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I'm currently using Hovland caps in my 1.6's but I feel I'm not getting instruments 'isolated' as much as I like. IOW's 'pinpoint' location/accuracy is not exactly as I'd like them to be. I'm getting some 'bleeding' or better yet 'smearing' on a lot of recordings (subtle yet bothersome to say the least).So, I'm looking at rolling caps to get the effect I want. But at apprx $300 I'm not in a hurry to drop that kinda scratch on Auricaps (or any other caps for that matter).
I found the original stock Sonicaps acheived this effect well but lack in richness, fullness as the Hovlands.
I can pretty much rule out interconnects, cables and roomtreatments folks.
Anyone using Auricaps or other brands and experiencing true 'isolated' instruments in their soundstage? Thanks in advance-
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IMHO, Hovlands are more tonally correct but kind of veiled in comparison. Auricaps are more immediate. If it were me, I’d add a PIO bypass cap feeding the QR tweeter. It eliminates that plasticap sound.Also, some pin-point rock-solid center-stage vocals have an out-of-phase midband/midrange. MG1.6s have inverted tweeters which may be your problem as it can seem to diffuse piercing treble. However, swapping speaker polarity will cure that, but will de-impact your bass.
If that’s not your culprit, I’d try single unstranded conductor speaker cables to your tweeter.
♪ moderate Mart £ ♫ ☺ Planar Asylum
I too started with Sonicaps and found them too harsh. But when I bypassed with an Obbligato from Diyhifisupply I was amazed at how much nicer everything sounded. I'm still playing around. Currently using Dynamicaps with the Obbligato & liking that a lot too.HTH
From what I understand, plasti-caps are erroneous by commission, whereas oil caps are erroneous by omission. Coupling them makes a neutral capacitance. I know one guy who swears by Jensen metallized PIOs bypassed with teflon&Sn caps. I had RTXs (polystyrene MultiCaps) bypassed with Ag&oil Mundorfs. I'm about to try aluminum Duelund VSFs as a bridging capacitor. I need a more seemless transition from the midrange's beeswax dielectric.
♪ moderate Mart £ ♫ ☺ Planar Asylum
nt
thanks Mart; do you have a source for the PIO bypass filters?
Also, do you think a single strand wouldn't get too 'hot' on the tweeters? Thanks again-
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
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By PIO I mean "paper-in-oil". That doesn't mean the bulk caps can't use an upgrade, it just sounds better with an oil bypass cap.FWIW, I found upgrading the bulk shunt cap across the bass panel had quickened it.
A single strand may slightly attenuate the aluminum tweeter, but it won't heat it. That would only occur in the copper speaker cable.
♪ moderate Mart £ ♫ ☺ Planar Asylum
IOW, FWIW three out of five dentists prefer Taster's Choice. YMMV.
Funny, but I like the way that the images I have bleed into each other to a certain extent. When I've heard systems where each instrument lives in it's own little pool, with no relationship to those around it sounds odd and more hi-fi to me. Obviously to each their own.Cheers,
in the sense the 'reverb' and/or 'decay' floats into each other's fields..THAT'S beautiful my friend!
But what I'm trying to describe is hearing let's say a vocal or trumpet dead center and 'occasionally' hearing parts come from middle left (or right).I'm looking at a lot of things; may need to do a overhaul on my XO's, try perhaps some Cardas copper instead of the silver, resolder the joints, perhaps a new inductor (why not, they're cheap!). Thanks for the info sir!
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
Learn life as if you'll live forever..."
But what I'm trying to describe is hearing let's say a vocal or trumpet dead center and 'occasionally' hearing parts come from middle left (or right).Sounds like a positioning / unwanted reflection thing to me. Don't think flipping caps will help you out here. Could also be you have your speakers positioned a little too far apart from each other compared to the distance to your listening seat.
I did reposition the panels that were almost at an angle were the tweeters would be firing dead at my nose (at the apex); GOOD results noted including the removal of 'harshness' from muted trumpets.Will further evaluate positioning and 'pinpoint' effect in the upcoming days.
Thanks my friend, best of all it didn't cost me a red cent! I owe you one;)
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
Learn life as if you'll live forever..."
I repositioned the panels 'back' so they're 'almost' squared along their plane. Thanks again; I guess I'm guilty in regard to how something so innocent and overlooked; positioning can be. Not perfect by any means at this point but definitely an improvement-
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
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Ok, with you now. I possibly have the same thing at times although not very often and I'm not using stands either. Perhaps that's where we're both missing out. Good luck.Cheers,
If you modify your stands with Myestands, Magnestands, or Home Depot shelf supports like I have you will hear a much more defined soundstage. With Magnepans you have to keep the speaker from vibrating as best you can to get the best sonic results. That means the closer you get to absolute rigidity the better.
and will look into modifying the ones I have in tweaks. The missing link to me is a good 'buttress' to clamp onto the frames with.Would like to get a set of Grant's too by golly!
"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
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It's a wonder to me why Magnepan continues to produce those floppy ass stands. Upgraded crossover components and stiff stands would introduce a whole new speaker.
I've done Hovland and Auri upgrades on some tube preamps. I didn't find a significant difference between the two. The Auri's do seem a little more detailed, but only by the smallest margin. Not enough that I'd pull Hovlands to put Auri's in.
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"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
Learn life as if you'll live forever..."
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"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
Learn life as if you'll live forever..."
You indicate you've ruled out room treatments, but your video screen may be causing at least a portion of the "bleed smear". Have you tried covering it during listening sessions, perhaps with fabric to which you can affix a couple of those foam diffusor squares if you have any left over?
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"Live life as if you'll die tomorrow... -Gandhi
Learn life as if you'll live forever..."
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