ARC Coupling Capacitors

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by MPS

I think REF 150 is supposed to be delivered with polypropylene caps, just like it shows in your photos.
ARC uses Teflon caps like this: http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/glass-ware_2266_824092

FYI: Audio Film Capacitors

My apologies for correcting you MPS however that is not the case ~







Audio Research Reference 150 power amplifier | Stereophile.com

According to ARC's Dave Gordon,

"Our final proprietary capacitor designs were chosen empirically, after many, many hours evaluating and comparing each different design in prototype amplifiers," Gordon said. "We ended up using a mixture of Teflon, copper, and hybrid materials in the capacitors in the Ref150."




ARC's Own REF 150 Product Web Page

Reference 150 Stereo Power Amplifier

"All-new interstage coupling capacitors using technology and materials first incorporated in our Anniversary Edition preamplifier effortlessly link input stage to output stage, "






http://www.audioresearch.com/pdf/TONE-REF150-rev.pdf

"Proprietary capacitor technology utilized in the 40th
Anniversary Reference Preamplifier significantly
contributes to the new amplifier’s improved
transparency"


Martin Colloms HiFi Critic

http://www.audioresearch.com/pdf/REF150-HFC.pdf

"Audio Research’s limited edition Anniversary
Reference two-box line pre-amplifier showed a
significant sound quality improvement over the
REF5 pre-amp, in part due to a new design of
Teflon film coupling capacitor in the differential
valve circuits. That component is now used in this
REF150 (and also the REF5 SE for power supply
decoupling) "


The AUdio Beat Review ~ http://www.audioresearch.com/pdf/Ref150_TAB.pdf

" The new interstage coupling
capacitors appear to have been injected with steroids
compared to those in the Reference 110. The resistor
complement has also been modified with what appears
to be the largest-value resistors replaced with two
smaller resistors in parallel."


Ken Kessler HiFi News ~ http://www.audioresearch.com/pdf/Ref150_HFN.pdf

"It's the circuit enhancements that will
entice enough REFl 10 owners (as well as
others in the market for a 150wch
superamp) to allow schtorrers like me to
find a plentiful selection of used examples,
Power-supply energy storage has been
doubled, the coupling capacitors are
beneficiaries of the work done on the
Anniversary Edition preamplifier "


Cross Referencing the Teflons in the REF150 to Ref 5se

"but our patience
has been rewarded by this latest SE version of
the REF5 which benefits from some Anniversary
technology developments. This is not a trivial
upgrade: it comprises a new board, a new fascia and
control section, and involves replacing a number of
components, including using new Teflon capacitors.
(By all accounts, REF5 owners can upgrade to the
new SE version for some £2,000.)"

[turntable]

Are the white and now standard gold caps the same size ?

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by turntable

Are the white and now standard gold caps the same size ?

I'm sorry to say that they are not turntable , They appear to be the same dimensions as the capacitors supplied with the previous models Ref 110 !

Ref 110 ~

[MPS]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

My apologies for correcting you MPS however that is not the case ~

Audio Research Reference 150 power amplifier | Stereophile.com

According to ARC's Dave Gordon,

"Our final proprietary capacitor designs were chosen empirically, after many, many hours evaluating and comparing each different design in prototype amplifiers," Gordon said. "We ended up using a mixture of Teflon, copper, and hybrid materials in the capacitors in the Ref150."




ARC's Own REF 150 Product Web Page

Reference 150 Stereo Power Amplifier

"All-new interstage coupling capacitors using technology and materials first incorporated in our Anniversary Edition preamplifier effortlessly link input stage to output stage, "

http://www.audioresearch.com/pdf/TONE-REF150-rev.pdf

My bad, anyway they surely do look like the previous type ARC used in REF 5
http://www.arcdb.ws/REF5/ARC_REF5_top.jpg
and different from Teflon caps in REF 5 SE
http://www.arcdb.ws/REF5/ARC_REF5SE_top.jpg

[turntable]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

I'm sorry to say that they are not turntable , They are the same dimensions as the capacitors as supplied with the previous models Ref 110 and Ref 5 !

Ref 110 ~

Hmmm. Sort of glad I am not an ARC owner as I might also be a little pissed. .

Cj have been consistent with their proprietary Teflon caps when they released them over 10 years ago. I. Believe V Caps make them for cj.

[Number95]

Originally Posted by Dafos

Even more interesting is that ARC did not provide replacement gold caps for the undamaged unit of the mono bloc pair. Obviously ARC feels that any sonic difference between gold and white caps is inconsequential so much so that these caps, provided they have similar values, can be interchanged. While protected by a standard legal disclaimer, for 50k, I would think that ARC owes its customers and dealers an explanation for the parts discrepancy.

Agree. That is not acceptable.

[jpspock]

Would anyone take contact with, to clear the situation?

[Dafos]

Originally Posted by MPS

I think REF 150 is supposed to be delivered with polypropylene caps, just like it shows in your photos.
ARC uses Teflon caps like this: http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/glass-ware_2266_824092

FYI: Audio Film Capacitors

I owned an early production ref 150 and it had the white cap. My current ref 250, also an early production run, came with the same white caps. Whether they are the RTI caps I cannot say since only the value (Mfd) and working voltage is inscribed on the cap.

[Dafos]

If you follow the link, series F10069 are actually metallized polypropylene capacitors. The same website however shows that RTI does make Teflon caps which are not designated any "series" code.

[Bavarian05]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Awaiting a call back as I type , however I suspect the current situation to be the opposite way around

What is your dealers response to this?
Sorry to hear. I am very curious to see what ARC's response to this is.