Capacitor log Mundorf Silver in Oil

Stormen thanks for the post. Some people have got mad with me for not yet going to full break in. But the results are so astonishing with the Duelund it is amazing.

I wish you would not have told me about the CAST's being even better. I can not imagine and yes am using the VSF's. (just kidding)

I do have to get new inductors and was not even considering Duelund. Are they that good?

I was also trying to get some debate on why they are so good? So real and natural sounding, I suspect the no plastic. I read something about all drivers being in phase as well. (Duelund)

Dear Volleyguy: Nice thread and a lot of fun you are having.

Speak about caps and caps's quality performance is almost always a relative subject opinion not an absolute one because any one of us have different music sound quality reproduction priorities and likes different kind of " colorations " due to audio system own limitations.

You are looking not for a " neutral " cap but for a " colored /distorted " one: +++++ " I want a warm not overly detailed sound .......they need lush smooth sounding caps " +++++
Nothing wrong with that it is your choice.

Of the passive electronic parts de caps IMHO are the ones that show more colorations/distortion and that you can hear it. Over the time I try several caps looking for the less " colored " one, looking for neutrality and one of the reasons that I was looking for neutrality was that a neutral cap ( in the speaker croosover ) is a way to know if the whole audio system is really right on target, a neutral cap can/could tell me if I have " problems " somewhere in the audio chain.
What happen if I choose a " colored " cap that with is own colorations hide those system quality performance in the audio chain?, well maybe I like it ( like in your case ) but what we are adding is more distortions to the final signal reproduction and ( at least ) for me this is not what I like to have and hear, my quest is to be nearer to the recording and this means: no distortions/colorations/noises/degradation on the signal trying to mantain its original integrity and this means too: accuracy and neutrality ( not analytical, lean or cold performance. ), looking for the less signal degradation in each link in the audio system chain.

Why I give you all this explanation?, well things happen ( and I'm not saying I'm right, it is only my opinion. ) that I already try/test ( over the time ) the Mundorf, Sonicap, V-caps, Duelund and many many other to name it here.

Till today I don't find any less colored/distorted cap that the Sonicaps. The Mundorf, Duelund and the like are not a neutal one items: far from there ( IMHO ).
I know that you don't like the Sonicaps and you know why you don't like it?, because it is telling you that your audio system has several quality performance " problems " in different audio links ( your vintage ones caps are too colored and yes I know the Scala: I owned it. ).

Do you know which is the signature quality difference performance between a distortion audio device ( cable, caps, resistors, inductors, tubes, etc, etc ) and other with less distortion?
well it is exactly what you report from the Sonicaps: " I hear less volume ", NO what you heard was not less SPL what you really heard was less DISTORTION that you " feel " like less SPL, believe me no doubt about.

Merganser already posted that you are not given the time to the different caps to settle down and I agree totally with him and I think that like me he is trying to help you.

In good shape let me to tell you how I'm looking you about this new " toy/game " to you: like a child with new toys that take it one and then other and the other and other: a lot of fun but almost nothing ( IMHO ) that really could help you in the long run, of course that it is your time and money.

Other thing that I'm worried about is that you are taking the opinion of those guys that made several test on 30+ caps ( the link that you posted ) where you don't know its real music/sound priorities and worse than that where you don't know how high or low are the distotions/colorations of their audio systems.
Along that the opinion of them about to " tame " the caps performance mixing different caps tell me that those people are not the best experts to take in count and let me explain about:

what they state and you follow is that you can compensate the distotions/colorations of one cap with the different distortions/colorations of other cap.
So what you have here is an absurd by any standard: that from two different colored/distorted different caps you achieve the right one!!!!!!
I'm sorry not agree with you about: from two distorted/colored caps ( adding its distortions ) you achieve a heavy distorted/colored performance not the inverse. That what you hear like it or not it is other subject but the reality is that you have more distortions. I don't like it but the important subject here is that like to you.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Volleyguy,

I believe the no plastic may indeed be a key feature. It would certainly explain why they sound different (superior) to all the others I have tested which ofcourse use plastic. This is of course based on my own findings. Others may well choose differently.

Regarding the inductors I found the difference compared to other air cores I've tried to be at least as big as with the caps. I use the CAST inductors, and have nothing to complain about. I once tried putting a powerful magnet against a foil coil I was using previously to the Duelunds, and could feel the inductor being ever so slightly magnetic. I tried the same with the Duelunds and could not feel a thing. May be they use a purer grade of copper?

I've found the caps to benifit of 14 days of full playing time, would be fascinating to know if you experience the same.

Your comment about the drivers being in phase doesn't relate to the components, but Duelund's Synchronous Cross Over I believe it's termed: http://www.meta-gizmo.net/Tri/speak/STEEN.html from Harvey Rosenberg's homepage.

Rauliruegas

Yes I agree that we each have our own priorities with sound as there would only be one cap, one source, one amp, one speaker and all would agree that they were the best.

Yes I am looking for a cap that is fun. (to me of course)

The vintage caps are very coloured (worn out now) and yes I rank them better than the non defective but boring sounding Sonicaps. That has to do with my perception of their lack of dynamics.

I do know the vintage caps are "colored" but do not hear that with the Duelund's. I would say more like Tony Gee's "super natural" makes instruments sound like the real thing. If that is colored I want a violin to sound like a violin.

What I do not like about the Sonicaps is lack of energy not SPF. I do not dislike Sonicaps they are cheap and are not offensive but not in the league of the better caps (IMHO) in what I am looking for and that is that "live" feel that horns can do.

"A child with new toy".

I did say that I had these speakers for almost 30 years and loved them. I know the caps are going bad and after putting in the Sonicaps I was so disapointed I put them up for sale. When the guy came to buy them he had the old tube amp. I knew there was still problems but enjoyed listening to them again on the tube amp with vintage caps.

Then I got the new caps and it is beyond my wildest expectations. I almost do not listen to my main system. So yes I am like a kid who has his favourite "old" toy back and better than ever!

The two different caps.

I did say I was very early with the second Duelund. What those people did say is even the best caps will leave their sonic signature. You will hear the "cap" as opposed to the music. That does make sense to me. I found the Deulund/Supreme to not leave any signature on the music.

I am still eval'ing two Duelund's. There is another thing even if I like two Duelund's better (which I am not sure) I have to weigh there extreme cost against other improvements. I am now considering Duelund's for inductors.

Raul I do not think two caps introduce "more" distortion. I found the Duelund/Supreme tow work VERY well togther and I could hear stuff in the music I had never heard and could pick out instruments I did not know even there. I can not see that as distortion.

Raul I will agree that the only way to eval this is to di it one's own self. (everyone's ears different) I did not know I was going to like Duelund so much. I only bought them on site recommendation. I thought well why not.

Stormen

Thanks for the link.
I will be reading up on this. I am very interested now. I will let you know on the 14 days. They sounded excellent right out of the box with the Supreme's. But two Duelund's even more dynamic but could use a little settle down which may happen.

Did you compare their inductors to others? Are they worth the extra cost? Duelund is NOT cheap!