I bought this Duelund VSF Cast Ag (Silver) around 3 years ago. I think Duelund was not as popular as now at that time, but still this Ag (Silver) version was quite pricey that time (but now if I see the retail price, it’s even more and more expensive).
The minus point that I don’t really like is the leadout. Such expensive capacitor use small silver leadout. Yes, it’s pure silver, but I expect something more.
I also like the Duelund 2.0 cable which sounds very natural and detail. And my last order to Duelund for VSF Cast Cu (Copper) also equipped with this custom Duelund 2.0 leadout. Since it’s impossible for me to re-Cast this Ag version, so let’s just order the 2.0 cable and solder myself.
The only problem is I need to figure out whether I should cut the original leadout, or running them together. Still remains unanswered at present time.
Below is the original Duelund VSF Cast Ag (Silver) with 4x Duelund 2.0 cable. Plan to change the original leadout with this cable.
The original Duelund VSF Cast Ag (Silver) with pure silver leadout.
Duelund VSF Cast Cu (Copper) custom order with Duelund 2.0 cable leadout. Even more gorgeous!
I also have tried my friend’s Duelund Cast Ag (Silver) with Duelund 2.0 cable leadout. It improves the sound as the Duelund 2.0 cable itself is very musical, surely better compared with such small silver leadout on the original capacitor. So I think it’s my time now to upgrade 😉
PotAsh
July 24, 2013 06:58Apa kabar?
I am looking to upgrade the output coupling capacitors on my preamp and I am trying to decide which capacitor brand I should buy.
I will need about 2.5uF to 2.8uF total per channel. At that high capacitor value, getting Duelund CAST is out of the question – it is just too expensive.
My system is very neutral (no emphasis on any specific frequency range) and revealing. If I change the 6SN7 tube in my preamp, I hear the differences very clearly. I listen to mostly a lot of rock – Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin etc.
I want a deep and wide soundstage. I want a very neutral presentation.
If you can email me back with your recommendations, that would be great.
Thanks!
Auw Jimmy
July 24, 2013 11:53Hi PotAsh,
Kabar baik!
Another caps with good sound stage is Mundorf Silver Gold Oil. A bit expensive also. But not as neutral as Duelund VSF CAST.
Thanks.
PotAsh
July 25, 2013 13:03Terima kasih
My preamp currently uses a Russian PIO 1uF and an Auricap 1.8uF in parallel as the output coupling caps.
I found a pair of Dueland CAST Cu 1uF to replace the Russian PIO for slightly cheaper than new. I can do this upgrade now. I can upgrade the Auricap later. What is your opinion on this plan?
Auw Jimmy
July 25, 2013 22:36I dont think you need the Auricap any longer… 😉
PotAsh
July 26, 2013 02:20Good point. The designer of the preamp recommends between 2 to 3uF for the coupling cap. Given the input impedance of my amplifier, a value of about 2.8uF provides a very low cutoff frequency – no bass notes get attenuated. But even with 1uF, the cutoff is fairly low – it should be ok.
Thanks for your help!
Auw Jimmy
July 27, 2013 15:13Yes, 1uF should be more than enough for most cases…
Thanks.
Jaume
September 3, 2013 19:20Dear Jimmy,
My advise is not to do it! I mean, Duelund 2.0 wire is great, but very weak. I tried to wire a whole amp with it and got many troubles because you can not move it many times and definitively not in all directions or it will break very soon. I switched to solid core mundord and breathed again 🙂
Auw Jimmy
September 3, 2013 22:00Hi Jaume,
I have no idea with your experience. I have played with this cable probably longer than most people, installed them in several system as internal wiring or interconnect (which definitely has been used/moved around for quite some time), and so far got no problem.
Thanks.
Jaume
September 12, 2013 17:02Hi Jimmy,
Just wanted to share my experience, I really had problems with them, from my point of view they are weak if you change they position often. Just break or are seriuosly weakened in the point where are bent. In my case I got a lot of noises, because of that. But I do not doubt you have a lot more experience than me … I just would not change the wire of those already great caps … by the way, are you interested in a good offer for a bunch of 2.0/1.0 Duelund wire?? Please, let me know, I won’t use it 🙂
Auw Jimmy
September 12, 2013 23:09Hi Jaume,
How frequent do you change the position?
I think I have enough stock of 2.0 wire for my own project.
Thank you for the offering.
Jaume
September 13, 2013 15:43Hi Jimmy,
Maybe I changed many times the position because I used that Duelund wire as a hook-up wire in a Tube Amp wich suffered too many modifications 😉
Seriosly speaking, I agree this is a great cable sonically speaking, just wanted to remark that it can get weak if you change its position or bent it in a different ways, much more quickly that other kind of cables (round shape solid core or stranded ones). That’s why I never tried again flat wires for hook-up, call it Duelund, Neotech or whatever. When I read you wanted to change that cable leadout in the Duelund CAST Ag (really amaaaazing and expeeeeeeeeeeensive caps) I just got frightened 😉
But again, surely you can manage it much better than me!
Talking about hook up wires, my favourites ones: mundorfs silver(99%) gold(1%) PTFE and Amtrans gold plated oxygen free copper wire sleeved in PFC.
I’ll send you a pic of that project to your email if you do not mid.
Best Regards,
Jaume
Auw Jimmy
September 13, 2013 22:58Hi Jaume,
Got your email. Really nice build!
Thanks.
earwaxxer
October 21, 2013 07:05I would second the mundorf silver/oils in the coupling cap position. I use them in my SET tube pre. Very nice. Worth it IMO. I have a bunch of mundorfs in service of different flavors. I like them all! Just recently tried the EVO alum/oils in speaker crossover. Not bad! Not as sophisticated as the high end mondorfs, but very listenable IMO. Thats where I want to put some Duelunds – 12uF high pass!
Mark Lin
January 4, 2014 19:14I sausage use Duelund’s solder to do the lead-out Upgrade! Duelund sell their solder too, You can bought it from Duelund, the solder can give to you 100% Duelund sound, I had bought Duelund solder from Duelund few months ago,
Mark Lin
January 4, 2014 19:16I (suggest ) sorry wrong spelling
Auw Jimmy
January 5, 2014 21:57Hi Mark,
Thanks for your advise!