[miter53]

I am gathering parts for a Cornet 2, and I am wondering about the signal cap upgrades that people have tried. I have a couple of .1uf Russian Teflons that I will try to shoehorn in, but what about the 1uf's?

[BobM]

I went with all Sonicaps in mine. I think that was a pretty popular choice - not too pricy and very good sound.

Enjoy,
Bob

PS: 200V

[miter53]

Did you use the 200v or 600v? Sonic Craft says they are tested at twice the rated voltage.

[WGH]

Sonicap Gen1's are a good choice. Following the lead of others I used a Sonicap Platinum at C203 and plopped in a big fat 1 uF Mundorf Silver/Oil at C208 and have no thoughts of any further upgrades, this is probably as good as it gets.

The Sonicap Gen1's I used were 400VDC, same as the caps on the parts list. I would not go lower because you have 330VDC in places.

In the photo below notice all the resistors hugging R223, these lower the resistance so heater voltage is at spec, 6.3 volts, with the rectifier tube I am using. Adjusting the heater voltage to spec also improves the sound. There is a thread here explaining the process and calculations:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=41430.0

[analog97]

I did my Cornet2 with the Auricaps as suggested by JH.  Couldn't be happier!!!  Love to do a shoot-out in my sytem with another C2/cap combo.  But, I will never replace the Auricaps w/ something else just to compare.  I'll take JH's recommends most any time.

[Bill Epstein]

You guys really should try different resistors than the stock metal films in the first (47k) position. Holcos, AN tants and Kiwames all change the sonics as much as caps. My preference is for the Holcos but who knows what's best for you.

[WGH]

You guys really should try different resistors than the stock metal films in the first (47k) position. Holcos, AN tants and Kiwames all change the sonics as much as caps. My preference is for the Holcos but who knows what's best for you.

Can you compare and describe the differences between the three resistor brands vs. stock that you hear in your system?

[Bill Epstein]

OK, here goes, keeping in mind my system, etc, etc:

Compared to the three options, the stock resistors are too forward and a little 'glassy' in the highs. pretty much what you would expect from metal film.

First up were the AN tants that are also in the signal path of my 45 amp. Crystal clear, cool, cool water bottom to top with well-defined but somewhat lightweight bass. With the ones in the amp, maybe too much of a good thing.

The Kiwames are warmer, weightier but just a touch veiled. Great for surface noise (inky- black background on a wine-dark sea) but lacking some treble sparkle.

Holcos are the  rosy-fingered dawn. For me. Just as clear and open as the tants but more impactful, textured bass, a slightly richer mid-range and sparkly highs without losing composure even when Emmy Lou tries to break the window panes.

I might also add that I had Caddocks in the 45 amp that preceded this one and I thought they, in that very different circuit, were too ruthless. Meaningless, of course, in the context of the Cornet.

[mingles]

Adding to Bill's resistor list... a good friend of mine swears that TX2352 Vishays from Texas Components make a noticeable improvement when used as input load resistors.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1199943287

[amandarae]

Sonicap Gen1's are a good choice. Following the lead of others I used a Sonicap Platinum at C203 and plopped in a big fat 1 uF Mundorf Silver/Oil at C208 and have no thoughts of any further upgrades, this is probably as good as it gets.

The Sonicap Gen1's I used were 400VDC, same as the caps on the parts list. I would not go lower because you have 330VDC in places.

In the photo below notice all the resistors hugging R223, these lower the resistance so heater voltage is at spec, 6.3 volts, with the rectifier tube I am using. Adjusting the heater voltage to spec also improves the sound. There is a thread here explaining the process and calculations:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=41430.0

Same here(Or at least quite similar)!



As for resistors, I use Rikens because it is already there.  My previous post here before describes my stand as far as resistors upgrade on the Cornet 2.

IMHO, and as much as I do not want to get involve in a discussion here, if changing a pair of resistors in the Cornet 2 changes the sound of the unit, then something must be very wrong.  Either Jim's design is flawed or something un-explainable is happening. The RIAA circuit is dependent more on the resistors (grid stopper) or to the Rp of the tubes?

To me, as long as you use a resistor , I prefer carbon comp, that holds its value to its specified tolerance, then it is doing its job.  The ouput of the preamp goes to the tubes and caps also and in most cases to an active linestage, to say that the sound of the preamp can be attributed to a couple of "boutique" resistors is pretty hard to swallow for me.

But that is just me.  I am not important by any means, just voicing my opinion.

regards,

Abe

[GRD]

Abe,

I agree with you that in theory, different brand resistors shouldn't make a difference (with the exception of the noise spec which can vary).  But (and this is the opportunity or curse), lots of people that I respect say they can hear a difference.  I changed a few resistors to Rikens in the Cornet after I had listened to the stock ones.  I think there was a subtle change - seemed a little "smoother".  But it wasn't a big change.  I changed from Auricap to PIO on the output and also there was a small (but larger) change.  In fact, seems like there's an audible change with just about any component choice.  I even hear differences depending on the time of day (which I ascribe to voltage variations).   In order of importance, I would say tubes, and then output capacitors (and the RIAA ones) are worth an extra investment.  I would not mess with the resistors if I were to do it again.

Grant

[amandarae]

Abe,

I agree with you that in theory, different brand resistors shouldn't make a difference (with the exception of the noise spec which can vary).  But (and this is the opportunity or curse), lots of people that I respect say they can hear a difference.  I changed a few resistors to Rikens in the Cornet after I had listened to the stock ones.  I think there was a subtle change - seemed a little "smoother".  But it wasn't a big change.  I changed from Auricap to PIO on the output and also there was a small (but larger) change.  In fact, seems like there's an audible change with just about any component choice.  I even hear differences depending on the time of day (which I ascribe to voltage variations).   In order of importance, I would say tubes, and then output capacitors (and the RIAA ones) are worth an extra investment.  I would not mess with the resistors if I were to do it again.
Grant

Hello Grant,

Me too!

Not that I am discouraging anyone who wants to change the resistors in their unit, but in my case and I am only speaking for myself, I found changing the resistors not a worthwhile exercise both economically and  in a sense that if the unit will improve how it sound from the change.
I'll say save your pennies and improved some other stuff on the equipment changing rather than chasing that minuscule (or non existent for me) improvement.  Maybe it is just my ears not up to par with others in hearing acuity?

Coupling caps, on the other hand is a different story for me and it make sense.  As I continue on building my own SE amps, I cannot deny the importance of good caps in the PSU and coupling stages.  As for resistors, you already know my biases.

regards,

Abe

[Brinkman]

Well I can see the reasoning here though I think we all draw different conclusions. Any money spent upgrading an existing piece of equipment (diminishing returns) is, of course, potential revenue towards another perhaps more economic purchase (increasing returns). I think some of us swap components in and out like others rent movies, and some of us get something out of building kits to the best of our limited abilities, fearful of the old adage "there's never enough time to build it right, but always time to fix it."

In my case, I'm building a Ripper, and all the resistors but the ones in the power supply will be Texas Components 2352s. I'm doing this not because I want to have the most expensive Ripper ever made, but because no matter what phono-pre I fall in love with, I want to be able to digitize vinyl too. So one way or another, the whole or some portion of the Ripper's circuit is going to live on, and I want to think I had enough foresight to "overbuild" it the first time around. After all, I may end up married to it for a decade!

And if these resistors turn out to be a crock of b.s., well, I guess I can say I've been there, done that, and it isn't worth the money (should have spent the money on a better cartridge!). First-hand experience provides many solutions to obstacles not yet encountered, and not many economic models know how to account for that.

-Brinkman

[GRD]

Brinkman,

I'm with you.  Build it once and enjoy.  Which is not easy for the new guy like I was 5 years ago.  I read a lot of comments and tried to decipher what components I would use.  So I'm really posting for those people that are making a decision to build or upgrade a Cornet.  Jim's Cornet is top notch in stock form and improves enough with better capacitors to justify some additional expense.  But as you would expect with a good (actually great) design, the improvements are complementary.  Build it as you wish and you will be happy.  Tweak a couple of select components and it will improve enough to justify an incremental expense.  But you don't HAVE to tweak it  to the max to have a great phono stage.  It's there already. 

I would recommend that someone pick up the tubes Jim used as the baseline for voicing the Cornet - Sovtek 5Y3, 12ax7LPS, and I don't recall the 12au7.  Then you have a baseline for other tube choice comparisons.  Tubes do make the most difference (and that's the beauty of the design for me - using the internal tube resistance as a component of the RIAA circuit.)

Regards,

Grant