Mallory 150 Series VS. Sprague Orange Drop Caps?

[TUBEDUDE]

I must admit my hearing isn't as good as it once was. And I didn't hear great differences from the three. That aside I liked the 150's for the crunchy tones, and the polypropylene slightly more for the clean tone. But the polypropylene didn't sound as "full?" as I'm used to. I wonder if outer foil orientation was considered.
It's great that someone was so generous with their time and resources to do this. Thanx!

[Leo_Gnardo]

I built a 100w plexi with all Xicon polypropylene coupling caps and I really like the sound of that amp and so does it's owner.

Woops forgot to mention the Xicon polypros - yes another clear sounding and 100% reliable cap, and reasonably priced too. Another favorite .

[Structo]

As you can tell, audio equipment is entirely subjective.

There are a few black & white things people will agree with but since everybody sets their knobs different and play guitar differently, you can't generalize a lot of things.

Just like a guitar, amps are full of variables that can be difficult to quantify in blanket statements.

Guitar styles, component materials and tolerances, transformers, tubes, etc., all add up to the total sum of parts and tone.

Sometimes you get lucky out of the gate and other times you will pull your hair out of your head.

Best advice is to increase your knowledge about tube electronics and above all, have fun doing it.

[sliberty]

I use Mallory 150's in almost everything I build. They are a really good general purpose signal cap, and I have not yet built an amp that was harmed by the choice.

[Mant]

I have used all different types.
And it seems one is pehaps a little better with dostortion and another is a little better with clean.
None of them affected record sales....

[fusionbear]

What do you guys think about the Solen "fast caps"

They are propylene

[Colossal]

What do you guys think about the Solen "fast caps"

They are propylene

Very good. Just used a 1uF for a presence cap on a DLite build. Have also used them for cathode bypass (the 250V series) in high gain amps as well as here and there in the signal path. Clear and focused, no smear in the midrange like with a Sozo cap.

[Leo_Gnardo]

What do you guys think about the Solen "fast caps"

They are propylene

I've used Solen 22 uF 600V in power supplies. They don't slowly lose charge like electrolytics. Be warned! Function perfectly well, just take up a lot of space.

[Structo]

Are Solen's metalized as in self healing?

[renshen1957]

Are Solen's metalized as in self healing?

Hi,

Yes, self healing. As Leo wrote the larger values make great replacements for filter caps, and are bigger than Sprague Atoms for size. The Solen's should last the life of the amp.

The Solen caps lack the distortion found in electrolytic caps which some attribute to the classic sound of am amp. I believe one builder bypassed the Solens with Ceramic disc caps to recreate the tonal distortion of the E-caps in the power supply.

Best regards,

Steve

[gldtp99]

The amp I'm building now uses Xicon MPP's, Orange Drop 6PS and 715's, and a Mallory 150----and a Silver Mica for the Treble----- I also have Mojo Dijons and Sozo Standards on hand but I believe I have it covered as it stands.
I'll use different caps in different positions to get the most out of the differences in tone response------- or sometimes whatever cap, of the correct value and voltage rating, I happen to lay my hands on first----
A talented Jump Blues player tested this one out the other night and said it's the best sounding vintage tone he's ever played----- so my collection of cap brands is doing something right in this one..................gldtp99

[10thTx]

I think Mallory 150's are excellent in Marshall type builds.

Having said that, I tried them in a Dumblish inspired build and they sounded like I had a blanket over the speaker. The amp sounded dull to me. I removed them and replaced them with Orange Drops 6PS and it was remarkably clearer and much more articulate on that build. It was a rather dramatic difference.

I agree with the comment that some caps seem to sound best to some specific amp designs and topologies.

With respect, 10thtx

[renshen1957]

The amp I'm building now uses Xicon MPP's, Orange Drop 6PS and 715's..............gldtp99

Hi,

I prefer the Orange drop 716 to the 715, the leads are solid copper instead of steel clad,.and the cost difference isn't much.

I use PP caps only at the cap at the bottom of the Schmidt PI. Any smearing of tone in this cap affects the FB.

Best regards,

Steve

[TUBEDUDE]

Feedback...we don't need no stinking feedback!

[renshen1957]

Feedback...we don't need no stinking feedback!

Hi,

Raul's Wild electronics Kingdom, "Not many people know this, but the Turtle is nature's capacitors...For those of you just joining us, we are teaching Mesa Boogie amps how to fly. Are you psyched? Ah, man!"
(With apologies to Weird Al's UHF.)