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Ovaltone Nue Device Caps?

duaneflowers

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Aug 13, 2013
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2,522
The guy who designed these refers to himself as a 'solder geek', a group of engineers that gets their jollies comparing the properties of various types of solder. They describe the uniqueness in the sound of vintage caps as partially being due to the micro-cracks in the solder and how this accounts for the leakage that differentiates them from modern caps. They further seem to pride themselves on the ability to hear the difference between these different grades/makes of solder. Apparently, Kester 44 is the gold standard and one aspect of these 'caps' was to incorporate and account for those micro-cracks in the design. I think these are the same guys that developed the Vox Nutube as these as they were discussing the incorporated technologies.

All of this is way past my pay grade but hopefully, I'll get some time to do a more proper comparison and analysis of them at some point... in the meantime I'm just enjoying them and trying to understand exactly how they differ from what I'm used to. :salude
 

LtKojak

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Apr 5, 2015
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208
the uniqueness in the sound of vintage caps as partially being due to the micro-cracks in the solder and how this accounts for the leakage that differentiates them from modern caps.
Unless empirical, hard evidence is presented, as somebody that grew in the realm of electronics, I find this statement a bit improbable, specially the "leaking" part. If a cap leaks, it by definition doesn't do its intended job properly, and its actual value not being the advertised one. The final outcome may or may not be be considered "good", but just "not the intended one". The cap you meaured has a slightly different value of the standard ones (.012 against the more common .015), so that would be the primary source of any heard difference, although I don't think it'll be big enough to be detected by the human ear. In the blind tests I've in the past been involved with, the smallest perceived difference laid about 3% to 5%. YMMV.
They further seem to pride themselves on the ability to hear the difference between these different grades/makes of solder.
Really? If the "microfractures" in the solder joints with the same solder material are audible, I would compare it with a preacher telling it audience "God talked to me and said...". I'm a bit skeptical of the statement, but I'm not dismissing it completely, as I've personally witnessed more than one individual guessing right everytime time between two dreadnoughts made with the same blueprint, but with different materials.
one aspect of these 'caps' was to incorporate and account for those micro-cracks in the design. I think these are the same guys that developed the Vox Nutube as these as they were discussing the incorporated technologies.
Well, at least some literature about the NuTube technology is to be found. I'll try to find it and see what's behind this new tech.
All of this is way past my pay grade but hopefully, I'll get some time to do a more proper comparison and analysis of them at some point... in the meantime I'm just enjoying them and trying to understand exactly how they differ from what I'm used to. :salude
Would you please post a description of your process for evaluation of different caps? See, in the grand scheme of all things associated with p'up tone, the caps are located pretty low in the list of given importance, so if you have any tips, I'll welcome'em with open arms!

Yours very truly,
 
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PaulD

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Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
The cap you meaured has a slightly different value of the standard ones (.012 against the more common .015), so that would be the primary source of any heard difference, although I don't think it'll be big enough to be detected by the human ear. In the blind tests I've in the past been involved with, the smallest perceived difference laid about 3% to 5%. YMMV.

According to the photo the cap measured at 0.12uF (not 0.012). Assuming that it was replacing a standard value capacitor in a Les Paul which are rated at 0.022uF that is a difference of some 545% in value. I somehow think this might be the basis for the difference in sound heard rather than any micro cracks in the solder!
 

duaneflowers

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Aug 13, 2013
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Here is an interesting comparison of the 3 flavors with an orange drop... for what it's worth...


 

TM1

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Jun 27, 2003
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8,349
It would be nice to hear some clips that are not overly saturated. How about a Les Paul with PAF's into a JTM45, Vox AC30 and maybe a brown Fender Deluxe... And a Strat with the same amps..?
 

EpiLP1985

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2017
Messages
113
According to the photo the cap measured at 0.12uF (not 0.012). Assuming that it was replacing a standard value capacitor in a Les Paul which are rated at 0.022uF that is a difference of some 545% in value. I somehow think this might be the basis for the difference in sound heard rather than any micro cracks in the solder!

I imagine that a 0.12 mf cap replacing a 0.022 mf cap may affect the frequency response a bit!
 
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