Tube DIY Asylum

Posted by Mike C (A) on March 14, 2013 at 16:03:11

In Reply to: RE: Mundorf Cap (and other cap) Mavens Needed..... posted by Winston Smith on March 13, 2013 at 13:46:24

I have used both silver/oil and silver/gold/oil in various ways.

In phono stages I have used both as output caps. In a preamp I have used the silver/gold/oil as output caps, and silver/oil as couplers within the mu stage circuit. In a very good 300B amp I have used silver/gold/oil as couplers.

Here are my personal views. I'm not a cap expert. Some views are different from other people's - both can be valid ... different systems, different perspectives and priorities; I don't want to start any arguments.

I have done a direct comparison between the silver/oil and Russian PIO; K40Y. Yes, this was fully run in. The K40y was well balanced, nothing at all objectionable; but it didn't have the superb transparency of the silver/oil. The silver/oil had very good transparency *without* adding any harshness (IME, IMO).

When I used mainly silver/oil, the sound was very good but very slightly 'cool' sounding, a tiny bit 'thin'; and fractionally bass light. This was in a phono stage with Russian teflon caps in the RIAA cct and silver/oil everywhere else. These characteristics were not problems; the sound was very good; but they were there, in a slight way.

When I changed the output caps to silver/gold/oil, the sound lost the coolness, and gained a touch more body in the midrange, and a touch more bass. It had exceptional tonality and a very natural sound, and still the superb transparency. The phono stage was then extremely good sounding.
Note that, at that stage, it used a combination; silver/oil as 2 couplers within two mu stages; russian teflon as riaa caps and coupler between the two stages; silver/gold/oil as output caps. It is very well balanced and I'm not touching any of these caps!!!!

My line preamp uses a 27 triode in a mu stage. Again I use silver/oil as coupler in the mu stage, and silver/gold/oil as output cap. Again a well balanced sound of superb tonality and transparency, just the right amount of body, very natural sounding. Sound is excellent from LP and CD sources (see my AT3500+ cd player review).

From my experiences with silver/oil and silver/gold/oil, I chose the latter for the coupling cap in my second 300B SET which turned out very well indeed.

You're asking for smooth, natural, detailed, holographic; and no glare; and a touch of warmth and body. I humbly suggest it's a simple choice. Both will give most of these things very well, but the silver/gold/oil should give a more natural amount of warmth and body so myself I'd suggest these.

An expert friend has tried these at my suggestion (and having heard my system) and likes them a *lot*.

Both need a lot of running in, but the silver/gold/oil are not too bad at first (a lot better than silver/oil are at first); both are listenable after 100 hours, but I think they continue improving for several months.

I'm sure you won't be disappointed.