Has anyone bypassed metalized film output caps with PIO in their Crack?

[Downhome Upstate]

Just finished assembling my Crack this morning. Had my first long listening session with Beyer DT880/600's and Senn HD600's. No surprises there - two very different presentations and both great combinations.

I used Dayton 100 uf mkp output caps in the build. As I was rifling through a parts cabinet, I came across a pair of Sprague Vitamin Q 1 uf caps. Hmmm. What do you think about those for bypasses?

[STURMJ]

Only one way to find out!!
Try test leads first, that way you can try them w/o taking anything apart.

[Paul Birkeland]

The first Crack that I was commissioned (ca. 2003) to build had 0.1uF film and foil bypass caps on the metalized poly caps at the output.

I do not recall anything earth shattering about doing this, but the customer thought it was pretty cool!

-PB

[Downhome Upstate]

The first Crack that I was commissioned (ca. 2003) to build had 0.1uF film and foil bypass caps on the metalized poly caps at the output.

I do not recall anything earth shattering about doing this, but the customer thought it was pretty cool!

-PB

Damn fine design and implementation, Paul. Thank you!

[earwaxxer]

yep - try it --- Thats the only way to know...

[Grainger49]

Mike,

They are saying, you have the caps, if you don't have jumpers go to Radio Shack and buy some and try it.

Nothing will convince you till you hear it.

[Downhome Upstate]

Yup. Got it.

[Downhome Upstate]

I may be hallucinating, but I believe I hear fuller and richer tone to Charlie Haden's bass and Keith Jarrett's piano on the CD of "Jasmine" with the Vitamin Q caps jumpered-in.

[earwaxxer]

That seems about right... I would expect that sort of sound from that cap.

[Downhome Upstate]

Next up - Siemens MKV 4.7 uf metalized poly in oil . . .

[Downhome Upstate]

Nah, forget that. With the DT880/600, this is just perfect.

[earwaxxer]

Yep,... Expensive caps are such for a reason... I have not found a "giant killer" out there that sounds as good as the boutique stuff. Thats my opinion. I have yet to spend the major big bucks, only because I'm too GD "practical". Although, I will say, Granger has surprised me, and inspired me to go the distance! If a hard core analytic like that can be swayed, maybe I will be too!

[Downhome Upstate]

Eric,

FWIW, I meant that this amp--before a Speedball upgrade--sounds amazing to me thru the DT880/600s with only modest and inexpensive cap upgrades: the Dayton Audio 100 uf metalized polypropylene (cheap from Parts Express) and NOS Sprague Vitamin Q 1 uf PIO as bypass (available on ebay for not a lot of money). The tube damper on the 12AU7 helped, too.

It's so toe-tappin', head bobbin' good that I'm in no hurry to mess with anything else.

[Grainger49]

   .  .  .    I hear fuller and richer tone    .   .   .   .   

I often see PIO caps called "Tone" caps.  It is a smoother richer sound to me.

[earwaxxer]

It's so toe-tappin', head bobbin' good that I'm in no hurry to mess with anything else.

I love that experience! Total peace. Bliss. All is good. I'm digin it!