It’s a weekend holiday and it’s time to scratch my laziness and doing some audio DIY mods. This time, I will try a capacitor from Jensen, the 4-Pole Electrolytic.

What makes it different from standard electrolytic? Well, it has 4 poles instead of 2 of standard electrolytic (that’s why they call it Jensen 4-Pole capacitor – I wonder why 4-Pole instead of 4-Poles?) But that’s simply out of our discussion here.

Again another question, why it has 4 Poles instead of 2? Keep reading.

The basic idea it to separate the input and output lines of the electrolytic. As you can see below, the 4 poles has their own function. It has 2 Input poles and 2 Output poles, each has their own positive and negative pole. So by using this capacitor, we will create virtual separation between input side and output side – as if we are having 2 capacitors connected in parallel.

Caveat: Due to this 4 poles design, you will need to change your circuit layout to adopt this Jensen 4-Pole Capacitor. This capacitor will replace my old Mundorf M-Lytic High Voltage 560uF/400VDC. This Mundorf is very good capacitor, but I think not on the par with this Jensen 4-Pole. So that’s why I decide to change it.

I also replace the Chokes. The old one is non-gapped Choke. This new one is gapped Choke. Bigger and heavier, also higher Henries.

The new layout of my Aikido Power Supply section. Now we have all “premium” capacitors on the power supply section: The VCap Teflon TFTF, ASC X386S Oil Capacitor, and Jensen 4-Pole Electrolytic. On this testing session, I still use 5U4C instead of my RGN.

Everything looks smooth. I turn on the High Voltage switch. My meter reads about 250VDC output (about 10VDC drop compared to my old non-gapped Chokes). Time to feed the music then…

The first time I hear the sound of Norah Jones, I already could hear the different. The Jensen 4-Pole sounds so natural. The vocal is so sweet and warm compared to my Mundorf M-Lytic (I feel the Mundorf sounds a little bit aggresive compared to this Jensen 4-Pole although if you never compare it, the Mundorf seems already good enough!)

The staging also improved and locked tight on the center for the main singer. Some track from Livingston Taylor and Ingram Washington also proves this to be true.

I also feel the background is darker while the staging is definitely wider. This things actually I already got from the VCap, but this Jensen adds its “ohh so natural” sound. I think I like this capacitor… Although I have to spent around US$50 or more for each 😉

Now it’s playing for its first 10 hours. Will do more examination after another 30-50 hours.