Going Linear with the Caiman

[HighFidelityGuy]

I've got a hexfred diode on order to replace the standard one used on the power input, so I'm going to wait until that arrives before I try my 10uF film cap. Hopefully it should be arriving this week so I'll be able to try both out soon. I've already replaced the resistor behind the 5V reg with a wire link and swapped the regs for Murata's, so I don't think there's much else I could upgrade on the power side of things inside the Caiman.

I had been thinking of putting a snubber across the 20,000uF cap, but I think I'll have a go at removing the 10,000uF in the Caiman first and then also try a small polyprop in there and see what difference there is with and without input cap.

Hi Rich,

My linear supply is very similar to yours. I'm using a SupeTeddy, HexFred rectifier and 22,000uF low ESR smoothing cap. So I'm interested in this snubber cap that you mentioned. What improvement should this make to the supply and what rating and type of cap should be used?

Thanks.

[lovejoy]

So under normal conditions a 10uF film or tant cap will be best.

this week.

I've tried both and found the tant to be a lot more neutral sounding. I found the film cap tended to brighten the balance a bit too much to my ears. That may be different if you're using a SuperTeddyReg of course - I must try one of these some time.

My linear supply is very similar to yours. I'm using a SupeTeddy, HexFred rectifier and 22,000uF low ESR smoothing cap. So I'm interested in this snubber cap that you mentioned. What improvement should this make to the supply and what rating and type of cap should be used?

This idea came from my tweakings to my Marantz CD65 where I changed all of the PSU caps for large value Panasonic FM caps which improved things overall but dulled the treble and killed timing a bit, so I added 100nF X7R caps across them all - Result, timing was incredible and gave sweet, clean and non-digital sounding treble.

[HighFidelityGuy]

I've tried both and found the tant to be a lot more neutral sounding. I found the film cap tended to brighten the balance a bit too much to my ears. That may be different if you're using a SuperTeddyReg of course - I must try one of these some time.



This idea came from my tweakings to my Marantz CD65 where I changed all of the PSU caps for large value Panasonic FM caps which improved things overall but dulled the treble and killed timing a bit, so I added 100nF X7R caps across them all - Result, timing was incredible and gave sweet, clean and non-digital sounding treble.

Thanks.
Would THIS be a suitable tant cap?

Thanks for the info on the snubber cap. I don't think I'm suffering from those issues but I guess it's worth a try. I might look into this at a later date. Let us know if you try it.

Cheers.

[lovejoy]

I tried one of those out of a mixed bag of caps I got from Maplins and really never got on well with them, everything seemed rather muddy sounding in comparison to the standard tants I use:

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/s...duct&R=5381938

Hopefully I'll have some free time to try the snubber this evening. I shall report back.

[OLED]

I've just noticed the WIMA I was going to use is 22uF 16V, cutting it too fine as I set my SuperTeddy to 16V output. I shall have to buy something suitable so I'm scouting around and will resume in a few days' time.

I was thinking of a Mundorf MKP (15uF 250V) http://www.diyhi-fi.co.uk/mundorf_mkp.shtml, it should fit in. Also, how are you planning to mount the Claritycaps? the 47uF are BIG or are you planning to run at a low frequency cut off at say 10 to 20 Hz and go for a smaller cap?

Cheers Andy

[MartinT]

Oh no, they're 1uF in value so should give a low frequency cut-off of <2Hz with 100k input impedance. My speakers go deep, but not that deep :-)

[OLED]

Ah ha, I see your not quite into that gut wrenching C below bottom G regime, unlike Durham Cathedral Organ! In that case there is a lot of choice for good quality thin films.

[MartinT]

Oh they can reproduce the shake of a 64' 16Hz pedal no worries. I sold my REL Studio II subwoofer because I didn't need it any more!

[Puffin]

I removed the PS caps on my 7510 when I went linear with it and it made a remarkable improvement to the sound I was getting from it. Funnily enough I was thinking of doing the same with the Caiman now that I've settled happily on a linear supply with the passive output mod, so you've just spurred me into removing it this week.

Cheers

Lovejoy. Did you place any jumpers where the caps had been?

[Gazjam]

Guys, ready to go to a linear supply with my Caiman after hearing the difference one can make over at Ali Taits with his 7510.

Once the dust has settled on which supply, caps or other stuff needed to get the best pub of a linear....any chance of some diagrams or photos for us non soldery types??

Ta.