Posted on Sunday, 6th September 2009 by Jimmy Auw
Yes, you might call me crazy! A Teflon VCap TFTF on Power Supply section?
If I need to make myself clear, this 0.47uF/600VDC VCap TFTF Teflon capacitor will cost you around US$ 150 each (depends on quantity). So we will spend near US$ 300 only for two VCap TFTF here!!!
And eventually, you will ask why do I put those caps there?
Actually this is an “accident”. I bought those VCap few months ago, but it just didn’t match right with my current system (it prefers Duelund CAST PIO) – check the article here, here, and here. So what should I do with them?

I put one pair of VCap TFTF Capacitors 0.47uF/600VDC to replace the previous pair of Obbligato Oil Capacitors 6.8uF/630VDC and a bypass capacitor, Obbligato Copper 0.047uF/630VDC.

How’s the result?
I was stunned to hear the first tone after I put VCap TFTF on the Power Supply section. From Eriko Ishihara to Salena Jones, from Ingram Washington to Livingston Taylor, from Chen Lily to Cai Qin. All I want to do is to listen all my songs, which I already familiar with.
The first impression is the vocal is very focused on the center, a little bit laid back, with excellent layering. The staging also become very wide, with very good music separation.
The next impression is the neutrality. The vocal of Ingram Washington and Livingston Taylor becomes so natural, not too heavy, not too light. The instruments like piano also got more “tones” here. And I don’t notice any reduction in low frequency, although I change from 13.6uF (2×6.8uF Obbligato Oil Capacitors) to 0.94uF (2×0.47uF VCap TFTF).
I continue the test with Autumn Leaves from Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio. The first tone with the piano definitely impress me! The detail of the bass instrument also improve a lot. The I can feel the speed and how “dynamic” (read: the musician’s “spirit”) when playing another glorious track, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”.
If on my previous mod here with 3.3uF/1200VDC MCap Supreme, I got impression on the high frequency tones, but less weight or neutrality in vocal and low frequency tones, but now with VCap TFTF, I could get them all. I just can’t wait to listen all of my previous-already familiar collections. I will compare later with cheap Russian Teflon like FT3. But for now, just give me time to enjoy the night with some tracks
Finally, I know where to “throw” those VCap TFTF… to the Power Supply section.
Tags: Aikido, power supply, preamp, VCap
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (9)

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September 8th, 2009 at 11:17
So your power supply cap now is 40uf-choke-0.94uf-plate resistor??
September 8th, 2009 at 11:28
I have another M-Lytic 560uF inside (3 Chokes 3 Capacitors)…
I use Choke Input, not Capacitor Input. No resistor on the Power Supply.
Thanks.
September 11th, 2009 at 08:41
how you arrange the sequence? 560uf-40uf-0.94uf?
September 11th, 2009 at 09:13
No, 0.94uF at first Caps, after the Rectifier and Choke.
Thanks.
September 22nd, 2009 at 02:39
Hi Jimmy,
Had a chance to compare FT-3 to Vcap in the power supply section?
Curious to have your findings. Thanks.
September 24th, 2009 at 00:47
Yes, but not yet broken-in.
FT-3 also gives significant in terms of staging improvement. But don’t know how good compared to VCap. I’m too lazy to break-in those FT-3. Will try it later
Thanks.
September 24th, 2009 at 14:05
Thanks. I Enjoy your junkyard!
October 6th, 2009 at 21:40
[...] do love the improvement after I finish the VCap TFTF Capacitor Mods on my Aikido Power Supply. The staging is awesome. I could “see” not only a center [...]
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:03
[...] capacitors (FT-3) and got significant improvement on the sound staging. He was poisoned by the VCap Power Supply trick as I did on my pre-amp, so he tried the cheap Teflon solution first, the Russian FT-3 before going [...]