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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Posted on Tuesday, 23rd March 2010 by Auw Jimmy

After some crazy on the middle of the night decision, finally I decided to purchase the Duelund CAST Silver (CAST Ag) Capacitor. My friend bought my CAST Copper (CAST Cu), so this leaded me into a final crazy decision, to buy the CAST Silver.

The 1 uF and 630 VDC version of Duelund CAST Silver will cost you around US$ 900 each or around US$ 1800 pair. The 0.47 uF and 630 VDC version will cost about 5-7.5% difference, maybe different between retailers.

And don’t forget you have to wait around 2 months, not included shipping time, to get this at home – even if you have the money.

I was surprised to see that the outside appearance of this damned expensive CAST Silver was completely the same with my old CAST Copper. C’mon I spent over 2 times for this caps but with same appearance? Did you buy AMG with standard appearance? At least I expected extra muffler, some body kits, new xenon head lamps, and some shinny grille.

The only different was, on the backside. You could side the sticker wrote 99.999% SILVER

I must wait several days or weeks, before I can judge this capacitor. But I do really anxious to hear how does it sound!!!

Tags: Capacitor, Duelund
Posted in Collectible Stuff | Comments (8)

Posted on Saturday, 2nd January 2010 by Auw Jimmy

A pair of Duelund CAST is enough to rob your wallet. How about two pairs? Well, sometime money is not an object – when you are pursuing the ultimate sound. No sky is high enough

I welcome, two pairs of Duelund CAST Capacitor installed on 6J5-RE604-RS241 Amplifier. The installation process was done just before end of last year (31th December 2009, night!). And well, I saw many fireworks when driving home (around 00:15). Happy New Year first!

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Tags: Amplifier, CAST, Duelund, RS241, tube
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Posted on Monday, 21st December 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Not really published on the market (at least not well spotted around big online webstore), but I manage to get a pair of it.

This is the CAST version of the Duelund Resistor. Well, for the Capacitor, the CAST definitely better (less ringing, so quiet, dynamic). How about this Resistor? Not sure though, plan to test it somewhere. Picture below is the 5W version.

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Tags: CAST, Duelund, resistor
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Posted on Wednesday, 23rd September 2009 by Auw Jimmy

If before I picked Obbligato as last Power Supply (High Voltage) bypass capacitor, now I’m experimenting with Jensen Pure Copper Foil Paper Tube in this position.

The result? Well, not as significant as VCap on the first capacitor (after first Choke), but compared to Obbligato, I feel “oh so natural” sound with this Jensen. Now the Jensen is side by side with the Duelund

Tags: Duelund, jensen, power supply
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Posted on Sunday, 30th August 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Still curious about the different between Jensen Copper Foil Paper Tube and Duelund CAST PIO, I held another session to benchmark both capacitors. You can read previous articles here and here.

This time I visit another friend. His systems as shown below. Briefly speaking, we can see a Fostex full range speaker with extra Visaton Super Tweeter. The source are Cayin CDT-17A (fully modified on its analog stage and additional reclock module) and a turntable (VPI Scout with Super Platter and Van den Hul Grasshopper IV GLA cartridge). The preamp is Tube #26 with RGN Rectifier. The power amplifier is RS241-12E1-6J5 with RGN Rectifier also.

We compare the Jensen Copper Foil Paper Tube and Duelund CAST PIO on the position between 12E1 and RS241.

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Tags: Duelund, jensen
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Posted on Sunday, 23rd August 2009 by Auw Jimmy

Never ending tweaks and mods? Yes I think so. Actually, my Aikido Pre-Amp already sounds good. But as a DIY, I think the journey never ends. Tomorrow always comes with another mods. After completing the PSU mods with Mundorf MCap Supreme 3.3 uF/800VDC and ASC X386S 40 uF/440 VAC here, I decide to go further with some other components.

First, I still hear small hum. This is mainly caused by the Filament/Heater Center Tap of my DIY transformer is not exactly on the center. So the 1/4 B+ isn’t injected on the correct Center Tap position. The only solution is to create a Virtual Center Tap with a pair of 100 Ohm resistor. I use 100 Ohm 5W Kiwame. Some people may say that you can use any cheap resistor for this purpose, but I always choose the best price/performance. At US$ 2 each, Kiwame fits this job perfectly. Make sure you use an accurate resistor (metal film should fit best, carbon film also ok).

I fire up my Aikido and ta-da… no more hum, even when my ear next to the speaker! But I need to confirm later with high-gain amplifier. With a normal/standard gain amplifier, the hum is usually less noticeable.

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Tags: Aikido, DIY Audio, Duelund, Kiwame, mundorf, preamp
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