Capacitor Guru's, please chime in.

heiney9

I was until after the Backert Labs Rhumba 1.1 demo to put the Dexa discrete Op-amps in the Eastern Electric Mini Max Plus Dac. Really seems to have stepped it up quite a bit in the transparency, detail and clarity department.

There are a pair of coupling caps that couple the op-amps with the tube output that are most likely Bennic (Eastern Electric branded) or other lower end poly caps.

The value is 3.3uF 100v. In talking with Rich (Scompracer) he did some calculations with the impedance of my pre amp and said I didn't really need to stick with that value, I could easily go higher, etc. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to leave the stock value or go higher.

I have the cap choice brands narrowed down a bit (I haven't checked to see if size will be an issue).

Any help from people that have used any of these caps, discuss.

Auricap XO 200vdc (smallish size)
Obligatto Gold 630vdc (largish size)
Clarity Cap MR 400vdc (mediumish size)
Jantzen Audio Superior Z 800vdc (large size)
Ampohm Caps - these are hard to find in stock.

Perhaps Sonicap Gen I too, but been there done that.

I am really leaning towards the Jantzen Audio Superior Z. Everything I've read gives it stellar reviews and it seems to be the most natural and neutral and it's very reasonably priced.

Clarity Cap MR is another one that gets excellent reviews as being neutral, open and natural, but they are twice the price of the Jantzen Audio's.

H9

heiney9

This is why there are no Ampohm caps for sale

Update: Ampohm went into receivership during the summer of 2009. These wonderful capacitors will not be produced again and can not be restocked. The values shown here are all that is remaining.

A shame because some of their oil in paper caps got some great reviews.

heiney9

Let's also add;

Mundorf Supreme to the mix. 600vdc (largish) not too expensive either

MusiCap (by Hovland) 100vdc (right size) 200vdc (smallish) these are film and foil poly's. Very reasonably priced. Not much out there for reviews.

H9

heiney9

FYI white caps on the lower right side is what I want to upgrade.

SCompRacer

V Cap has a coupling cap calculator with explanation guide for use. Of course the ideal coupling cap is no coupling cap, but when you have to, use the lowest value you can get away with.

http://www.v-cap.com/coupling-capacitor-calculator.php

Sonicap Platinums are highly regarded as well as Jupiter copper foil.

Mundorf S/G/O are good but due to multiple layers they can really flavor the sound. For instance, I'd never use them in a phono stage.

F1nut

Jupiter copper foil or Obligatto gold.

heiney9

Thanks Rich and Jesse for the input. I keep thinking Obligatto but many reviewers say they are a tad warm. I think because I have tubes in the dac and tubes in the pre, I am looking for something a tad on the neutral lively side.

The Jupiter's look fantastic, but not sure it makes sense to spend $400 on caps for this unit. The op-amps alone set me back a bit. Trying to keep it in perspective and not go way off the deep end, but still enjoy a serious upgrade in sound.

The Jupiter HT line looks very nice too, perhaps even a better choice than the Jantzen Superior Z or Mundorf Supreme. Sonicraft has then on sale for $47 each. That's doable.

H9

F1nut

I wouldn't call the Obligatto's warm, I'd call them natural.

heiney9

The Obligatto's certainly hit a very nice price point @ $19 each. Even if it turns out they aren't a good match, I'm not out that much.

SCompRacer

Yeah, that's another good reason to keep couplers as small as possible for your system, cost really goes up by the uf!