Am I the only one who hates all Orange Drop Caps?

[keithrick]

Every amp I put these 6PS, 715, 228 OD caps in I am underwhelmed by the way they sound.

I am considering ripping out the 6PS series in my Express to add Xicon MPP's.

BTW- In the Express I also had Mallory 150's in at one point with similiar results.

Anybody else have any insight or comments?

[Mickey_C]

I've always loved them in Fender based designs, and used to use them in my 18 watt amps as well.

IMO they're really great caps - quality wise, some of the best made.

Maybe there's some other reason your not liking the sound of the circuit?

Mickey

[David Root]

I've used orange drops in mods to two 67 BF Bassmen. They seem to sound OK in Fender circuits, but I've not used them since. The Mallory 150s I think are better than the standard orange drop, and are easier to use as they're smaller. Never used the 715s so I can't comment on those, but lots of folks think they are an improvement on the standard OD.

I have used SOZOs in a 14W SE Marshall w/one E34L which worked very well.

I tightened up an old ('75) SVT with 630V Solen aluminum PP caps, they are very good caps for the money IMHO.

In my latest build, I am using NOS hermetically sealed metal cased paper in oils, Vitamin Qs when I can get 'em, in the signal path, Solen aluminum PP caps in the tremelo circuit, M-150s in the reverb circuit and non-polar Black Gate N/Nx types as cathode bypass caps. It's a 6G16 circuit running 6G11-A plate voltages and sounds great thru a Tone Tubby Alnico 12 in a BFDR cabinet.

In the pF zone I used NOS Aerovox "domino" silver micas I got from Allyn Meyers, thanx Allyn they work great, and in past builds I have used NOS polystyrenes as well with success.

[TUBEDUDE]

The only oc's to use are the 716P's. they use copper leads instead of the inductive steel used in all the others.

[Tonegeek]

There is a thread somewhere on the Dumble forum about caps. You may want to read it as the opinions about caps may contradict some of what is posted here. Those guys do not endorse 715/716 OD but do recommended 6PS OD or Xicon MPP and cheap ceramics for the pF values. I used 6PS, and ceramics and my amp sounds great. Other than the Dumble cloners, I have never seen anyone recommend ceramics over Silver Mica, but it works for these amps. Just a matter of what sounds good to ya.

[Allynmey]

The TW's use Mallory PVC series OD's They sound much smoother than the spragues.

Allyn

[Bob-I]

There is a thread somewhere on the Dumble forum about caps. You may want to read it as the opinions about caps may contradict some of what is posted here. Those guys do not endorse 715/716 OD but do recommended 6PS OD or Xicon MPP and cheap ceramics for the pF values. I used 6PS, and ceramics and my amp sounds great.

That was my thread. I tested all of these cap types and that was my conclusion, PS6 and MPP were the smoothest sounding.

Other than the Dumble cloners, I have never seen anyone recommend ceramics over Silver Mica, but it works for these amps. Just a matter of what sounds good to ya.

Since I started using ceramics for Dumbles I tried the ceramics in other amps. They simply sound better. Silver mica's sound like there's a veil over the speakers, ceramics sound more open.

JMO... and I'm sticking to it!!

[drz400]

There is a thread somewhere on the Dumble forum about caps. You may want to read it as the opinions about caps may contradict some of what is posted here. Those guys do not endorse 715/716 OD but do recommended 6PS OD or Xicon MPP and cheap ceramics for the pF values. I used 6PS, and ceramics and my amp sounds great.

That was my thread. I tested all of these cap types and that was my conclusion, PS6 and MPP were the smoothest sounding.

Other than the Dumble cloners, I have never seen anyone recommend ceramics over Silver Mica, but it works for these amps. Just a matter of what sounds good to ya.

Since I started using ceramics for Dumbles I tried the ceramics in other amps. They simply sound better. Silver mica's sound like there's a veil over the speakers, ceramics sound more open.

JMO... and I'm sticking to it!!

How about MKS4 Polyester Film Wima
They seem popular even though not for hand wired amps
What is the difference between the Mallory 150 and PS6 ?
I have to agree with Silver Mica, I think I only like them in an amp that is too bright

[jelle]

I use the MKS4 Wima caps a lot and I like them in the ODS style amps and also in blackface/plexi buids. Plus they are cheap! I agree that it is not the most convenient cap for a handwired amp....

I think I know what these phase inverter output caps in the picture are....

Jelle

[keithrick]

How about MKS4 Polyester Film Wima
They seem popular even though not for hand wired amps
What is the difference between the Mallory 150 and PS6 ?
I have to agree with Silver Mica, I think I only like them in an amp that is too bright

Ahhh I forgot about WIMA caps. I have a Fender Concert II vid where Lee Jackson recommends them. They sure don't get any love on the Boards.

I am going to order some Mallory PVC and Some Wima's from Allied and check 'em out in my builds.

******************************************************

How do y'all determine what brand type to use in your circuits?

If you mix them up.... Do you favor certain brands/types in certain positions, i.e tonestack, coupling, PI?

For example: In my Dumble, I tried to like the 6PS but they didn't work for me! So now I have MPP's and they seem to be smoother and more transparent. But could I have achieved this effect with only a few caps? Where?

Thanks for any comments!

[jelle]

Please let me know how the WIMA compare to the MPP's..
Jelle

[Sven]

That was my thread. I tested all of these cap types and that was my conclusion, PS6 and MPP were the smoothest sounding.

Greetings,

In the Dumble discussion (thread about resistors, actually), I posted a question whether SBE Orange drop 6PS radial capacitors are actually the same capacitors as 192p (and 470p) series from the same manufacturer, since all three types are Film & Foil with Polyester dielectric, while the one and the only OBVIOUS difference in the brief spec. sheet seems to be that 6PS series have radial leads, while 192p (also named ¨Pacer¨) and 470p (avaliable only for OEM, as per manufacturer statement) have AXIAL leads.

Manufacturer answered my question, but really AVOIDED to make it perfectly clear whether 6PS and 192p series are differed only and only by their leads (radial vs. axial).

Pictures of insides of Dumble builds with 6PS and Xicon MPP series radial caps with bent leads really make a loud demand for checking with SBE the above clarification, so that one could build a much better amplifier with axial leads, that is, with Orange drop 192p (¨Pacer¨) capacitors. Axial leads would be more practical in valve amps, indeed.

SBE does not have reps in Europe, and if I was in the USA I would call them and try to make them come out with clear and firm statement about this issue (6PS and 192p, of course) ... and if they ARE the same cap with different leads, I would definitely go for 192p in the practical realm.

All the best,

Sven

[lastwinj]

wima caps are great. i have used many different types. they have a very straighforward sound, without the smear and dullness of some orange drops or Xicon caps.

i also like my STK caps. but i admit, i am biased, since i have about 40k .022.

germ

[jelle]

Hi,
Glad somebody likes the WIMA caps!! Thanks Germ!
I'm talking about the MKS 4 type WIMA caps 630V and 400V ...I like them better than the 715 Orange drops in ODS style amps.....the Orange Drops sounded dry and harsh in the upper midrange but the Wima sound balanced and open without being dry. Also the Oomph of a clean ODS is better than Orange drops!

Jelle

[drz400]

Hi,
Glad somebody likes the WIMA caps!! Thanks Germ!
I'm talking about the MKS 4 type WIMA caps 630V and 400V ...I like them better than the 715 Orange drops in ODS style amps.....the Orange Drops sounded dry and harsh in the upper midrange but the Wima sound balanced and open without being dry. Also the Oomph of a clean ODS is better than Orange drops!

Jelle

The Xicons MPP are not Rohs either which means they will be discontinued soon
Actually I like the Wimas as well MKS4 with a FKP3 in a few places.
Only drag is they are more of a PCB type cap.
Some people like NAYLOR takes caps like this and turn them upside down and attach the leads