Posted on Tuesday, 23rd April 2013 by Auw Jimmy

It seems that one of my article here has inspired a guy from Warsaw, Poland, named Marcin. But instead of comparing those capacitors, Marcin deciced to change the capacitor based on his music and his taste. According to him, he enjoyed listening different caps with different kind of music. I completely agree that even the best Duelund Cast sometime not sweet enough (if you are really a fans of super sweet vocal) compared to – let’s say – Jensen Paper Tube.

So below photos are completely Marcin’s system and his works. I start to think that his work is completely better than mine, especially the Elma selector wood stand. Mine was done with a plastic CD cover

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Tags: Capacitor, Duelund, jensen, Reader's System, Sun Audio
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Posted on Tuesday, 24th January 2012 by Auw Jimmy

It’s been a while since my last capacitor comparison review was done. Not much changes actually (not much new ‘interesting’ products also I think). But I was quite tempted to try the Alexander series from Duelund. The reason was simple, it’s quite affordable but having Duelund popularity on it. We’ll see if it’s worth to try.

As usual, I put one of my favorite ‘affordable’ reference capacitor, the Jensen Paper Tube and the ‘premium’ reference capacitor, the Duelund CAST Cu. I kept my ‘ultimate’ reference capacitor, the Duelund CAST Ag, as this was a different beast.

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Tags: Alexander, CAST Cu, Duelund, ELMA, jensen, mundorf
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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 (10)

Posted on Tuesday, 11th October 2011 by Auw Jimmy

It’s interesting to hear how does this low end capacitor would sound. So I eventually try to obtain it. I just can’t stop my passion in this. Sigh…

Priced at very low value (just a little bit more expensive than Audio Note Mylar version), this Alexander capacitor from Duelund got ‘unique’ 900VDC rating. Based on its specification and capacitance availability, I’m quite sure this is more for electronic circuit instead of crossover.

Interesting to hear how does it sound. I also order the new version of Duelund CAST Cu capacitor. Although they are at different level, but at how much? That would be remained as question, until I try it.

All I need is some more time…

Tags: Alexander, Capacitor, Duelund
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (9)

Posted on Friday, 15th July 2011 by Auw Jimmy

The upgrade not yet ended. I still have something to finalize my Aikido PreAmp. I go to upgrade some section in order to make it firms before fitting it on the new chassis.

Here we go. First, we will install the affordable grade IEC from Furutech, the Rhodium plated FI-03. Fuse holder integrated there (oh well, which fuse shall I use?). That’s gonna be another question.

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Tags: Aikido, Cable, Cardas, Duelund, Furutech, Kimber, resistor, Vishay
Posted in Collectible Stuff, DIY Audio | Comments (12)

Posted on Friday, 10th September 2010 by Auw Jimmy

On our last local DIY Audio gathering, we were provided with a free complimentary set of a new tweaking stuff. It was called Musicsnap.

On my imagination, this kind of tweaking stuff is similar with VTS Marigo Dot or something. Not so sure though, until we can have a further check.

According to the person distributes this free complimentary sample, the Musicsnap is based on the MDI (Micro Discharge Interface) distortion theory by Pierre Johannet. Although this theory receives many debates and controversies (due to most people current limited knowledge to prove it scientifically), many audio manufacturer actually already implement similar approach with MDI. Perhaps they don’t speak MDI directly, because most of the time, people would call you retarded if you are talking about something which you can’t scientifically prove (or only based on common audiophile geeks amazing word, “Oh, I hear the different!”).

But what they have done (and maybe after serious long listening test), proves that this kind of MDI approaches does make some different and significant improvement to the audio system. We leave the question “why and how” to the people who is interested (you can easily find those article – mostly in French – with “MDI” and “Pierre Johannet” keywords).

The manufacturer says that this Musicsnap best used on non-soldering join, like RCA connection, front face of speaker driver, volume control, etc. But it’s time for me (and most of the visitor of the gathering who received the sample) to check if there is really a significant improvement elsewhere.

Musicsnap has two sides: black side and the white side which has sticky tape on it.

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Tags: DACT, Duelund, Musicsnap, tweak, Vifa
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Posted on Monday, 2nd August 2010 by Auw Jimmy

After completing the construction of my Duelund Interconnect 2.0 Rev2 here, I decided to do some short comparison. My friend has Duelund Interconnect 1.0 Rev1. I think this gonna be a nice comparison!

Direct to the stage, we have some equipment on hand, like floorstander 3-way speakers, CEC CD Player, Marantz CD4000 fully modified with tube output stage, Hybrid F4 power amplifier, Aikido 6N1P-6N6P powered with Duelund CAST Ag/RGN1054 Mesh Rectifier, and also #26 Pre-Amp powered with Jensen Paper Tube and AZ1 Mesh Rectifier.

Without any further ado, let’s go to review those cables.

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Tags: 26, Aikido, cables, Duelund, preamp
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Posted on Thursday, 22nd July 2010 by Auw Jimmy

I don’t like expensive cable. My most expensive one was Kimber, the lower one was Synergistic Research. But I was stunned when listened my friend’s Duelund interconnect 0.5 and 2.0. Now, Duelund launches their new interconnect, the 2.0 Rev 2. This Rev 2 means the improvement over the original 2.0. They said, this one has more silver and better (silk) insulation. Ok, I have put half of my feet on the water, there’s no way back, let’s go deeper (that means, go deep inside your pocket to get this one).

The main ingredients of this cable is Silver (oil impregnated) with Silk insulation.

If we are talking Duelund CAST Silver as the most expensive capacitor, their cable is not even close to the most expensive one (like Pear Cable, Kubala Sosna, or Nordost Valhalla). But still, spending over US$ 40 per foot/single cable has never been an easy job.

The appearance more likely like a silver tape with my old socks! Well, it’s a silk though!

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Tags: Cardas, Duelund, Interconnect
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Posted on Wednesday, 21st July 2010 by Auw Jimmy

I love the Duelund CAST Resistor sound on my speaker crossover. Despite its cost, it’s better than some of my previous favorites, like Sfernice or Mills (YMMV). But since they are designed for crossover application, so they don’t have such high value. I manage to get special order one, custom value at 299R.

Definitely, 299R is not a common value at crossover application. Not even close.

One measured at 303.6R while the other measured at 305.6R. At 0.6-1.6% accuracy, I think it should be fine.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

I plan to put this cute black resistor on Grid application, on my tube preamp. Which preamp, we will see later

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Tags: Duelund, Duelund Cast Capacitor, Duelund Cast Resistor
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Posted on Sunday, 16th May 2010 by Auw Jimmy

I plan to compare some capacitors from Jensen and one from Audio Note. The two from Jensen are Jensen Copper Foil Paper-in-Oil (Paper Tube) and Jensen Copper Foil Paper-in-Oil (Copper Tube). From Audio Note, I have Copper Foil Mylar-in-Oil (I believe this is Copper Tube also). We gonna have a serious battle later since those 3 caps are using different “recipe”. Both Jensen are Paper in Oil type, but with different enclosure. While the Audio Note has similarity with one of the Jensen with Copper Tube, but with Mylar instead of Paper. Audio Note claims the Mylar will provide better combination between sonic reproduction and the reliability.

Shall we prove the result? Later… We must wait after the burn-in session, probably in 100+ hours.

For the burn-in session, I sealed the Copper Tube caps with plastic. This is to prevent the oxidation of the copper tube (both Audio Note and Jensen Copper Tube oxides very fast in my environment due to high humidity, thanks to the purity of the material used also). I should prepare a transparent heatshrink for a good looking appearance, but no time to find one now. Perhaps you will ask why there are 2 pair of Jensen Paper Tube? One is my friend’s, to join the burn-in session before used on his system.

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Tags: Aikido, audio note, Capacitor, Duelund, jensen, preamp, tube
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Posted on Wednesday, 14th April 2010 by Auw Jimmy

Straight to the point. Just backed home tonight from a crazy traffic, then it was a great moment to payback! Let’s solder the new Duelund CAST Resistor. You can see brief information about Duelund CAST Resistor here and  my DIY speaker here.

I decided to switch back to Auricap few months ago (from a set of Siemens NOS capacitors). I eventually realized that using too many capacitors in parallel may reduce some factor, like imaging and separation. The tonal should be similar, but some other factors mentioned before might be altered or reduced.

Okay then, let’s change the old Sfernice RLP10NI to Duelund CAST Resistor.

After around 15 minutes soldering, I completely finished the modification.

My first initial impression. The music was more solid, good depth and separation, but never got it too harsh. I also felt that it was even more relax in terms of musical pronounciation. If I felt that the Sfernice still has some “stiff” characteristic, then the CAST resistor absolutely very relax, even just powered on for few hours. To be honest, the role of this resistor is very important since the location is on the front of the signal path.

I will provide more experience after several hours. We sill have some Norah Jones, some Chen Lily, some Ingram Washington, some John Campbell, or also some Tsuyoshi Yamamoto.

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Tags: auricap, CAST, DIY Speaker, Duelund, resistor
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Posted on Sunday, 28th March 2010 by Auw Jimmy

Few months ago, my Aikido transformer was burned due to my stupidity plugging in 100R bleeder resistor, instead of 100K one. Well, I have ordered another replacement few months ago, but just now I have time (and motivation) to install it. This one is an ultimate transformer I believe, with Z11 iron and Germany/Australia wire. I have big concern on power supply, since it’s the food for your audio system. So I expect good and healthy food, I mean, power supply for my audio equipment.

Due to different leads arrangement with my old transformer, I must do some extra job adding some extra wiring. Here is the result.

Not a bad 45 minutes of work, huh?

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Tags: Aikido, Duelund, preamp
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