommended 200 hours and more for a final "settling" of the sound but if that's true, then at least from what I hear it's a very smooth linear change.. but I've also been playing it all night at very low volume so that has been piling on the hours as well.
For me, at this point since I've had time to get to know it better, the best improvements for me are the highs and midrange. It really produces an extremely tight, clear, textured sound, without any smearing. Who knows, maybe when I step up in speakers I might notice differently, but on my current gear it's just an incredible sound.
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:lol:
You guys are killing me!
This is making me so excited!
Good for all of you! OK I am jealous but also afraid to let even the mighty Jason touch my Sensations.
They are so good right now. In fact Van Morrison has been living in my listening room for a few days! 8)
When the medical bills slow down I am going to get braver!
:thumb:
Isn't it amazing the sound we get from little Virtue!
We used to say little Apple as well! :D
Very best to all of you and see you at RMAF!
Thanks for looking,
Tom
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OK, at the risk of gushing... I just played one of my favorite HDCD's, something that I've been familiar with for five years and have played.... hundreds of times, and did play on the amp pre ClarityCap and yes, wow, just wow at the amount of texture and detail beyond what was before.. So good!
... Well, I think that "caps" off my impressions, others are welcome to chime in.. :thumb:
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Waiting for somebody to try a Duelund cap in a Virtue amp. Should have good synergy with the Virtue house sound. The new Duelund Alexander is actually somewhat affordable too.
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Would two of those Duelunds ever fit in a Sensation? Those look even larger.
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Would two of those Duelunds ever fit in a Sensation? Those look even larger.
The 3.3uf caps won't fit without some modification to the caps leads.
it wouldn't be easy but is doable.
Ill be installing a pair of the duelund .1uf highpass caps in a sensation in the next week or so. Will post some pics when done.
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We've done it again
this is a pair of Dueland Alexander .1uf copper foil caps. you can see the 2.2uf virtue caps under the huge Dueland caps 8)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=51499)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=51500)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=51501)
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Wow, is that my amp?
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Wow, is that my amp?
Tom your the first guy to have me install the Dueland caps.
I must say so far they're quite warm even though they are the .1uf 80hz highpass caps.
The dueland 3.3uf caps run about --- a pair shipped so if someone wants them as a mod with the same twisted pair auric wire upgrade your looking at about --- all said and done.
I think I may try the dueland 3.3 caps next and see how they compare to the clarity Mr caps. At first listen I'm going to guess a warmer smoother sound all around maybe at the cost of a little definition. We'll see how they change from here on out.
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A direct comparison would be an enjoyable read. I would expect a slightly warmer and more harmonically rich sound, but it shouldn't be coming at the expense of resolution or texture in this case. Early reports say they need some time to cook too.
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Guys
I was wrong on the Dueland pricing.
the 3.3uf caps are $135 each so $270 a pair ! Yikes figure about $330 for the mod.
I'll see if I can find them cheaper.
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I wish I had a stock Two.2 so I could more accurately guage just how much of an improvement there is.
Rclark, did you use the .1uf Claritycaps to replace the 2.2uf Auricaps for your Virtue 2.2?
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No sir, the only caps I have in there now are the .1uf Claritycaps which replaced the Virtuecaps. The Auricaps simply don't exist in there any more, I have no fullrange on this particular amp.
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No sir, the only caps I have in there now are the .1uf Claritycaps which replaced the Virtuecaps. The Auricaps simply don't exist in there any more, I have no fullrange on this particular amp.
Why didn't you opt for the 2.2uf Claritycaps?
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Why didn't you opt for the 2.2uf Claritycaps?
Because he is using the highpass feature (80hz)
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He also only has a Two.2, so the 2.2uF would also have some difficulty fitting. The 0.1uF was a tight fit. :wink:
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Few weeks ago I received my Sensation amp back from Jason with the big Duelund capacitors sitting in my hi-pass section of my amp. He had used it for 20-30 hours before shipping it to me. I was very excited to get it back, since I had been without for so long. The magic of the amp was there before it left, I was hoping that would return with the new caps in it.
I knew there would be a burn-in period, but not near as much as I have had to go through. After 300 hours, I was threatening to ship it back to Jason and have him to return it back to the original condition.
At the moment, the amp has about 450 hours on it and finally the magic is returning. The sound is very lush, but very revealing at the same time. In fact, so revealing that the battery charger hooked up to the amp is now very obvious. I easily hear the electronic glareness that the battery charger produces.
I was told at RMAF that the full burn-in can take 600 hours on these caps. The image is much bigger than before. Soundstage keeps expanding as the hours keeps adding up. At the moment, I can whole heartily recommend the Duelund Alexander caps. :thumb: :thumb:
We've done it again
this is a pair of Dueland Alexander .1uf copper foil caps. you can see the 2.2uf virtue caps under the huge Dueland caps 8)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=51499)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=51500)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=51501)
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500 hours plus?? I believe those caps are used in the top of the line Magnestand MMG speaker mod, and I'll be opting for those. I think the caps he uses are still secret but I'd bet the farm they're Duelands.
I think the last final final thing I can now do to my amp, since I got it on batteries now, is eventually get one of dBe's Battery Busses on it.
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500 hours plus?? I believe those caps are used in the top of the line Magnestand MMG speaker mod, and I'll be opting for those. I think the caps he uses are still secret but I'd bet the farm they're Duelands.
I think the last final final thing I can now do to my amp, since I got it on batteries now, is eventually get one of dBe's Battery Busses on it.
I have the DBE BatteryBuss but did not get a chance to hook it up before RMAF. If that improves my sound even more, and I am sure it will, I will have died and gone to heaven.
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...waiting for your report :green:. Don't die!
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Thanks for the report on the Duelunds, OzarkTom. You made my day. :) My gut had been telling me for a while that these were the caps for me, but now I'm that much more certain. I was waiting for somebody to confirm that the resolution improved too, not just the lushness, otherwise in my mind it isn't really an upgrade but rather a re-voicing of the amp in terms of tone.
Only downside appears to be the crazy long break-in. I was hoping they wouldn't be Blackgate like burn-in times, but that is what it appears to be.
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Hey Jason, what was your opinion of the ClarityCap versus the Dueland?
And Tom, hopefully you get a chance to try the BatteryBuss :D
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OzarkTom,
Your top picture shows the .1uf bypass cap. But I don't see them in the finished product. Are you bypassing the new Dueland's?
Thanks for the review!
Scott
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OzarkTom,
Your top picture shows the .1uf bypass cap. But I don't see them in the finished product. Are you bypassing the new Dueland's?
Thanks for the review!
Scott
Scott
The dueland caps are also .1uf and replaced the .1uf sonicaps you see in the picture. The .1uf caps are the highpass (80hz) caps in our amps.
A bypass cap would be .01uf.
I'm not even sure if the dueland 2.2 or 3.3 if caps will fit in our sensation.
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Oh...I see :o
Wouldn't a replacement of the 2.2uf caps be a much more significant upgrade - assuming they would fit?
Scott
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Wouldn't a replacement of the 2.2uf caps be a much more significant upgrade - assuming they would fit?
Scott, the bypass cap is used if you are using the 80Hz high pass filter built in to the amp; the bigger cap is used if you are running the output on the amp full-range. The [ahem] challenge lies in that Virtue built all of these amps in very attractive, room decor/significant other friendly, and comparatively SMALL packages. With many of the boutique caps, the trouble is getting them to fit inside the amps at all. I've got sonicaps in mine (and platinums on the bypass), and they both fit stacked one on top the other, but compared to the other caps discussed here, the sonicaps are physically pretty small.
This just got me to thinking. Seeing as we don't have the real estate in the chassis to build "out" to make room for all this cap goodness (in particular, the bigger full-range cap sizes), how about building "up"? How about some sort of bowl-shaped top (CNC from a slab of wood, bent perf plate like a tube amp cage, something like that?) to raise the overall height of the amp a couple inches - could make enough room to get those big caps under there?
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Jonathon,
That is exactly what I did with my Sensation.
1) Remove all the caps, and solder in "easy connect" high quality connectors (maybe like the hookup wire-->board connectors).
2) Put the caps wherever you want, and hook them up to the connectors from step#1
3) Easily change them out as much as you want
Scott
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The break-in period is crazy long, but I see now it is worth it. I will try to get to that BatteryBuss this weekend.
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Sweet!
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:o :o
Is this amp getting even better? Tonight, I noticed the soundstage is larger than ever. Also, vocals and instruments are larger. Organs now sounds more true to life in Johnny Adams "One foot in the Blues". Dynamics is better, too.
Some cuts that were not holographic before, are now holographic. I hear more of the ambiance of the hall, more decay when fingers are snapped and chimes are played. :thumb:
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So you're liking the caps huh? You better, they ain't cheap right? Have you tried the Buss yet?
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Hey Jason, what was your opinion of the ClarityCap versus the Dueland?
And Tom, hopefully you get a chance to try the BatteryBuss :D
I'd like Jason's opinion on that also.
Can someone give me a run down on this batterybuss thing? It appears to be something made for the Mac Mini, a power supply more than batteries per say.
Regards
Dave
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I'd like Jason's opinion on that also.
Can someone give me a run down on this batterybuss thing? It appears to be something made for the Mac Mini, a power supply more than batteries per say.
Regards
Dave
I can't give a fair comparison
Not only didn't I have the duelands in my possession long enough but they were also high pass caps and I didn't have an amp here that had clarity Mr highpass caps in it.
Also as tom mentioned the break in time was very long (300 or so hours) the clarity caps sound good out of the gate but also change allot over the first couple hundred hours.
I'm standing firm on my analysis that the clarity Mr caps are the best for the money. The dueland 3.3uf caps are over twice the price of the clarity caps!
Tom love his dueland caps but I don't have the $ to put into the duelands to "test" them out.
If anyone is willing to spend $430 on that upgrade (includes the wire upgrade) let me know and we can do it.
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The ClarityCap MR's really are special. I don't feel any need to trade them or try anything else, they nailed it. I am thankful to Jason for suggesting and installing them. Luckily I'll get to experience CC's and Duelands together in my finished amp-speaker stage.
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e shipping it to me. I was very excited to get it back, since I had been without for so
Sorry, post it in the wrong thread
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l have two big blue ones! :oops: Just had my tech guy do the ClarityCap upgrade and the supplier Nick (Hificollective) in the UK who was very helpful by the way stated these caps need 100hrs minimum, and at the minute they sound a bit dry and closed in but powerful and fuller if that makes sense (5hrs), am going to leave the ole'girl playing all night, but there does seem to be some potential here..........
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Quality aside, the smaller caps restrict voltage, resulting in lower output volumes. There is a huge psychological advantage to LOUDER!
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About 20 hrs on the ClarityCaps now, this morning they were hard and a bit bright, this evening bass is BIG and very well controlled, highs a little coarse, but very detailed, ClarityCap blog to continue...... :green:
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ClarityCap upgrade recap ha! ha! Sound is now just how l like my women- Big bottomed with a slightly brittle top end, sound now is very full and as stated previously very detailed, still not as musical as pre- cap but there are definitely improvements, so the frequency extremes are a wayward, but getting there, sometimes the journey is better than the arrival...........
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Madisound carries a 400-volt ClarityCap MR. Isn't that just as good to use as the 630-volt version?
My batteries are 12-volt 5.0 amp. hr. When I replace the batteries should I go to a higher amp. hr battery?
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Phew! Getting there around 60hrs on the ClarityCaps and there are definite signs of improvement, bass is a lot better controlled, and the soundstage is getting nice and cohesive as indeed it was before the CC upgrade :thumb:
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Now god knows how many hours on the Clarity Caps and thank god now sound superb :beer:, more bottom end that is better controlled, better layering in sound in fact benefits all round :thumb:.
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the 400V caps will be fine, they didnt have them when I started doing the upgrades.
Madisound carries a 400-volt ClarityCap MR. Isn't that just as good to use as the 630-volt version?
My batteries are 12-volt 5.0 amp. hr. When I replace the batteries should I go to a higher amp. hr battery?