Yes, you might call me crazy! A Teflon VCap TFTF on Power Supply section?
If I need to make myself clear, this 0.47uF/600VDC VCap TFTF Teflon capacitor will cost you around US$ 150 each (depends on quantity). So we will spend near US$ 300 only for two VCap TFTF here!!!
And eventually, you will ask why do I put those caps there? 😉 Actually this is an “accident”. I bought those VCap few months ago, but it just didn’t match right with my current system (it prefers Duelund CAST PIO) – check the article here, here, and here. So what should I do with them? 😉
I put one pair of VCap TFTF Capacitors 0.47uF/600VDC to replace the previous pair of Obbligato Oil Capacitors 6.8uF/630VDC and a bypass capacitor, Obbligato Copper 0.047uF/630VDC.
How’s the result? 😉
I was stunned to hear the first tone after I put VCap TFTF on the Power Supply section. From Eriko Ishihara to Salena Jones, from Ingram Washington to Livingston Taylor, from Chen Lily to Cai Qin. All I want to do is to listen all my songs, which I already familiar with.
The first impression is the vocal is very focused on the center, a little bit laid back, with excellent layering. The staging also become very wide, with very good music separation.
The next impression is the neutrality. The vocal of Ingram Washington and Livingston Taylor becomes so natural, not too heavy, not too light. The instruments like piano also got more “tones” here. And I don’t notice any reduction in low frequency, although I change from 13.6uF (2×6.8uF Obbligato Oil Capacitors) to 0.94uF (2×0.47uF VCap TFTF).
I continue the test with Autumn Leaves from Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio. The first tone with the piano definitely impress me! The detail of the bass instrument also improve a lot. The I can feel the speed and how “dynamic” (read: the musician’s “spirit”) when playing another glorious track, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”.
If on my previous mod here with 3.3uF/1200VDC MCap Supreme, I got impression on the high frequency tones, but less weight or neutrality in vocal and low frequency tones, but now with VCap TFTF, I could get them all. I just can’t wait to listen all of my previous-already familiar collections. I will compare later with cheap Russian Teflon like FT3. But for now, just give me time to enjoy the night with some tracks 😉
Finally, I know where to “throw” those VCap TFTF… to the Power Supply section.
SS
September 8, 2009 11:17So your power supply cap now is 40uf-choke-0.94uf-plate resistor??
Jimmy Auw
September 8, 2009 11:28I have another M-Lytic 560uF inside (3 Chokes 3 Capacitors)…
I use Choke Input, not Capacitor Input. No resistor on the Power Supply.
Thanks.
SS
September 11, 2009 08:41how you arrange the sequence? 560uf-40uf-0.94uf?
Jimmy Auw
September 11, 2009 09:13No, 0.94uF at first Caps, after the Rectifier and Choke.
Thanks.
daz_bike
September 22, 2009 02:39Hi Jimmy,
Had a chance to compare FT-3 to Vcap in the power supply section?
Curious to have your findings. Thanks.
Jimmy Auw
September 24, 2009 00:47Yes, but not yet broken-in.
FT-3 also gives significant in terms of staging improvement. But don’t know how good compared to VCap. I’m too lazy to break-in those FT-3. Will try it later 😉
Thanks.
daz_bike
September 24, 2009 14:05Thanks. I Enjoy your junkyard!
Jan Soldan
May 5, 2011 09:13Hi Jimmy,
do you have some new experiences about use VT-3 vs. V-Cap TFTF as the first filtration capacitor? I consider use 3.3uF Mundorf O/S or 15x 0.22uF FT-3 or 3.3uF V-Cap, but the last one is too expensive. And what about parallel combination PIO like Mundorf + FT-3? Thanks for your recommendation.
Auw Jimmy
May 5, 2011 18:24Hi Jan,
VCap definitely better than FT-3. Never compare with Mundorf.
Thanks.
Jan Soldan
May 6, 2011 19:57Hi Jimmy,
Thanks for your recommendation. I checked price of 3.3 uF VCap and because my new project has 6 independent PSU, it need astronomical budget. So I must wake up. If you can choose good PIO or FT-3 (15pcs parallel) what will by your preference? Must be the best to try and compare in concrete equipment, but buy so many capacitors is not cheap game. So I would like to know your opinion. Thanks. Sincerely Jan
Auw Jimmy
May 7, 2011 20:38Hi,
FT-3 is good, but don’t expect them to close the VCap.
Thanks.
Valdas
September 4, 2015 14:27FT-3 + mundorf silver oil/ gold oil is good combination.
FT-3 adds tight detailed bass and adds some extra details to vocals also little bit softers mundorf hights.
FT-3 + duelund copper also gives great result, more natural than mundorf, but if you listen vocals a lot stay with mundorf and save money
Auw Jimmy
September 6, 2015 22:15Hi Valdas,
Thanks for sharing. But I dont really recommend bypassing. If due to some situation you are forced to bypass, then better make sure the bypass capacitor value should be at least 1/100 from the bypassed capacitor.
Thanks.