After Elna, BlackGate, and M-Lytic, now it’s time for the Obbligato. My order just arrived yesterday. I bought three types of Obbligato available on the market.
The picture above is the Obbligato Copper Case Aluminum Film Caps. The case is solid copper with soldered copper lead out wires and individually wrapped. The aluminum film is imported from Germany. All measure very close to rated value, max 5% but typically 1-2%. Wound tight, no voids gives a very transparent, smooth sound.
This capacitors looked beautiful with the solid copper case. Looked expensive, heavy, and well designed capacitors.
The second one is the Premium Polypropylene Film Capacitors in Non-Magnetic Case. Values are laser etched into the surface (cool!). Pure copper soldered lead out wires. This capacitors looked professional and expensive (yes, it’s the top of the line of Obbligato, but still cheaper than others – let’s say: Auricap). I love the solid “steel” construction of this capacitors.
Finally, I never miss the oil capacitor. Since Obbligato also offers this kind of capacitor, then I should try it. This is the Obbligato Premium Film Oil Caps with solid lead out wires from one end (radial). The radial design sometimes makes it difficult to be used as coupling capacitor. But, it’s just “a little bit difficult”, not impossible 😉
I think I’ve got enough capacitors… time to play… 🙂
Danny Tuypens
July 29, 2008 06:20Hello Jimmy,
I’m going to upgrade the crossover of my speakers and I am considering the Obbligato caps.
Have you already tested them ? How do they sound ?
Regards,
Danny
Jimmy Auw
July 29, 2008 09:56They sound quite natural and plain.
It depends on your speaker also… not all speaker will match to all capacitor…
Thank you.
ben
August 11, 2008 11:07Nice website ;o)
I’m waiting for your review…i have planned to try some in a guitar amp perhaps.
Do you know sozo caps?
Regards,
Ben.
Jimmy Auw
August 14, 2008 21:00Hi,
never tried sozo…
Thanks.
Arthur
August 18, 2008 23:12Hi, may i know how much is those capacitor cost?
GARY
September 20, 2008 08:58Hello Jimmy ,
When you say the obbligatos are plain and simple What is that? Tell me how they compare to others mundorf,wonder,mit ect.How are the highs?Is there more semblense or less ,bright ,harsh,soft ect.Same with lows and mids.You have Jadis 7’s and all you can say is plain and simple ….come on.
Gary in Reno
Jimmy Auw
September 20, 2008 19:40Hi Gary,
I don’t own a Jadis 7, just ever tried it (it was my friend’s).
How to explain it… Compared to Wondercap, I think the Obbligato is more “polite”. For me, the Wondercap sounds more dynamic (sometime too dynamic for me)… I think this Obbligato has “Auricap like” sound… the high is quite well pronounced (if you need more, just bypass it with a brighter caps), not too forward or “aggresive”… the mid perhaps not too “thick” like Auricap… but “quite rich” in terms of musicality… the low is ok for me, dont like too much low anyway… takes around 100 hours before it sounds at its max performance…
Thank you.
Face
August 24, 2009 04:35How do the three lines sound compared to each other?
Jimmy Auw
August 24, 2009 20:57The Gold Premium has better high, compared to the Copper one. The Oil has more vocal, but less treble.
I think you could go to the Gold Premium for most application. I use the Oil on my PSU.
Thanks.
Face
August 24, 2009 22:06I’m glad I went with the golds, thanks Jimmy.
Jimmy Auw
August 24, 2009 22:27The Copper also not a bad option, less detail, but warm mids.
Keane
August 27, 2009 00:00I’m using copper for highs, should’ve ordered the gold ones instead, but I’m very satiafied on the Obbligatos, will order another pair for the mids, the Mcap sounds too thick and shut-in for me.
Jimmy Auw
August 28, 2009 21:25At its price, Obbligato is definitely OK.
enoch
October 12, 2009 14:46Dear Jimmy,
i’m new in your blog and nice report for this capacitor, my question did you know how to find this in Jakarta?
thanks,
enoch
Jimmy Auw
October 12, 2009 21:27Hi Enoch,
I don’t think you can find in Jakarta. I bought it from HK.
Thanks.