Preamp Choices
- Thread starter Hexis22
- Start date
My stuff has Mexico sourced output caps, and I figure that is a place where a cap would be both critical and audible. (Appear to be STK brand caps, if anyone knows who that is...)
I thought they might be Wondercaps based on their size and wrapper color (and age of the unit), but clearly, they are not... A nice Mundorf of similar rating and tighter tolerance (a matched pair) could make things nicer, but I'm sure there is absolutely nothing wrong with those caps.
I thought they might be Wondercaps based on their size and wrapper color (and age of the unit), but clearly, they are not... A nice Mundorf of similar rating and tighter tolerance (a matched pair) could make things nicer, but I'm sure there is absolutely nothing wrong with those caps.
I believe its a Polypropylene film cap from STK, MP85 series.
It appears to be a custom cap for Aragon, 10.0MFD is not listed in their standard values.
http://www.stkelectronics.com/site/polypropylene-mp85.php
Welcome to STK ELECTRONICS Film Capacitors
STK Electronics began manufacturing film capacitors in Cazenovia, NY in 1975. Our first product offering was a range of close tolerance capacitors featuring film-foil polypropylene, a dielectric best suited for these applications. Over the years, we have continually developed and designed many additional products, providing the extensive choice of capacitors featured today.
It appears to be a custom cap for Aragon, 10.0MFD is not listed in their standard values.
http://www.stkelectronics.com/site/polypropylene-mp85.php
Welcome to STK ELECTRONICS Film Capacitors
STK Electronics began manufacturing film capacitors in Cazenovia, NY in 1975. Our first product offering was a range of close tolerance capacitors featuring film-foil polypropylene, a dielectric best suited for these applications. Over the years, we have continually developed and designed many additional products, providing the extensive choice of capacitors featured today.
Here is what I've been able to determine regarding the various Aragon power supplies based on posting by Mondialfan:
• The IDLK19 - Shipped with all early Mondial electronics. It was a small black rectangular plastic package with the Aragon logo on the outside. It featured a chassis mount 24 VA transformer, a voltage rectification circuit consisting of 4 discrete 1 amp diodes for the rectification circuit and a total of 4,380 µF of internal capacitance. The power connector to the component is a 3 pin XLR.
• The IPS - This unit debuted somewhere in the late 80's to early 90's and was housed in the familiar triangular steel housing. It featured a PCB mounted 30 VA transformer, a single 1.5 amp bridge rectifier and a +/- 24 vdc regulator with a total of 9,420 µF of internal capacitance. The power connector to the component is a 3 pin XLR.
• The Ingot - This unit was built specifically for the Aurum preamplifier. It is identical in every way to the previously mentioned IPS except that it has been beefed up with more internal capacitance. In the Ingot a pair of 10,000 uF capacitors are installed after the bridge rectifier, in comparison the standard IPS had a pair of 3,300 uF capacitors in this same location. Due to this difference the total storage capacitance in the Ingot is 22,820 µF. The power connector to the component was also changed to a 4 pin XLR. The reason for the change to the 4 pin XLR was to prevent users from accidentally plugging the power connector into one of the Ingot's balanced preamp outputs. Aside from the difference in capacitance and XLR pin out there is no other difference from this supply and the IPS.
• The IDLK19 - Shipped with all early Mondial electronics. It was a small black rectangular plastic package with the Aragon logo on the outside. It featured a chassis mount 24 VA transformer, a voltage rectification circuit consisting of 4 discrete 1 amp diodes for the rectification circuit and a total of 4,380 µF of internal capacitance. The power connector to the component is a 3 pin XLR.
• The IPS - This unit debuted somewhere in the late 80's to early 90's and was housed in the familiar triangular steel housing. It featured a PCB mounted 30 VA transformer, a single 1.5 amp bridge rectifier and a +/- 24 vdc regulator with a total of 9,420 µF of internal capacitance. The power connector to the component is a 3 pin XLR.
• The Ingot - This unit was built specifically for the Aurum preamplifier. It is identical in every way to the previously mentioned IPS except that it has been beefed up with more internal capacitance. In the Ingot a pair of 10,000 uF capacitors are installed after the bridge rectifier, in comparison the standard IPS had a pair of 3,300 uF capacitors in this same location. Due to this difference the total storage capacitance in the Ingot is 22,820 µF. The power connector to the component was also changed to a 4 pin XLR. The reason for the change to the 4 pin XLR was to prevent users from accidentally plugging the power connector into one of the Ingot's balanced preamp outputs. Aside from the difference in capacitance and XLR pin out there is no other difference from this supply and the IPS.
I picked up an Acurus RL11 to use in a different system and potentially upgrade in the future.
To start, I'm planning to update all electrolytics and put real RCA connectors on the chassis.
It's very obvious what corners were cut as compared to the Aragon line.
To start, I'm planning to update all electrolytics and put real RCA connectors on the chassis.
It's very obvious what corners were cut as compared to the Aragon line.