Has Jasmine come out with a new phono stage?

Here's the interaction I just had with the ebay vendor, which sheds a bit more light on the changes in the new Jasmine phono stage:

Dear szeastsun,

Compared to your LP2.0MkII model, what components have been upgraded in the LP2.5DU model? Aside from the option of plugging in two tonearms, what benefit will the new model provide compared to the LP2.0MkII?

- smilemakr

Dear smilemakr,

Major improvment:
1. Warmer and thicker mid-frequency
2. better S/N rate, mean more quiet backgroud
3. used better accuracy components

Best regards,

Michael

- szeastsun

Well, there you have it. Maybe I won't have to open up the new model and change the caps, as some owners of the LP2.0MkII have done, to get a similar improvement! I still didn't get any clearer understanding of exactly what changes were made to the MkII model.

The primary reason for a new model is the new price. But
I must confess to be very curious about this 'ticker mid
frequency'.

The capacitors look to be a material upgrade from the LP2.0 which had Solen caps. Below is an excerpt from a website that carries the new Erse C-caps. So, it should have the benefits of the upgraded output caps.

Premium metalized film C-Cap. Due to customer demand ERSE set out in 2007 to develop a new higher quality capacitor than the PulseX. The result was our C CAP line of polypropylene capacitors. The key difference is a much higher quality European film which utilizes extremely pure polypropylene with a 99.99% pure aluminum conductor. No Zinc is used on the conductor layer, only high purity aluminum. Dual stage heat curing methods are used to minimize microphonics as much as possible. A proprietary mixture of materials are used to connect the conductors with three separate layers of spray. This unique method has allowed for extremely low ESR levels and overall improvement in musical tonality and performance. The lead is curled in a large diameter allowing for a large surface area to make a perfect connection to the conductors. The lead is hand soldered by skilled craftsman utilizing audio grade silver solder.
The C CAP has been reviewed by many high end audio engineers and their conclusion is that the C CAP offers higher great musical performance at a cost half as much as our competitors.

The value of those capacitors 1 micro Farad so those Erse
capacitors are probable not expensive. I decided to try
them but also ordered by Mundorf 'silver/gold' wire to
substitute the thin copper wire in the Jasmine LP 2. Not
sure but my estimate is 4x 12 cm for the phono in and IC
out. I use the silver phono-cable while my interconnect
to the amp is also some alloy of silver, gold and copper.
When I get the bill for both I will inform the members.

Regards,

Anybody try those Erse 'C' caps? I was ,alas, not able to find them anywhere.
Pulse X and Pe X are available but not the 'C' kind. The addresse where those can be bought would be much appreciated.

Why not acquire Jantzen Superior Z-caps (Silver & Gold are options)? These are tested and proven high quality? Check Humble Hifi Cap Tests. Also, Focal uses these capacitors in their Utopia speakers. They are a European brand and likely, easy for you to acquire. There are also other excellent caps listed on the Humble Hifi site for which you can use.

Troels Gravesen uses the Jantzen capacitors in his most of his speaker and amplifier systems.

Hi Redglobe, Not being able to find Erse 'C' caps I checked
(first) the Mundorfs. The 'silver/gold', 1 micro Farad for
45 euro each. Probable because of the present gold prices (grin).
I expected similar prices by Jantzen but was very
surprised. The most expensive kind, the 'Siver Z' is +/-
20 euro. My surprise may be groundless because I have read
that those are designed in Danmark but produced in Poland.
This may explain the price but also my skepsis.

Hi Nandric, Let me know what you think of the Jantzen Silver. 20 EUR/cap is not too expensive when purchasing only 2.

Hello，Sir

We are ERSE factory in China.

Any requirements pls let me know.

www.erseinc.com

For best sound per dollar and assuming a metallized film type capacitor (vs a film and foil type, which generally costs more), I have found that Auricaps are excellent and Dynamicaps perhaps even better.   Metallized film types are generally smaller in size than a typical film and foil type of the same value and voltage rating. In some cases small size is necessary for fitment.  There's another metallized film contender; I just cannot recall the name.  But just about any capacitor sounds to me better than the Solens metallized film caps if used in the audio circuit.  They're OK for the PS.  Just commenting on capacitor brands I have used and listened to. Obviously my direct experience is limited.

Nandric, I have tried Mundorf Silver/gold in 1uF value for an output coupling capacitor in a Silvaweld phono stage. They are good, but not necessarily better than either the Auricap or Dynamicap.  In fact, Dynamicap IS better, now I think of it.  Again, this is only one man's opinion, not a pronouncement.