Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => Smash => Topic started by: deere on September 18, 2014, 01:38:18 AM

Title: Silver
Post by: deere on September 18, 2014, 01:38:18 AM

Forgive a newbie, but will Smash sound better with silver inter wire and if where best to chance wire ? Wonder Cat 5 cable!! THX

Title: Re: Silver
Post by: Grainger49 on September 18, 2014, 02:01:07 AM

IMHO the improvement will be less than a different set of tubes caps.  And I admit that I have some silver wire in my Bottlehead products; but it will sound better. 

Here are some bookmarks, I haven't dealt with any of these:

http://www.homegrownaudio.com/categories/Solid-Core-Wire/

http://www.vt4c.com/shop/program/main.php?cat_id=4&group_id=3&hit_cat=

Title: Re: Silver
Post by: corndog71 on September 18, 2014, 03:49:58 AM

I've used Homegrown wire in all of my projects.  Very easy to work with.  Their copper wire is great too and a lot cheaper. 

It's not going to be a huge difference.  Changing the output caps (2.2uF) will bring a much more noticeable change in sound quality.   

Title: Re: Silver
Post by: deere on September 19, 2014, 05:46:36 AM

Thanks. Different set of tubes, what could it be??

Title: Re: Silver
Post by: Paul Birkeland on September 19, 2014, 05:51:57 AM

Quote from: deere on September 19, 2014, 05:46:36 AM

Thanks. Different set of tubes, what could it be??

Grainger is speaking in generalities.  4P1L's all seem to be identically constructed. 

Title: Re: Silver
Post by: Grainger49 on September 19, 2014, 08:02:20 AM

Crap!  I didn't see it was the Smash thread. 

Still, I would invest in different caps.  The wire is nice but quite subtle.

Title: Re: Silver
Post by: Frihed89 on October 01, 2014, 10:55:42 PM

Quote from: Grainger49 on September 19, 2014, 08:02:20 AM

Crap!  I didn't see it was the Smash thread. 

Still, I would invest in different caps.  The wire is nice but quite subtle.

What type, model?

Title: Re: Silver
Post by: Grainger49 on October 02, 2014, 12:06:50 AM

Often asked question but it has a varied answer.  It depends on what you enjoy the most. 

For instance I like soundstage and a smooth presentation.  I know how odd this sounds but any capacitor with oil in it sounds smooth.  At least to me they do.  One of my favorites is the Obbligato Black Polypropylene and Oil.  A good step up from them is Mundorf Silver/Oil.  There is also Silver/Gold/Oil for a bit more.

A perennial cheapskate favorite, like me, are the KK Teflons.  These are USSR military surplus Teflon caps.  Values are all under 1.0uF. 

You want to get the same value capacitor and the same or higher voltage rating.  If you stay with the same voltage rating you don't waste any money.