[marflao]

Hi,

I saw some pics on the web from Khartago/Cyclops "Kismet" upgrades where the SL DD caps (I assume that those caps are part of the Kismet upgrade?!?) were on the board and in other cases at the outer side from the board.
E. g. at this pic (http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=99256) it seems that the "outer" caps were updated.

I´m just curious where this kind of caps ugrade is the most beneficial (sonic wise) in case only four caps will be upgraded. Onboard or at the outside??

Of course Klaus could answer but since he is probably busy with more important stuff I might thought that someone of you could answer that as well.

Thanks in advance.

[marflao]

Hmm...

@ Klaus: it appears that your input is needed.  What is your recommendation for the cap upgrade - onboard or "offboard"?

Thanks in advance.

[marflao]

Hi Klaus,

I would really appreciate it if you could chime in here.

Your feedback would also be beneficial for future Odyssey Khartago/Cyclops customers who are tempting to get the amp/integrated as well as an update (Extreme, Kismet route).

Thanks and Cheers.

[Eduardo AAVM]

1. I´m just curious where this kind of caps ugrade is the most beneficial (sonic wise) in case only four caps will be upgraded. 2. Onboard or at the outside??

Thanks in advance.

1. Faster attack, better detail and resolution, dynamics.
2. It is better to begin with the four on main board.


Better call Klaus if you can!

[marflao]

Thanks for your response, Eduardo. Much appreciated!!

Maybe you can also answer the following:
In case the "outer" caps would also be updated what would be the impact? Enhancement of the points you mentioned under number 1.?
Or will the impact on something else?

Thanks in advance.
Cheers.

[klaus@odyssey]

Eduardo is correct for most applications......also depends on whether they're the regular caps or the SUPER  16 K Symphonic Line's for the degree of improvements...and, obviously,  the right capacitance has to be in line with the design itself,  etc, etc....in short though, the better the caps, and the cap upgrades for our amps, the better the sound overall,  period...just in every single regard, very obvious in the macros but interestingly enough, also in the micro areas,  SOUND STAGING and PRESENCE,   but mostly,  you have more of the velvety hammer behind the performance,  that's what current,  and NOT  wattage !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  gives you.  So much bullshit around this topic.

Anyway, since our amps are so damn fast,  you're getting away with higher value caps......and only have benefits and really no compromises, which is rare in ultra high end audio today....

So,  what gives about the cap upgrades ??? About 99 % of our customers order the upgrades, which makes all the sense in the world, especially as they're not that expensive !!!!The bang for the buck on these upgrades is off the charts, if I may say so myself.

Late,
Klaus

[marflao]

Eduardo is correct for most applications......also depends on whether they're the regular caps or the SUPER  16 K Symphonic Line's for the degree of improvements...and, obviously,  the right capacitance has to be in line with the design itself,  etc, etc....in short though, the better the caps, and the cap upgrades for our amps, the better the sound overall,  period...just in every single regard, very obvious in the macros but interestingly enough, also in the micro areas,  SOUND STAGING and PRESENCE,   but mostly,  you have more of the velvety hammer behind the performance,  that's what current,  and NOT  wattage !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  gives you.  So much bullshit around this topic.

Anyway, since our amps are so damn fast,  you're getting away with higher value caps......and only have benefits and really no compromises, which is rare in ultra high end audio today....

So,  what gives about the cap upgrades ??? About 99 % of our customers order the upgrades, which makes all the sense in the world, especially as they're not that expensive !!!!The bang for the buck on these upgrades is off the charts, if I may say so myself.

Late,
Klaus

Thanks for your response, Klaus. I really appreciate it that you took the time.

I have no doubt about that the better the caps the better the improvement would be.

Based on the pics in the web, both upgrade caps ways (onboard or offboard) claim to be going the "Kismet" route. And this is what has irritated me. Maybe either route one chooses is not a contradiction in itself but I thought there will be a "recommended route" (e .g. if upgrade "only" 4 caps than onboard at first).

If I understood it correctly the Cyclops Plus and the Extreme will have in total 8 of those caps (4 onboard; 4 offboard) here :


(In case I´m mistaken here pls correct me.)

And I assume those caps aren´t the Super 16 SL ones. I guess those are the "top of the list" ones and they are probably neither the SL DD caps - see below - or?


 
Are the SL XD caps meant with the Super 16 K SL or is there another one/are there others???
From a call we had a while ago I remember you mentioned that there are also "outboard" caps which are horizontal placed instead of vertical.

So there is a lot to choose from the "Caps upgrade menu"...maybe you can shed some further light on it.


Thanks in advance.
Cheers.

[klaus@odyssey]

Dark blue caps are our 15k standards...the light blues SL REF.'s are 13 K reference caps,  while the super 16k's are very long screw-in tops....there are different levels of Kismets with the caps, depending on cost and speakers,  BUT in order to have a Kismet mod, you have to have the black board, tat least one set of SL Ref. caps, and the TS Premium cables....these all go hand in hand.......

[marflao]

Thanks for this very helpful clarification, Klaus.

All the best for Newport Beach.

Cheers,
M.