Black Gate Input Caps for Flying Moles

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Mags

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 74
Black Gate Input Caps for Flying Moles
« on: 4 Nov 2005, 03:03 pm »
I have a pair of Flying Moles DAD M100proHT amps, which I have modded as follows:

Replaced binding posts with premium gold-plated 5-way

Replaced RCA jack with premium gold-plated

Removed the entire rear circuit board where the old binding posts and RCA jack were attached

Bypassed the volume pot

Any other suggestions from those who have modded these? I heard about replacing the input caps with Black Gates, but I never heard that this produced any positive results - I only heard that the top-end seemed more pronounced (not necessarily good). Any input is appreciated.

ton1313

Black Gate Input Caps for Flying Moles
« Reply #1 on: 4 Nov 2005, 07:10 pm »
How hard was it to replace the binding posts? I am considering this as the stock ones are kind of crappy.

Mags

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 74
Mole Binding Posts
« Reply #2 on: 4 Nov 2005, 08:21 pm »
It wasn't that hard once I got up the nerve to just toss the whole circuit board at the back of the unit. The stock posts are unusual in that they are mounted onto this board along with the RCA connector and a bunch of unused junction points - I believe this is to make it easy to offer the various iterations of the unit with different connector types.
Anyway, you need to remove the four screws that hold the top on (without arrows next to them, listed as #8 in the Flying Mole manual), then the three screws that hold the binding posts and RCA jack on, then the four screws that hold the main circuit board on (just to make room to pull the back circuit board out).
Once the back board is out, you need to mount the two new binding posts and the RCA connector as usual into the back panel of the enclosure, then cut off the little plastic connectors on the end of the output and input wires. Mount the input wires to the RCA plug (white to the middle, gray/black to the outside ground connector), and the red and black output wires to their respective red and black binding posts. I used the Dayton Premium gold-plated binding posts from Parts Express (~$10 each) and needed to use 2 flat 3/8" nylon washers (from Home Depot) on either side of the enclosure since the holes are larger than usual on the back of the units. I also used the Dayton gold-plated RCA jacks, which fit just fine as is. Then just screw the main board back down (don't forget the little cardboard piece that shields the tops of the components from the case) and the lid back on and you're done.
I also bypassed the volume pot (really easy to do, no cutting or soldering - there is a thread on that in the Circle that describes it really well).
Good Luck!

Mags

  • Jr. Member
  • Posts: 74
P.S. to the above
« Reply #3 on: 4 Nov 2005, 09:02 pm »
When I say mount the wires above, I mean solder them to the connectors (RCA and Binding Posts) using silver bearing solder.

ton1313

Black Gate Input Caps for Flying Moles
« Reply #4 on: 6 Nov 2005, 01:42 pm »
Thanks for the info!

audioengr

Black Gate Input Caps for Flying Moles
« Reply #5 on: 6 Nov 2005, 08:20 pm »
Black Gates are not the best choice for coupling caps.  I have experimented with all types of coupling caps and I like the Chris Venhaus V-Caps the best.  Bypass their oil-cap with a smaller Teflon V-Cap and it sounds like a wire, not a cap.

GBB

Black Gate Input Caps for Flying Moles
« Reply #6 on: 6 Nov 2005, 10:22 pm »
Quote from: audioengr
Black Gates are not the best choice for coupling caps.


Which Black Gates have you tried as coupling caps?  I would agree with you if you were referring to the standard polarized caps.  However I've found that the non-polar Black Gates (type N or NX) are very good and compete well with good quality polypro caps.  I used the 10uf 50V type N Black Gates in my Flying Moles to replace the 10uf Nichocon electrolytic that came in mine and it was a significant upgrade.
That said, you don't need a 10uf cap at the input of the Moles.  Their input impedance is 100Kohm so a 1uf or 0.47uf cap would work fine.  A friend used a 1uf Hovland and it fit nicely along the side of the main board and sounds good.  Haven't had a chance to compare his Moles to mine.

---Gary