Tweakers' Asylum: Re: Coupling Capacitor Opinions Wanted by Thorsten

Hi,

> Built a preamp last year from scratch (using the Transcendent
> Grounded Grid circuit).

Congratulations.

> It got Solen Fast caps to start with since everyone said they
> were good for the money.

Everyone?

> Long one short, the preamp sounded great.

That is all that matters.

> OK, a year later I got the itch to play. Got some Auricaps to
> drop in place of the Solens and let 'em burn in about 100+ hours.
> The Auricaps made more of a difference than I expected.

Welcome to a larger world. I can replace two capacitors in a premp that are by normal measurements indistinguishable in the Audio range and get a major change.

> But as nice as they are, they really are not what works in
> synergy with the rest of the system.

That is allways the main bugbearer.

> The Aricaps were too smooth sounding for the system. The
> Solens went back in to open up the midrange and the treble.

Try some SCR/Solen/Mundorf/Audyn/Angela Tinfoil & Polyprop Cap's.

> What is the best compromise cap in this situation?

If you really like what you have - why change? Only because a girl is younger, prettier and firmer does not mean she shags better than you current missus.... By all means try, but if what you have satisfyes keep it.

> The archives seem to be suggesting the Hovlands would be a bit
> brighter than the Auricaps (yet still perhaps too smooth sounding).

Hovelands sounds quite nice, the right (to me) balance between detail and brightness.

> Other messages seem to suggest the Rel Multicaps as being extended
> in the extreame frequencies without becoming too laid back.

Or one might call them often too bright.

> Any suggestions?

SCR Tinfoil and Arcotronics KP 1.72 as affordable and very good sounding solutions. The SCR Tin's cost more and sound more open, realistic, the Arcotronics are a bargain and (IMHO) are a cheap alternative to Hovlands and REL with BETTER sound. There are certain NOS types like ERO KP1832 that manage even better sound, but availability is limited.

Ciao T

Many thanks.