Took a big leap today and ordered a set of Mundorf Supreme SGO caps for the trusty SP-14. Big $$$. I know that it takes at least 100 hours of use before these babies really open up. Here's the $100K question: will break-in occur if the preamp is powered up and the output is connected to an UNPOWERED amp, or does the signal chain have to be completed with a functioning, pumping power amp? I'd just as soon put a pink-noise sweep type test CD on repeat and leave it for a few days with the ST-120 OFF conserving KT-88s, if that will do the job. ???
4 posters
SP-14: Breaking in new coupling caps.
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
Roy Mottram- Admin
- Posts : 1837
Join date : 2008-11-30
just power up the preamp and a source into it - no amp needed on the output.
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
Thanks, Roy. I was hoping you'd say that.tubes4hifi wrote:just power up the preamp and a source into it - no amp needed on the output.
corndog71- Posts : 840
Join date : 2013-03-19
Location : It can get windy here
What other caps have you used in your SP14?
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
The only others I have are the excellent Russian PIO caps, which I respect a lot. But those extra outputs were calling out to me for a year.corndog71 wrote:What other caps have you used in your SP14?
corndog71- Posts : 840
Join date : 2013-03-19
Location : It can get windy here
I highly recommend Clarity Cap MR series.
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
I have heard that they are excellent as well. Duly noted - Thanks.corndog71 wrote:I highly recommend Clarity Cap MR series.
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
Update: The Mundorfs were installed Friday (by the steady-handed audiobill) and thus have had some break-in. I must admit that the SQ is stunning already. There is a pinpoint accuracy to the imaging and a sense of solidity unlike anything I've ever heard.
As these (Mundorf Supreme Silver-Gold-Oil .33mfd) are not cheap at $96/pair I suspect you might assess whether such an expense can be justified. For me, the answer is an unequivocal "YES".
So, unlike Bob Geldof, I DO like Mundies!
As these (Mundorf Supreme Silver-Gold-Oil .33mfd) are not cheap at $96/pair I suspect you might assess whether such an expense can be justified. For me, the answer is an unequivocal "YES".
So, unlike Bob Geldof, I DO like Mundies!
Roy Mottram- Admin
- Posts : 1837
Join date : 2008-11-30
expensive as the Mundorfs are, every single customer who has bought them from me has told me they were well worth the extra cost, and made a significant improvement in sound quality. Nice to know that with a quality preamp, quality amp, and quality speakers,
that improvements can still be made and can be HEARD!!
that improvements can still be made and can be HEARD!!
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
My inexpert opinion is this: IF you have every element of your system optimized - and that includes the ROOM, SETUP, and SOURCE material - it might be worth your while to consider a pair of Mundorfs for your preamp. Otherwise, you will be disappointed. They are not magic - just darned good.tubes4hifi wrote:expensive as the Mundorfs are, every single customer who has bought them from me has told me they were well worth the extra cost, and made a significant improvement in sound quality. Nice to know that with a quality preamp, quality amp, and quality speakers,
that improvements can still be made and can be HEARD!!
Tube Nube- Posts : 707
Join date : 2008-12-06
Age : 60
Location : Calgary, AB
Well, where can we get Magi-Caps?
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
Well, V-Caps cost about three times what the Mundies cost, so they'd darn well better be verging on the Miraculous.Tube Nube wrote:Well, where can we get Magi-Caps?
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