Posted on Wednesday, 12th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

I ordered Duelund CAST Cu capacitor few months ago. I already have Duelund CAST Ag (Silver) on my Aikido Preamp. But I wanted Duelund CAST for my future amp (probably it’s gonna be another abandoned project?). As the CAST Ag price is very not reasonable (around US$2500 or more for a pair of 1 uF/630 VDC), then I think the CAST Cu is the best option (around US$ 1200 a pair). I also ordered my Alexander by Duelund capacitor (less than US$ 200 a pair of 0.47 uF/900 VDC), just to ‘finalized’ my passion on it (how bad it could be?).

After around 3 months or so production, finally the goods arrived on my home yesterday. When I opened it, I got a surprise. Duelund changed their chassis design for the CAST capacitor. See below.

I think the design is more likely a ‘small car battery’. Quite nice, since the new design is smaller and it’s ‘boxy’ design could fit on most PCB easily, compared with the old ‘moon cake’ chassis design.

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Tags: Capacitor, CAST Ag, CAST Cu, Duelund
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (5)

Posted on Saturday, 3rd April 2010 by Auw Jimmy

Now it’s time to try the Duelund CAST Ag (CAST Silver) on my Aikido Preamp. You might be interested to read the installation process.

Short words, here is the final installation photo. For the break-in purpose, I don’t use expensive configuration. Usually the main source is my old iPod Photo, connected with old hi-fi amplifier, then my DIY speaker. Few hours break-in session should be enough for initial impression. Although serious listening evaluation must be done at least after 100 hours of break-in period.

Some brief information of my Aikido Preamp, if you are not yet familiar with it:

• DIY Main Transformer, Z11 core/38 size with Germany/Australia copper wire (330V-CT-330V/100mA, 0-4-5V /5A, 3.2V-CT-3.2V/5A, 0-90V/50mA)
• Russian 5U4, 5U4G-B, or RGN 1054 Rectifier (available via Octal->B4 DIY converter)
• Choke Input with 3 Chokes total, no Resistor in Power Supply line, except Bleeder Resistor (TKD)
• Jensen 4-pole, ASC, and VCap TFTF Capacitor in Power Supply
• 6N1P and 6N6P tubes
• Russian K40 as filament AC Bypass Capacitor
• DACT 100K Stepped Attenuator
• Jensen Copper Foil Aluminium Tube as High Voltage Bypass Capacitor (inside PCB)
• Kiwame, Riken, Shinkoh, and Vishay S102 Resistor in critical position and Vishay L6C on “not really important” position
• Duelund CAST Ag (CAST Silver) as coupling capacitor

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Tags: Aikido, CAST Ag, duuelund, preamp
Posted in DIY Audio | Comments (14)