[Sonny]

Hi there ACer's…I was wondering if I can get some feedback, etc. from you guys.

I am upgrading my present preamp (the Consonance Cyber 222) which has Auricaps in the inter-stage and output coupling.  I am thinking replacing them with Sonicaps.  First, for the inter-stage caps (.1uf) I will put in the Sonicap Platniums, same value and secondly, on the output coupling, I am going to put in a larger 3.3 Sonicap Gen 1 and bypass it with a .1uf Gen 2 to replace the 2.0uf Auricaps.  Do you think this will take away too much of the warmth that the Auricaps gives?  My original goal was to replace the output coupling caps with a Mundorf S/O (2.7) and bypass it with a Sonicap Platnium (.1), but I can't really get the Mundorf in the pre, it's too big and I didn't want to induce any parasitic oscilation into the other components in the pre. 

Please let me know what you all think.

Also, I have on my cross over to an 8 inch Scan Speak bass driver a 33 and a 10 uf Solen Capacitor… was wondering if I would benefit from this by passing with a .1 on the either.

T

[Bill Baker]

Hello Sonny,
 I think you are heading in a very good direction. Especially with the Platinums in the innerstage position. If I may ask, why do you want to increase the capacitance so much in the output stage. The SoniCap Gen I is available in a 2.0uF or even slightly higher. I would stick with the 2.0-2.5uF and also bypass this with a small value Platinum.
 I don't think you will give up too much seduction going this route. In fact, I do believe you will see an added sense of resolution and transparency.
 Just my 5 cents (inflation, ya know).

[Sonny]

Hello Sonny,
 I think you are heading in a very good direction. Especially with the Platinums in the innerstage position. If I may ask, why do you want to increase the capacitance so much in the output stage. The SoniCap Gen I is available in a 2.0uF or even slightly higher. I would stick with the 2.0-2.5uF and also bypass this with a small value Platinum.
 I don't think you will give up too much seduction going this route. In fact, I do believe you will see an added sense of resolution and transparency.
 Just my 5 cents (inflation, ya know).

Bill, I went or may be going with the larger 3.3 gen 1 amd a .1 platnium as a bypass, based on Danny's recommendation.  Doesn't the 3.3 give it a wider range in low frequencies and bypassing it with a .1 to keep it fast and resolution?  I was going to go with the Mundorf, (2.2) and bypass with platnium, but can't fit the Mundorf in.  Also, bypassing with the platnium is best, but is it so good that I should not consider the cost of the .1 gen 2? 

What is your proposal on the output cap?  I want to extend the frequencies in the pre and get more detail and resolution.  What if I just bypass the current Auricap with the .1 Gen 2?

Thanks
T

[Bill Baker]

Bill, I went or may be going with the larger 3.3 gen 1 amd a .1 platnium as a bypass, based on Danny's recommendation.  Doesn't the 3.3 give it a wider range in low frequencies and bypassing it with a .1 to keep it fast and resolution?  I was going to go with the Mundorf, (2.2) and bypass with platnium, but can't fit the Mundorf in.  Also, bypassing with the platnium is best, but is it so good that I should not consider the cost of the .1 gen 2? 

What is your proposal on the output cap?  I want to extend the frequencies in the pre and get more detail and resolution.  What if I just bypass the current Auricap with the .1 Gen 2?

 I do not know enough about this preamp to really make recommendations. Danny knows what he is talking about and may be better acquainted with this particular unit.

 In general, going with a larger value will give you a bit more body down below but can start to sacrifice the extension up top. This will depend more on how far you go and of course, the circuitry involved. A bypass cap can, at times, help enhance the extension up top but like anything audio, experimentation can go both ways.

 I don't want to make recommendations on pieces I am not familiar with.

[Sonny]

Bill, I went or may be going with the larger 3.3 gen 1 amd a .1 platnium as a bypass, based on Danny's recommendation.  Doesn't the 3.3 give it a wider range in low frequencies and bypassing it with a .1 to keep it fast and resolution?  I was going to go with the Mundorf, (2.2) and bypass with platnium, but can't fit the Mundorf in.  Also, bypassing with the platnium is best, but is it so good that I should not consider the cost of the .1 gen 2? 

What is your proposal on the output cap?  I want to extend the frequencies in the pre and get more detail and resolution.  What if I just bypass the current Auricap with the .1 Gen 2?

 I do not know enough about this preamp to really make recommendations. Danny knows what he is talking about and may be better acquainted with this particular unit.

 In general, going with a larger value will give you a bit more body down below but can start to sacrifice the extension up top. This will depend more on how far you go and of course, the circuitry involved. A bypass cap can, at times, help enhance the extension up top but like anything audio, experimentation can go both ways.

 I don't want to make recommendations on pieces I am not familiar with.

No, that's fair enough...it's hard to predict til it is done.  I think Danny at GR-Research did a great job on this recommendation, I think the only way to go is to do it and see what I get...
Hopefully it works and who knows, right?  We all have different ears and well, tastes in the way certain things sounds.
Thanks for your comments Bill and your help Danny.

[Sonny]

UPDATE!!!

So, after a week of listening to the modded pre-amp, replacing the auricaps with Sonicaps Platnium, Gen 2 and Gen 1s, I can only say that the sound is marvelous!  The highs just extended all the way up to my 14' ceilings...(that's from replacing the .1 auricaps with the .1 Sonicap Platniums in the inter-stage coupling caps).  The bass and mids, well, after replacing the 2.0 auricaps with a 3.3 bypassed by a Gen 2 .1, it's tighter, better separation of the highs and mids and there's more of it too!  Dynamics on the drums and plucking of the guitar is to die for and overall, the imaging is more precise, the soundstage wider and higher, with better depth perception.  Overall, I am extremely pleased with Danny's (GR-Research) recommendation to go with the 3.3 bypass with a .1 for bigger and tighter bass.

Thanks