[Lost81]

Greetings audioholics,

I have been using a generic (US$2) 10uF 450V electrolytic capacitor as a filter capacitor immediately after the rectifiers for the TLP Nirvana. Voltage is around 238V DC. This is fed through a 3 feet long power cord to the TLP main chassis.

Someone talked to me about using film capacitors for power supply bypass.
And so, I installed a 0.47uF 630V Mylar/Polyester Film capacitor right after the present 10uF 450V electrolytic. Voltage climbed to 239-240V DC.

The results are terrible.
Soundstage has collapsed.
The music is compressed, no lows, no highs, like Bose....

Should I bother waiting for this cheap film capacitor to "break in"?

If I remove this film capacitor, I wonder if I should bother replacing it with an expensive Auricap.

I might just get a larger chassis and use two giant Solen 5uF 400V polypropylene film caps sometime in future, if that will help sonically.

[JohnR]

Interesting! I've experimented just a little with film caps on a broadboard tube preamp and the results are certainly not always what you expect

I have found that a 0.1 uF bypass right near the tube is beneficial but I expect this all "just depends" ...