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Topic: Cap comparison test |
Raybob Bowman
From:
S. Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2010 10:14 pm |
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I started a company building re-makes of the BF Deluxe Reverb last year. Since then, I've branched out to cover most of the popular BF Fenders on requests from customers. My latest addition is a BF style head combination of a Super Reverb head and 64 Vibrolux. Caps and resistors are changed from one to the other by a switch on the rear. The customer requesting this also requested BlueMolded Sozo coupling caps with od PS series for the other caps, silver mica for pF values. I was always curious about Sozo caps and thought this would be a good chance to compare. I built two identical amps, one with Sozos and PS series, one with Mallory 150s. I couldn't hear a difference. Could you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjqIghNhbDY&feature=channel
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Sierra U12 4+5 / 1933 Dobro / homemade Tele B-bender |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2010 8:33 am
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I haven't tried the Sozo Blue Molded caps, but I did try their yellow standard ones. I honestly didn't care for them with pedal steel. Something a bit edgy or glaring about the tone. If you want the real deal capacitor that captures the original Fender Blue Molded sound, get a Sprague 225p series Orange Drop. These are the same cap, same maker, same factory, same spec as the originals. Only the packaging looks different. These are a mylar cap with real aluminum foil. They are among my favorites. I'd be surprised if Sozo was able to reproduce this sound as exactly as the real thing.
The Mallory 150 is a very sweet cap too. The main sonic difference I hear between the Mallory and the Blue Molded (aka Sprague 225p orange drop) is from the fact that the Sprague uses real foil, and the Mallory uses "metallized" film. That's where the metal is electroplated onto the mylar film instead of actually using a real layer of metal foil. Both use mylar, so they have that tone in common. But real foil offers a deeper, more 3D, dimensional factor. It's not so much tonal, but has to do with imaging and depth. I really like the Mallory 150, and even prefer it sometimes. In most of my amps, I often use some of each type. The Mallory for it's caramel-sweet warmth and smooth treble, and then some of the 225p Orange Drops for the sweet tone and extra deep dimension.
When I was trying out cap's that were supposed to re-create the sound of the old "mustard" cap's found in vintage Marshall amps, I was naturally led to the Sozo's and also Mojo's "Dijon" cap's. Both are mylar with aluminum foil. The Sozo consistently had an unpleasant and irritating mid/treble glare, but the Mojo Dijon was a sweet, very pleasing tone that's extremely easy on the ears. I really like that cap too. I even let the Sozo break in for over 100 hours and the "glare" was still present. But this is not a comment on their premium versions or the new blue molded types. I havent tried them.
Brad |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 10 Mar 2010 3:19 pm
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I couldn't tell based on the audio sample, sorry!
Brad, have you compare the OD 225P and PS series? |
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Barry Gaskell
From:
Cheshire, UK
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Posted 11 Mar 2010 2:30 am
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Hi Raybob
I couldn't tell either. Maybe a better comparison would be to drive the amps harder and make them work a little.
Barry |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2010 6:14 am
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| Marc Jenkins wrote: |
I couldn't tell based on the audio sample, sorry!
Brad, have you compare the OD 225P and PS series? |
I know I've heard the PS series in various amps and in the Alembic preamps. The PS series is also mylar&foil, so I'd expect it to sound very similar to the 225p series. But I've never done a close comparison. Since they're both made of the same stuff and by the same company, I'd expect them to be sonically very close, nearly identical.
The 716p and 715p series use a slightly different geometry and polypropylene instead of mylar (aka, polyester). These do have a different sound. Very 3-dimensional, but a bit harder, and more "accurate". The mylar cap's for some reason have a sweeter treble and a bit more lively character. Polypropylene is tends to be more for critical, audiophile tastes, and mylar (polyester) tends to be liked in guitar amps. Those are generalizations.
Brad |
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Marc Jenkins
From:
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 11 Mar 2010 8:08 am
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| Thanks Brad. (sorry to hijack, Ray) |
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