Changing the Caps in a 1.1 DAC

Posted by astrostar59 (A) on October 21, 2012 at 11:47:28

Hi all
I built the AN kit DAC 1.1 four years ago, and fitted Blackgates and AN Paper in Oil Copper Caps to upgrade it.
I run the DAC in a Valve system comprising CEC Belt Drive CD Transport, AN DAC 1.1, Audionote factory M3 pre and Audionote Conqueror 300b Monoblocks into Zingali horn hybrids, plus REL sub. I also use Stax headphones SR-007 MK2 plus SRM-717 energiser.

I detail below my audio experience of the coupling cap upgrades in the DAC from Audio Note Copper Mylar in Oil (newer types) to V-Cap TFTF .22uf / 600v.
The caps sit as Coupling Capacitors on the output board.

Chris at VH Audio says they require approx 400 hours burn in, which is tantilising to us hi-fi buffs, so I listened throughout the period anyway, and here are my findings.

1. 1-4 hours: An immediate jump in detail, space, dynamics and volume (sound level)! Also gone is the background hiss of the old caps, which is both surprising and good news.

2. 20-30 hours: Sound improving with a bit more bass, but annoyingly some high frequency harshness, so a bit forward a bit back.

3. 30-60 hours: Sounding cleaner now in the treble, and the early space and width at 1-4 hours is back, or surpassed now. A bit of mid range compression. Really enjoying the music, and playing it louder which is a good sign.

4. 60-100 hours: It is odd, but the gap between average v well produced CD's (studio production and recording quality) is getting bigger. Ok ones are better than with the old caps, but well produced music is now miles ahead. The detail, dynamics and space is incredible, like an open door to the studio, as apposed to listening behind a screen. Treble still a bit forward, and some edge to it remains.

5. 100-300 hours. The sound has now started to settle down and is consistently smooth with no treble edge at all, clean and clear treble which is not forward or strained.
The mids are very realistic and have all the organic feel one would expect from a good tube set up. The bass is very strong, powerful and deep. It is also very tunefull and detailed. The DAC handles simple solo instrument passages as well as full orchestra or complex rock music, and details are retained regardless of complexity of the music. Enjoying hours of music, forgetting the gear and with no listening fatigue.

Summary: The V-Caps have lifted the veil of the original caps and allowed the full music signal to get through, realising the full potential of the DAC and the CD Transport feeding the signal.
I can see why many amplifier designers might use certain caps to 'restrain' a CD's digital source, or to create a warm glow over the sound. However, as long as the source (Transport and DAC) and of good quality, this is not ideal nor required. And as the source signals are very small (low levels) and being amplified down the line (power amp) it is most important to ensure they are clean, clear and dynamic and free from colour or distortions, or they won't have a fighting chance to get their full potential. In my case, I absolutlely recommend the V-Cap TFTF, and though they are not cheap, it is a superb upgrade and can be installed by anyone with basic soldering skills. The upgrade is much bigger jump than changing interconnects for example.

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Topic - Changing the Caps in a 1.1 DAC - astrostar59 11:47:28 10/21/12 (1)

RE: Changing the Caps in a 1.1 DAC - brett 11:34:46 11/13/12 (0)

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