Capacitors upgrade

After putting aside the thought of changing the power tubes, now I am looking into upgrading the caps inside the amp.

At the present moment, the caps in my mind is the Mundorf Supreme (M-Cap) Silver/Gold/Oil, it's the best from Mundorf & quite attractive for the price too. It's just that will by changing the caps will improve the sound quality or worsen it? Any pros & cons?

Thank you all the Sifu.

If your ori caps are better than the Mundorfs then expect sound quality to suffer. If ori caps are the cheap n nasty ones, then expect sound to improve. But you only really know until u try it out and hear for yourself. It could be also "no change in sound" but u never know until u try...

If u are so keen on a capacitor job, suggest u go buy a LCR meter too , so u can self-match the capacitors and get the tolerance to within 1% or better. Hopefully the shop can let u pick n choose (test) the capacitors before buying. If you're ordering online, thats abit more risky unless the seller guarantees they are within XX% matching of each other.

For sure the ori caps is not as good as the Mundorf caps. The ori caps is only a SCR/Solen caps that is selling a few USD while the Mundorf is more or less 20x the price.

I will be buying it locally from a distributor & will take your advise to matched the 4 caps by asking a favor from the seller. I think these German made caps is already very good in quality with the tolerance as it is printed with 2+- %.

yup, as long as u get to "match" the caps ... thats very important.

happy capp'ing.

Most probably will buy the Mundorf M-Caps soon. Someone recommended me the Duelund caps but the price is crazy from RM700-RM1200 per pc for my rating.

Its not entirely about caps and resistors that make good sound. Its also the circuit, implementation, biasing, and quality of output transformers that contribute to good sound. Replacing caps and resistors is a sticky matter and it doesn't mean one spends on pricy boutique parts can guarantee improvement. Its a skill of EXACTLY where and what to replace where permissible that have significant sonic improvement. Replacing coupling caps is ONLY ONE likely route.

True... But it's a cheap tweak compared to spending rm$$$$ on exotic cables or tuning feet or those harmonix round stuffs (for example) that look like menthos candy...

So, whatever makes you happy dude

Matching parts are not entirely critical in tube amps but a bonus if they are. They ARE critical if in solid state circuitry where output or driver transistors which MUST be closely matched. Thats one reason why like Pasar rd transistors must never be used to replace one or 1 blown transistors. They'll be an imbalance and when the amp is stretched to its limits...kaboom, there goes your speakers too. Unmatched transistors can cause a direct short at the output.

but if one has already set one's mind on swaping the caps... might as well just get them matched up as well. Unless you're trying to convince @BraVo that its an exercise in futility?
Its a free bonus here.


Caps are not quite as critical to transistors.
Would unmatched caps cause any shorts at the output ?

mugenfoo wrote:
Caps are not quite as critical to transistors.
Would unmatched caps cause any shorts at the output ?

OK..if you have opportunity to match them, by all means do so at your expense.
No. But shorted or very leaky coupling caps will cause the tube to high bias and glow red, eventually kaput the tube if undetected.

Ok noted... for Tubes, bad caps can be fatal for the amp.

OTH, solid state amps are biggest risk and can burn out your expensive loudspeakers if transistors are shorted or kaput where DC voltage exist at the output strong enough to roast them. This phenomenon will not happen to a tube amp with output transformers. Thats why solid state amps do need protection circuitry but its full effectiveness remains to be seen.

but thats not the reason why u would choose Tubes over solid states purely for its lack of DC dangers right ?

for me when I changed over, that factor was a co-incidental and an excellent prospect.
Its all up to oneself lah, as with anything else, you weigh the pros and cons and decide for yourself.

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

In case you need some infos on caps character, but those test are solely base on the reviewer speakers & equipments. But, at least some ideas...cheers!

Those Mundorf cap take long time to break in. My Mundorf supreme after 500 Hours works wonders. u sure the local price is good?

No worry about matching cap. But is mundorf what u looking for or it is the sound that u are looking for. U have to qualify the sound first b4 parting with $$$.