DIY Audio questions and answers - C8 optional Capacitors

Print Page | Close Window

C8 optional Capacitors

Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: DIY AUDIO
Forum Name: DIY Audio questions and answers
Forum Description: www.diy-audio-kits.com ... superb audio kits for experienced constructors
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=764
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 2:12am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: C8 optional Capacitors

Posted By: RobW
Subject: C8 optional Capacitors
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2010 at 4:31pm

I completed my NOVO kit yesterday with great results, and I decided it would be a good idea to exercise the option to install capacitors in C8A&B ... I use a 20' extension on my DT990's.
My local electronics guy had trouble finding 10p NPO caps
but sold me a couple ceramic caps that were tagged "100K 200V". Far more skookum (sorry, Western Canada jargon for "big & ballsy") than the 100p caps supplied for C2 & C4 so did some homework and discovered that the 100K refers to 10x10^0 p with 10% tolerance and since the manual says these should be at least 50V I decided to install.
Sounds great (and getting better with burn-in) but I'm wondering if anyone could comment
on their own experiences. Did any choices for C8 work better than others? Can the sound be restricted or hurt by putting caps in here if you don't really need them?
(my cable is long-ish but my phones are a moderately high impedance) http://www.gspaudio-community.activeboards.net/smileys/smiley29.gif

Replies:

Posted By: RobW
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2010 at 3:11am

For what it's worth ... after roughly 150 hours of burn in and maybe 8 hours of actual listening,
I'm quite pleased and satisfied. The capacitors I used in C8 certainly didn't negatively effect my enjoyment!

Posted By: Sylvain
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2010 at 9:54pm

Graham, your very fatherly approach to educate me in audio electronics is very appreciated as I am but a reader and successfully built your NOVO headphone. Now very keen as I have been for many years enthusiatic to build your design. So here it comes. I have read much about KIWAME resistors for their warm organic sound, Welwyn for their warm as much as Nichicon, Silver Mica, Sanyo OS-COn among many others that are calimed to offer best sounds and build for Audio application.

Now I know what characteristic sound I need. VALVEE as I use an integrated 300B so the source output has to be ''VALVEE'' for the integrated to retain the very unique flavour. You see i GREW UP ON ACCOUSTIC SOUND AND ONLY VALVE CAN DO JUSTICE TO BOB MARLEY, AND THOSE ACCOUSTIC moments of the late 60's and 70's much in my vinyl collection. So please fatherly guide us in the right choice of resistors and capacitors for the tuneful tweak of output stages.

For you are bless with ears that tell the difference.

Sylvain Jacques