Fuse Direction for Pass Labs Amp and Preamp

I thank everyone for a little spring in your step.. I thought I was going to fall into a coma these last couple of months.. :-) LOL

From Kimber about Kimber KAPs:

"All values of Kimber Kap have a red lead at one end. The red lead should go towards the +DC voltage, or away from the –DC voltage. In coupling (DC Blocking) applications the red lead is the signal output end (it will be the same as the +side of an electrolytic capacitor in this position). In a loudspeaker crossover, the red lead should go towards the drive unit + terminal.

The capacitors can be used safely in either direction but the marking indicates which way will minimise hum pickup."

This can be figured out with 99% of NP caps. Kimber just realizes some measurements aren’t accounted for in the OLDER "this is how it works" crowd. Does it make a difference? I repeat from KIMBER. "indicates which way will minimize hum pickup.".

It’s showing where the outside of the film wrap is. Kimber seems to think there is a direction in a NON directional cap. :-) I just happen to agree with the manufacture too. Stealth Caps work VERY well in the right direction. I just installed a set in the Cary and added Deulund .01 bypass (in the right direction).. The umbilical cable was replaced with Kimber and I rewired both preamp and power supply in the right direction. It was wired in both direction from the factory. It’s not now. How does it sound?. Like it need 200 hours to break in.

BTW I’m running my monitors at 12 ohms (static). 400Gan for the summer. What a nice sounding amp.

It’s things like OP’s question that give audiophiles a bad name.

It’s pretty simple.  First you try it dis way.  Then you try it dat way.  Den you might even consider dat other way. 

@helmholtzsoul -

     When I bought the Duelund CAST-PIOs for my Carys; I asked which lead was the outer foil.   "Doesn't matter!", they said.

     I've had a habit of testing everything for noise/best performance, before committing to an install, for decades.

     Just an FYI (If one doesn't own an O-scope): Just rig an RCA lead with gator clips and plug it into one of an old receiver/integrated's PHONO inputs, with the volume all the way down.    With a speaker attached, of course.

     Hook up the cap's leads and LIGHTLY grip (especially films) the sides of the cap, while slowly raising the volume.   Keep it real low!

     Change the component's input selector, and switch the cap's leads (don't move the volume).    Switch the selector back to PHONO.

     One direction (when the outer foil's lead is connected to the Positive Phono lead) will result in much more hum.

     For the lowest noise in a signal circuit; connect the outer foil to the lower impedance (signal source).

                                     OH, and: It REALLY DID matter!  

More info: https://www.aikenamps.com/index.php/where-to-connect-the-outside-foil-on-capacitors

“ I thought I was going to fall into a coma these last couple of months.. :-) LOL”

What ! No chickens to feed ?