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| Model: | OIMP |
| Category: | Passive Components |
| Suggested Retail Price: | $43.19 and up |
| Description: | V-Cap |
| Manufacturer URL: | V-Cap |
| Model Picture: | View |
| Review by fc_harry (A) on May 04, 2005 at 17:32:44 IP Address: 66.125.227.241 | Add Your Review for the OIMP |
The V-Caps arrived in an oversized box, surrounded by peanuts and bubble wrap. The caps were protected better than some tubes I have received.I like the fact the leads are shipped straight out from the body, rather than bent around. To me that's one less wire bend you have to make right next to the cap body. (how many caps do you have with the wire broken right next to the cap body?)
There is a breakin time required for these caps. I would recommend not even listening to them the first 8 hours of play. After 60+ hours they open up and have a very detailed sound about them.
After listening to these caps I will consider a pair of TFTF V-Caps for a future upgrade purchase.
I have also had Jupiter and Audio Notes Copper PIO installed in the same amp (at different times).
| Product Weakness: | None observed |
| Product Strengths: | Well packed for shipping protection Leads are longer than other brands Leads are shipped straight rather than bent around the cap Fast, articulate, with a natural sound |
| Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
| Amplifier: | Bottlehead S.E.X. amp |
| Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | None |
| Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Tosihba 3960 (modded) |
| Speakers: | Senn HD650 (cans) |
| Cables/Interconnects: | diy/Cardas |
| Music Used (Genre/Selections): | female volcals/Jazz |
| Time Period/Length of Audition: | 60+ hours |
| Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Follow Ups:
Cool. I would love to see a comparison between M-Cap Supreme in Oil, Jupiter, Audionote Copper in oil and the V-cap OIMP someday.Best,
Anand.
I've only used the Mundorf Silver Supremes as parafeed coupling caps, but they are the very best capacitor I've used in that application. Sound is very similar to the Audio Note copper foil/oil, but a bit cleaner.There is a slightly artificial "fullness" to the Audio Note copper foil/oils that will most likely match extremely well with amplifiers that sound a bit too lean or analytical.
Unfortunately, [in general] the closer to the source you get, the less attractive the Audio Notes sound; what presents itself as full/rich in an amp, begins to sound thick and slow in a preamp.
FWIW, I have found very little difference in the sound of the Audio Note copper foil/oil caps and the Jensen copper foil/oilers.
I must admit that my experiences with the copper foil/oil caps has kept me from trying the Mundorf Silver Supremes in other applications.As long as you are very careful with installation and placement, the Jupiter Caps are some of the very best capacitors available...they sound simply beautiful!
Only the teflon capacitors [V-Cap, Rel-Cap and NOS Soviets] let more information through, and the sound is of the teflons is just a tiny bit on the cool side vs the Jupiters.
As I've said before, I believe most teflon capacitors work best with some sort of damping.I have not yet tried the V-Cap OIMPs yet.
knowing you are an old hand at all of this, have you ever tried the better old vintage caps like Vitamin Q's and if so how do you feel they stack up against some of the newer types?In part I ask because I was just given a selection of old Vit. Q's and ...well I guess over time I became a snob and considered the newer caps so much better(like polystyrene and tin)....but now on first listen to these old caps I'm starting to doubt myself. Probably it's the stout and ale but I actually think I am hearing more detail without midrange bloat!
Russ
Jeez, Russ! You know how to put me on the spot :-)
I'm know I'm venturing out onto a really shakey limb...but, here's my take:I've used all sorts of vintage caps [most notably Vitamin Qs] and, for the most part, I think they share many of the general attributes of the Audio Note and Jensen oil caps: a bit of artificial midrange "fullness/richness" [especially when compared to my reference Mundorf Silver Supremes]. It is a sound that often meshes *amazingly* well with certain amp/speaker combinations...unfortunately, those desirable qualities also tend to (generally) fall apart the closer to the source you get.
NOTE: I'm not saying that they sound exactly like the Jensens or Audio Note oilers...just that they share the same family of midrange "fullness/richness" sound. The Jensen/Audio Notes are quite a bit better behaved at the frequency extremes.But, I have absolutely never thought any vintage capacitor let more information through vs the Jupiter caps or the teflons [V-Cap, Rel-Cap or NOS Soviets].
I think I might take them out. I think something is missing in the upper mids. Some mandolin and harpsochord music lacked that "sparkle". I think at first I was expecting things to be off at the very top end and was listening more in that area. I found the bass definitely wasn't rolled off. I will heed your advice and try them later in the chain. That may be the key as I am using them at the beginning of the chain, output couplers for a CD and input caps on the preamp. Too bad most of the caps are only 200VDC.I appreciate your sage advice. Nothing like actual experience:)
Russ
Viewing the Jensen Copper PIO, I had not much luck with oil types until I tried John E Fast oil caps removed from '40s era Hammond amps. These are just perfect sounding to my ears. I now understand AuriCap can be somewhat edgy sounding. No loss in details with the John E Fast and silky smooth without colorization, smearing, grain or edge.
I would agree with statements some make about such oilers as the Jensens. My experienece with the V-Cap OIMP is that you get the speed and clarity from the metalized poly while adding a sense of texture and realism from the oil impregnation.I have used the OIMP capacitors in everything from tube preamps, speakers, power supply bypass, etc. I have found that when the larger value are price prohibited in the Teflon series, bypassing a OIMP with a smaller value Teflon add a very good balance and best of both worlds. Experimentation will tell you if the arrangement is right for you or your system.
"A very detailed sound" tells so little, really, unless that's all there is to it. Is that the case?And why mention the other caps if you will not compare them?
If one can grasp your idea of hearing a piano note "...down the hall, ... [in] another room", then one might as well be able to understand your other descriptions.
Paul S
I would disagree with the recommendation not to listen to them for the first 8 hours. I installed these as output coupling caps in my 76/cascode DN2540 mu-follower linestage, and it was clear within first 20 minutes that they were better sounding than the Auricaps they replaced. Since then, they have continued to improve.I found that the caps provide better low level detail, are more complex tonally, and a bit more open sounding than Auricaps. Voices and instruments have more substance or texture to the sound, i.e., harmonically richer. Focus is better, performers seem to be better defined and rooted in the 3D soundscape.
I am very satisfied with the sound of the V-Cap OIMP. Although I am somewhat curious about how the Teflon V-Caps would sound in comparision, the price in the equivalent value (1uF) for this application is prohibitive. I would like to think that I am not missing too much, since the OIMP V-Caps are so much better sounding than any other capacitors that I have listened through.
P.S. I am also using 3.3uF OIMPs in my speaker crossovers, again an improvement in the Auricaps I had there previously.
Can you tell us more about the comparison between OIMP and AN and Jupiters?
Maciek
I will only say that comparisons are really subject to so many variables that, what sounds great in one system, may not sound great in all systems. (is that a disclaimer?)The poster above (David M.) described a lot of the characteristics of the OIMP V-Caps very well.
How I would compare the V-Caps to the AN and Jupiter? Imagine standing next to a piano and hearing a note played. Then walk away down the hallway or into the next room and hear the same note played. To me that's the main difference, all the caps have great detail, but the sound for each is different.
ymmv,
harry
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