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I have purchased a lot of Chris VH's audio products. I always felt that I got a very high quality product for the money spent.Also you will not receive any better customer service from an audio related web based company than from Chris @ VH Audio. I dont feel that Chris's products are overly priced, but, when you factor in the added value for a high level of customer service, buying from him is a no brainer.
I am currently having a .1uf V-Cap installed for digital out coupling in my Pioneer Elite DV-59AVI. Work is being done by Dan @ ModWright. I am very excited to hear the results.
I have replaced two Relcap "Exotica" teflon caps in my SET amp. Even though the V-Caps have not fully burned in yet, I feel that they are a major improvement. They are superior to any other caps that I have ever tried, and I have tried most of them including the even more expensive AN silver caps. I have found that when used in a no feedback design that the caps have a major effect on the sound. As far as cost goes, it is my opinion that a cap replacement will have a greater effect than an interconnect or especially a line cord change and either of these changes could cost more than a pair of caps. On the basis of these results I have ordered another set of V-Caps for another pair of 300B amps.
RD
Saw those last week as I'm in the market for decent coupling caps.Even more expensive than the REL TFT Exoticas, wonder if they're better. They claim a proprietary winding technique. The price is certainly stupid. With no middleman I suspect audiophile markup at work...
Hi, Rob. Thought I should comment on the V-cap pricing, since it has become an issue in this thread. Yes, they are expensive. I make no apologies for that. It is likely that it will take me at least 2 years of sales to recoup the R&D and other up-front costs I invested into this project. These were hard costs were paid, not my own or beta-testers' time.That said, there is a reason why there aren't alot of Teflon film caps on the market. They are extremely hard to do right. This cap was designed without a specific price point in mind. The price fell where it fell.
I would also like to note that although the regular pricing is more than the Rel TFT's, my intro pricing is about the same as Rel "street prices", and less when ordered in moderate quantities. Rel is a fine company, and I look forward to user comparisons between the V-Cap's and the RelCaps.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
Best,
Hi Chris,Have you tried high purity Copper Foil (or even silver foil)? Any pros and cons compared to the Tin Foil you use? Thank you.
Hi Chris,I had somewhat simultaneously replied below on this thread re: pricing as you posted your response here.
No offense intended. My observation was merely that with direct sales and no middleman they do seem pricey, even vis a vis the TFT Exoticas.
I understand the realities of what you're trying to do, and appreciate your efforts. I consider myself a savvy consumer, and these are just at the price point that make me balk. However, I may yet bite the bullet, or the V-Cap as it may be, given a few raves here or there...
Now if only the military would order a couple hundred thousand of your caps for sonar systems, perhaps economies of scale could kick in for cheapskates like myself.
No offense intended.None taken.
My observation was merely that with direct sales and no middleman they do seem pricey, even vis a vis the TFT Exoticas.
Price is a concern in the absence of value. Time will tell whether these represent good value as more people post their impressions. Although obviously biased, I am confident the value is exceptional.
I understand the realities of what you're trying to do, and appreciate your efforts. I consider myself a savvy consumer, and these are just at the price point that make me balk.
I never envisioned paying more than $2k for a DAC, yet I am seriously considering Lavry or Weiss units which retail for over $8k. I also just paid big $$ for some Tung Sol round plate and 5692 red base tubes. Price is all relative...
However, I may yet bite the bullet, or the V-Cap as it may be, given a few raves here or there...I am happy to hear you'll keep an open mind about these.
Now if only the military would order a couple hundred thousand of your caps for sonar systems, perhaps economies of scale could kick in for cheapskates like myself.
I'll put a call into Rumsfeld :-)
Best,
Chris
Why is it that so many feel that no one should make a profit from selling audio products? Should it all be non profit?Do you get paid for what you do Rob? I "suspect" you get paid way too much for what ever it is.
Like everyone in the audio business is getting rich. That's funny. Chris sells DIY stuff. Shut up.
I doubt think that any thinking individual resents a manufacturer, etc. making a profit. I was an 'over the road' salesman for over 35 years and I can tell you for true that without a profit the manufacturer, distributor, etc. won't be around for long. Ask John Z. DeLorean. However, that said, we all object to the obscene profits that many audio equipment manufacturers make : they make the oil companies and drug companies green with envy. Case in point : some years ago Levinson came out with a new preamp and also an "S" (super?) version for an additional $200. The difference ? The "S" version had teflon pcb's in its' phono section. I had been using teflon pcb material for several years and was buying 2.2 DA teflon dble. clad pcb stock in quantities of about 4 sq. ft. for about 12 cents per sq. inch. ! Anybody for a $3,000.00 super dooper AC linecord ?
Excuse me.I'm in the market for quality capacitors. I perceive these and the REL TFT Exoticas to be very expensive.
A profit is expected. But today everything is forced to be commodity priced. I don't make the rules, but I spend my hard earned income and I'm entitled to my opinion.
I will not "shut up". You are rude.
Yes. I am rude. Everyone needs a hobby.Yours seems to be bitching about the price of caps. Did you ever stop to think that there might be a reason that the caps are expensive before you accused Chris VenHaus to trying to rip you off? Sorry to single you out Rob. It seems to be a pervasive attitude around here that if something costs more than you want to pay it's "audiophile markup". I thought that was rude. If you would like to know why, talk to Chris he is a regular contributor around here and seems to be to be an asset to the audiophile community. I am sure he can explain why they cost so much.
Keith,Rob's statements about the caps, "The price is certainly stupid. With no middleman I suspect audiophile markup at work..." must be what ticked you off. Yet he also posted the main ad photo for the product, so he's helped Chris somewhat. Even this discussion is providing exposure for the product.
You attributed many things to Rob that he never said. He didn't say that Chris shouldn't make a profit. He didn't say that everybody is getting rich. He didn't even say it cost more than he was willing to pay. He says he's thinking of buying some, which is precisely why he was asking for comments on their value.
Besides, Chris can (and has) corrected Rob/clarified as he felt necessary. Maybe Rob has changed his opinion about the pricing's "wisdom" given Chris' reply. Mind your manners.
Seems I have upset some folks by being plain spoken. I gues I just get real tired of all the bitching about the cost of this stuff. Just having a crummy Hi Fi at all is a luxury. We are all a bit spoiled don't you think?
Yup, I'll drink to that.(Hic!)
I drive a 16 year old car and splurge on audio and vacations.
I still enjoy bitching about the price of capacitors though...
Rob,Sorry I picked on you.I admit that there are a few products out there that do puzzle me as far as the price goes too. I have a hard time figuring out the price of Walker's High Definition Links. $650 a pair? Glad I don't bi wire! I think I will have to pass and I don't think I will be able to use any of the V caps in my crossover upgrade. Let's see there's a 4.7uf cap on the bandpass for the mid and I only need ten V Cap .47's to replace that one cap in each side. Hum? What to do? Then again it's only $1,399.00 per speaker and I only have a total of seven caps in each speaker. I bet it would sound good.
Chris isn't helping me out much here by talking about spending 8K for a dac is he?
The new post by RD on the V-Cap slaying the REL TFT Exotica is what I've been waiting to hear.In the absence of such information, these are just pricey parts. Given such knowledge, I am indeed inclined to "bite the V-Cap" and pony up the pounds.
Now, if only the price break kicked in at four units instead of five...
The site goes into specifics as to the unique winding process.But they also go into the fact that they cut out the middleman.
OK, so the volume on production is so low that they end up exorbitantly priced.
I'm free to point that out. As I said, I'm in the market for caps, and am trying to find out whether there is justification to pay these steep prices. Is ERS expensive? Perhaps. Are Bybee filter expensive? Depends. Are V-Caps overpriced? Who knows?
Now who's going to claim that the V-Caps are worth it?
Chris? Not likely if we're here hissing like cats at eachother...
I respect your position, but let's be civil.
(FWIW, I recall one guy who felt that the REL TFT Exoticas were worth the price difference to him in coupling cap applications.)
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