[Gvt1911]

Trying to "upgrade" my Supratek preamp with better caps. Unit came with Auricaps and seemed a bit "dull". I upgraded to Hovlands with very good results, but now that I bought the Spectron Musician III Sig. amp, I need a bit more detail.The Spectron is very warm and tube like and is a keeper. I installed some Teflon V caps, which are great,but really doesn't cut it for me in the vocal area. Vocals seem a bit "dry". I have about 60 hours on them and had just about enough. I also own a Dodd MLP with Sonicaps installed and the detail is super, but again the vocals have a bit of grain to them. I might try some Multicap RTX's or TRT's Wondercaps or OIMP caps from Chris or Sonicaps ???  I am looking for a lot of detail but the with warm vocals and a sweet midrange...Of course, Mick Maloney says to stay with Auricaps...Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks for the input on the above caps...

[markC]

You could always try by-passing the Auri's with Platinum Sonicaps, (say .1uf), and see if it helps take you the direction you want. I don't know if it will, but it won't be too pricey to find out and it's easily reversable.
I think you'll have to experiment to find your best results.

[PSP]

I haven't tried V-caps (yet), but I have enormous respect for ChrisVH and I would suggest that you give those caps another several hundred hours before you make up your mind.  Can you leave your rig playing for the next three weeks straight, and then come back for critical listening?  Want your results quicker?  Stay away from teflon then.

Looking at the input/coupling cap, in my Aspen GK-1 preamp, I had good luck with Sonicaps Generation I (cheap).  In my AKSA 100N+ amp, the Sonicaps still sounded bright after 400 hours of playing while Mundorf Silver/Oil caps (not cheap, and LARGE) sounded wonderful on day one and just kept sounding better.  

Good luck,
Peter

[rollo]

I haven't tried V-caps (yet), but I have enormous respect for ChrisVH and I would suggest that you give those caps another several hundred hours before you make up your mind.  Can you leave your rig playing for the next three weeks straight, and then come back for critical listening?  Want your results quicker?  Stay away from teflon then.

Looking at the input/coupling cap, in my Aspen GK-1 preamp, I had good luck with Sonicaps (cheap).  In my AKSA 100N+ amp, the Sonicaps still sounded bright after 400 hours or playing while Mundorf Silver/Oil caps (not cheap, and LARGE) sounded wonderful on day one and just kept sounding better. 

Good luck,
Peter

             Let the V caps break in for 200hours min.you may change your mind.If not then the Mundorf should be the ticket.
rollo

[Gvt1911]

Spoke with Chris and I think I need to let them break in before making a decision...Thanks for your input and guidance everyone...

[Scott F.]

Hey GVT1911,

The Teflon V-Caps are absolutely ugly during their break in period. When I did my coupling caps they didn't start sounding decent for 300 to 400 hours. They finally settled in after about 600 hours (just about as bad as Black Gates). They went from hard and screechy, to dull and undefined, I even had to reverse the polarity of my speakers for a day or two to bring the bass back during break in.

Trust me, don't be too anxious and stay the course. And honestly, you are better off not listening to your system while they are running in because you will only get frustrated. I know I did. Once they are completely broken it, they are marvelous. It's almost like having no cap in the signal path at all.

[PaulFolbrecht]

What Supratek preamp do you have?  When was it made?

I guess I'm surprised anybody would want to change the stock sound.  Most consider even the lower-end models near world-class though I suppose it's true Auricaps are not the best of the best components.

[tanchiro58]

Hi All,

I vote for Mundorf Silver/Oil installed before West-Cap NOS caps. I am listening a second days with this set up in my MHDT Renaissance II NOS DAC at the signal output. I did replace the two MHDT Metallized Polypropylene 0.1mF/250V and 1.5mF/250V (sound OK) with Mundorf Silver Oil 0.1mF/1200V then West-Cap 1.5 mF/600V in two days and yesterday I did listen to that combination and would not believe they are a perfect match. My music has a lot of details, silky smooth and punchy bass that I have never listened to my old CDs before.

Good luck,
Tan

[TONEPUB]

Give those Teflon caps a TON of time, more like 200-400 hours.  My CJ
ACT2/series 2 is full of em, and it sounded dreadful for the first 100 hours,
started to get better at 200 and the magic didn't even start to happen until
300.  A few other pieces of gear that I've reviewed lately that is heavy
on Teflon caps have all been the same way.

I completely agree with Scott.

See how you feel in a couple hundred hours, you might really be surprised!!

[Gvt1911]

Thanks Guys for all the info...I have a Sauvignon that was built by Mick in '03...Sound was OK , but I knew it could be better...When I installed the Hovlands I was pleased with the sound...Then I went ahead and got the new Spectron Sig amp and things changed...I needed more detail...The teflons sound great now with jazz and big band, but seem a bit "dry" or "flat" with vocals...I will heed your words and give it more time...I am sure they will come around, I am not that far away now...Just wanted "The Mobs" input....

[StevenACNJ]

Capacitor test & comparison link below. Just some food for thought:

http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html

[211audio]

Hi Gvt1911,

Let I begin to say that sound is a very personal thing, before I write something about capacitors.
From my perspective, a capacitor should sound as a straight wire.... without any colouration or leaving something out. In this respect I alway use Auricaps, because they do what I want them to do.

But.... this has a lot to do with all the other components that are being used. (and I doesn't even consider the players, wiring and speakers) Say, when wirewound resistors are used, the sound is probably somewhat "cold" In that case it is a good thing to correct it and apply some Mundorf SIO's. I've tried that once, because someone told me that this would be the right thing to do.... but sadly enough the amps sounded like a jukebox in a bar... "warm and round" are the words that come up in my mind when I think back about that experience. The Mundorf I would suggest, is the Silver/Gold
type, that gives a clear, detailed and transparent sound.

But note this: all what I tell you about these caps is based on my personal interpretation of the sound coming out of my speakers.....

Peter

[Sonny]

You know, I upgraded my XO (DIY) from Solen to Sonicaps and also my preamp from Auri to Sonicaps, and have been extremely satisfied.  The Sonicaps gives a sense of details, air and transparence that the Auricaps just warmed over.  Also, I looked into other caps, including Mundorf Silver / Oil, Hovland, Dynacaps, etc...but for price / performance and size, the Sonicaps were what I settled on and am very HAPPY!

[Bill Baker]

 I have used hundreds of V-Cap Teflon capacitors over the past several months. Not to sound like a broken record, but you must give them a minimum or 300-400 hours before making any evaluations.
 To judge them at this time would be premature as you have not yet even heard what they are vapable of. Be patient.