High-quality capacitors needed for valve amp PSU

[DSJR]

All that copper porn is too much for my ticker..

I know you'll have some fun running it back in Marco.

[Marco]

Cheers, matey - it'll be going in later

Never mind the copper porn, what about the Soul Monoblock porn behind!

Marco.

[Mark Grant]

Just to update this thread, folks... Anthony has just finished re-capping the PSU in my Copper amp. High-quality F&T (German made) electrolytics were used, bypassed with Clarity Cap MR polys:

The wiring looks fantastic, all nice and straight and neat and tidy and routed for techical reasons.
Its nice to see inside things

[Marco]

Cheers, Mark!

Guys, just an update on how the amp sounds since the power supply caps were changed..... After a period of burn-in, where initially the change had introduced an element of 'hardness' in the sound, the amp now sounds simply stunning!! The Clarity Cap MRs are definitely not for those seeking to create a 'sweet' or euphonic sound, but rather for people who value achieving a high level of accuracy and a genuine 'open window' onto all recordings.

The 30+ year-old Plessey electrolytic caps that were in the amp before were obviously well past their sell by date, and had introduced a slight 'mushy' quality in the sonic presentation of the Copper amp. Consequently, after having fitted the new F&T electrolytic and Clarity Cap MR polys, the copper amp has become a real 'animal', with seemingly endless reserves of headroom and power (through my Tannoy Lockwoods). And the bass, whilst not exactly lacking before (!) has gained more weight and extension, but with it, more control, grip and drive, resulting in foundation-threatening low frequencies, delivered with unflappable and consummate ease!

Honestly, with the right material, this amp sounds utterly frightening now... It may 'only' be 50W Class A, but it sounds as powerful and 'massive' as ANY 'powerhouse' solid-state amp I've heard, and in conjunction with my 95db efficient Tannoys, creates a palpable facsimile of 'live' music in my smallish (but perfectly formed) room.

However, not only have the cap upgrades massively improved the 'physical' presentation of the amp's musical delivery, but when delicacy and subtlety are called for, such as when teasing out inflections and wringing every ounce of emotion from the most sensual and angst-ridden of female vocals, the Copper amp presents them as shockingly vivid, for critical inspection, and with such a wide-open and crystalline clarity that the listening experience transcends that of a mere recording, and enters the domain of an almost live, 'living and breathing' musical event.

Consequently, I would recommend the combination of F&T electrolytic and Clarity Cap MR polypropylene capacitors to all DIY audio enthusiasts seeking to achieve superb results in power supply applications with all quality valve equipment!

Marco.