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Best caps for updating my VTL 225 mono's ?

My VTL's have the original VTL input caps; they sound nice, but they are almost 20yrs old. A friend suggested replacing the input caps as the best way to improve their sound. VTL offers the MIT cap upgrade; my friend suggests Sonicaps Platinum. The job will require 16 X 0.47 mF 400V caps, and the Sonicaps Platinum will be too expensive. I appreciate any suggestions...Dynamicaps, MIT RSX, Sonicaps GEN I/II, Mundorf? I favor a smooth, rich, "organic", sound over a harsh, clinical sound. Also, how about suggestions for sourcing the replacement caps? Thanks so much!
lstnup
trelja
3,215 posts
 
Rodman99999, "Jensen copper foils are inexpensive."

God bless you. I wish a lot of us could also say those prices are inexpensive.
face
516 posts
 
Auricaps are ok if you're on a budget. I haven't heard anything bad about MIT caps either.
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
Hello Mr T- Considering the prices of the better caps out there like: V-Cap, Mundorf, Deulund, the Audio Note or Jensen silver foils, and auraTEFLON; (RELATIVELY speaking) they are inexpensive. I'm just assuming the post originator values his music, but doesn't want to break the bank. Personally- I'm going with the V-Cap CuTF, but then- I don't need 16 of them.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
For very little money you can have your choice of Russian surplus K40Y paper-in-oil caps or Russian surplus FT-3 Teflon caps from overseas sellers on e-bay or if you prefer Jim McShane in the US. Great caps!
jallen
502 posts
 
For coupling caps the v-caps are hard to beat. If you want the best sound, get the Copper V-caps, they are so organic. They do transform the sound of a system. The improvement is not subtle. I hear greater improvements with caps than power cords, interconnects or bolt on upgrades. They are all important, but this one is big. . Look at the review in the Great Capacitor shootout, and in the Chinese hifi journal on the V-cap website. The downside is size, they are big, and expensive. In that quantity, you can get a better deal. If you don't want V-caps, the REL RT polystyrene are great and the Theta RT are also very good. They are not V-caps, but closer than some of the others listed. I would avoid oils as most of the people I know who used them in coupling positions got to clean an oil slick out of their amp....no thanks,....many oil caps don't like heat. They are fabulous in speakers as a Xover cap though. Mundorf Silver/Oil are legendary.
If you got the money, get the V-caps if they fit. Otherwise, the Thetas are great (Parts Express) or the REL RT's, a very sweet cap. The Dynamicap is also a good choice. If you can, get 600V if they fit.
Best of luck, and use Cardas silver/lead solder. I am green, but lead is so much easier to work with.......
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