by VH Audio
The V-Cap TFTF Teflon® film and tin foil audiophile capacitors are the result of an extensive research and development project by a team of world-renowned experts in electrical engineering, chemistry, materials science, and some of the top minds (and "ears") in the audio industry. These experts were commissioned to help design, build, and evaluate a "cost-no-object" capacitor for reference-grade audiophile applications. The resulting series of proprietary materials and processes has produced what we believe is one of the most extraordinary, musical capacitors ever made.
One of the biggest challenges with Teflon film capacitors is the permeations (microscopic pinholes) that form during the fabrication of the film, and when the film is stressed during the actual winding of the capacitor. The reason these permeations are a problem is because they have the potential to allow micro-arcing to occur between adjacent layers of the capacitor. The cumulative effect of this micro-arcing causes degradation of the capacitor's life and performance, in addition to a poor signal-to-noise ratio. The V-Cap design team found solutions to this challenge by sourcing Swiss-made winding machines and engineering proprietary bobbins that apply a light and ultra-stable tension to the custom spec'd teflon film during the winding operation. This greatly reduces the formation of permeations in the Teflon film, reduces microphonics, and provides an unsurpassed level of consistency and quality control. To take this a step further, the V-Cap engineers have also developed a new winding process called the Variable Stage Quadrant Dielectric™ (V.S.Q.D.). This unique winding process is a significant advance in capacitor technology because it virtually eliminates permeation alignments in three dimensions, ensuring an ultra-low noise floor, longer cap life, and highs that are extended, but without the fatigue or “tizziness” normally associated with capacitors of lesser quality.
No expense has been spared to create these cost-no-object capacitors for the exacting audiophile
Now it is possible to get the smooth, liquid, and "musical" presentation of an oil capacitor, but with even better refinement, transparency and inner detail. Hear and feel true low frequency extension without any loss of control. Immerse youself in a holographic soundstage emanating from a velvety black background, while enjoying the midrange liquidity and bloom coveted by oil capacitor afficionados. The V-Cap TFTF's reproduction of a musical instrument's precise timbre must be heard to be believed. No detail has been overlooked or left to chance during the development and production of the V-Cap. Even the Teflon insulated, 18 AWG solid copper leads and epoxy end-fill have been carefully selected for the best musicality and detail. The VCap TFTF can also handle much higher temperatures than most other caps, making them significantly more reliable in the relatively high temperatures often found inside vacuum tube amplifiers. We could go on and on, but simply put, we're confident you'll conclude this is the most robust, musical, and revealing capacitor ever made for reference-grade audiophile applications...
V-Caps are NOT a “rebrand” or relabeling of an already existing product, but a unique new capacitor design that has been meticulously engineered and handcrafted in the U.S.A. V-Caps are manufactured to the specs of VH Audio, and are only available right here and approved modification industry professionals.
V-Caps are available in values of .01, .022, .033, .047, .068, .1, .22, .33, .47, .68, 1.0 and 2.0 and 3.3 uF with voltage ratings up to 600VDC and a tolerance of +/- 5% (3.3 uF is rated to 250VDC). Two and a half and one percent tolerance may be available at additional cost. Each and every capacitor is inspected and tested at TWICE the maximum rated voltage PLUS 10% before it leaves the factory. This ensures long life, reliability, and the ultimate in performance.
To add a little perspective, we'd like to share one last thought about the pricing of the V-Caps. Yes, they're expensive. They need to be, in order to obtain the absolute highest performance possible. Consider how much money us audiophiles spend on cables, NOS tubes, line conditioning, and other costly tweaks that yield relatively small incremental improvements. It could easily be argued the quality of the bypass and coupling capacitors in your tube electronics will have significantly more impact on the performance of your system than these other audiophile "tweaks". When this is considered, we feel the VALUE of VCaps is exceptional.
V-Cap Reference Grade audio capacitors have been selected for use in the crossovers of Von Schweikert's new VR-5SE loudspeaker. The VR-5SE is drawing early comparisons to perennial contender for best speaker in the world- the VR-9SE. Please visit Von Schweikert Audio's website for more information on the new VR-5SE.
Bottlehead demonstrated headphone amplifiers and open reel tape at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in room 7025. A Bottlehead Seduction phono preamplifier kit was modified for use as a tape head preamplifier. Along with the recalibration to the NAB playback equalization curve, this custom Seduction was modified with the installation of adjustable trimmers to allow for tape head frequency response variations. V-Cap teflon film and foil capacitors were installed throughout the signal path to deliver the high resolution available from analog tape. Srajan Ebaen of 6moons.com had this to say about Doc's setup at RMA Fest: "If we were going by the usual "Best Sound of Show" standards and concentrated purely on the sound rather than attributes like impact, displacement, soundstaging, scale and weight which require free-air in-room speakers, Doc B. would have won, hands-down and with no possible disagreements." Click here for more info
NEW >>> Kevin Kennedy wrote these comments in his "Kennedy on Audio" column at Positive Feedback: "...I have compared these to REL TFT, Jensen copper foil paper and oil types as well as the older RTX cap. My conclusion thus far is that the V-CAP has better balance, greater detail, tighter bass and a much cleaner overall sound than the RTX, is much quicker sounding than the Jensen, but has the same warm/neutral midrange character I crave, and offers even more low level resolution than the TFT. The inner details of the music seem better revealed, sometimes for the first time. "<Read Full Review (scroll down page)>
Scott Faller wrote this formal review of the VCaps in his Joe Audiophile column at Enjoythemusic.com: "...I have to say without a doubt in my mind, that I never expected this much of a change in the sound out of these amps. I thought I could expect a 'nice' change similar to when I changed the Chinese caps for the Thetas. That was a nice, audible change for the better. Installing the VCaps was like buying new amps. That's not just a line of BS. The VCaps (after they broke in) brought a new level of detail that would never have been achievable with the other coupling caps I've played with..." "...Well, I'm here to tell you, upgrading the coupling caps in your tube amp to the Teflon VCaps will gain you far more sonic improvement than any pair of interconnects, speaker cables or power cord could ever hope to. Not to mention, any one of those upgrades could cost more than the VCaps. Are the VCaps the ultimate in sonic clarity? Compared to all I've tried to date, yes they are."<Read Full Review>
Bill Baker of Response Audio wrote this in a formal review of the VCaps: "...vocals sounded so real that I felt I should have paid admission into the room or at least offer the artist a glass of wine... The VH Audio VCap capacitor provided the absolute best sonic improvement of ANY single upgrade I have installed in any of my exclusive products or modifications. In conjunction with the additional upgrades now performed in our latest Signature Series, Reference and EXtreme Series products, the VCap capacitors are the icing on the 7-tier wedding cake. Whether you are looking to buy a product that utilizes the VCaps or purchase these caps for your own DIY project, I am confident you will agree these are the absolute "cat's ass" once you experience them in your own surroundings."<Read Full Review>
Bob Smith of SP Technology Loudspeakers wrote this, after listening to Response Audio's Reference Jolida 801 with VCaps at a recent Chicago Audio Society demo: "Also, we absolutely must thank Bill Baker of Response Audio for building the incredible sounding Jolida 801's that were used. I guess its about time I shut up about tube amps 'cause I didn't know what I was talking about in the past. Those babies were incredible! They didn't have the mushy low end or edgy highs I've heard from tube amps in the past. Although I will make one point in my own defense. I've always said that there was no reason that tubes COULDN'T sound as good as S-S, just that few manufacturers ever make them. Well...Bill's one that DOES! That thing was one of the best amps I've ever heard - PERIOD." <Full text>
Ralph Donaldson wrote at Audio Asylum: "I have replaced two Relcap "Exotica" teflon caps in my SET amp. Even though the VCaps have not fully burned in yet, I feel that they are a major improvement. They are superior to any other caps that I have ever tried, and I have tried most of them including the even more expensive AN silver caps. I have found that when used in a no feedback design that the caps have a major effect on the sound. As far as cost goes, it is my opinion that a cap replacement will have a greater effect than an interconnect or especially a line cord change and either of these changes could cost more than a pair of caps. On the basis of these results I have ordered another set of VCaps for another pair of 300B amps.
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Ackcheng & Tai Po wrote in a formal review: "The VCap is both detailed and dynamic. Listening to live recordings gives you an impression of being there. Focusing is particularly good, especially when listening to symphony type of music- you can tell the location for each piece of instrument! However, none of these have prepared us for the phenomenal impact on the system when we listen to the VCap again at 400 hours of burn in a few weeks later..." <Read the rest of the review>
Jim McShane of Citation II "mod" fame wrote this, after installing into a customer's Citation II: "My take is this: in a Citation II you have multiple NFB loops, and a total of >30db of NFB. Citation IIs therefore tend to "panel beat" things back into place. The amp shouldn't sound as great as it does since it breaks all the "rules", but it does. What this boils down to is the differences between components are more subtle. What did strike me was two things in particular. First, the upper bass/lower mids were VERY tight, clean, and well controlled, and the tight control extended down to the lower bass as well. Cellos and kettle drums were really lifelike! Second, the amp sounded very "clean". I can't really describe it, but there was no smearing of notes, the tones were distinct and sharply focused, not blurred. Chet Baker's trumpet was absolutely in the room - I use his SACD "Chet" as a listening test disc. The kettle drums are struck HARD in the first few bars of "Roll Plymouth Rock" from Brian Wilson's incredible "SMiLE" CD, and the amp played the "thwack-boom!" of those powerful strikes with real control and power. The bottom line is - I liked 'em - a lot! As always, the cost vs. return issue rears it's ugly head, but in terms of performance, I liked the V-Caps a lot. I'm really interested in hearing what the owner says. If Ei makes good KT-90 tubes again, I think the V-Caps, KT-90s, and a good set of OPTs is likely as good as is gets for push pull."
Arthur Salvatore of High-endaudio.com wrote these comments:
"...these are the finest signal-path capacitors I've ever heard. This was an easy judgement to make, because they are superior in virtually every area of music reproduction;
*Their dynamic force is more like a bullet than a shotgun, instead of just becoming "louder", which is why I used the preface "intensely".
"...they are still noticeably superior to the REL Teflon (HI-REL TFS103K6A), the former "champion", which, in turn, has proven superior to every other capacitor that I, and my associates, have used in the last 10 years. The list of caps we've tried includes basically every audiophile capacitor available, with the one exception of the expensive Audio Notes, which cost over $ 1,000 each..."
"...I consider the VH Teflon caps to be one of the most important developments in "High-End Audio" in the last decade. I say this from the perspective of an audiophile in general, and particularly as a hard-core modifier. The unprecedented capabilities of the VH Teflon capacitor has inspired and focused my thoughts concerning the inevitable issue of when audiophiles should both purchase and later sell their electronics. The "rule" I've been using myself, for the last 20 years, is finally clear and distinct to me, and I will share it when I discuss the VH Teflon caps in more depth within the next few weeks..."
<Read full text>
Read more reviews and comments by clicking HERE
1. They are the most neutral cap I've heard.
2. They are the fastest and most detailed cap I've heard.
3. They provide the most natural texture, space and low-level details.
4. They are the cleanest and purest cap I've heard.
5. They are the most immediate and transparent cap I've heard.
6. They are the most intensely* dynamic cap I've heard.
7. They provide the most separation and the least homogenization of any cap I've heard.
8. They provide the most intelligibility of any cap I've heard.
9. Their soundstage is the most focused that I've heard.
10. They have the tightest, cleanest, most natural and most impactful bass I've heard.
11. They have the most extended frequency extremes I've heard.
12. They have the lowest "noise-floor" of any cap I've heard."
* Special pricing is available for OEM's and audiophile "mod" industry professionals. Please Contact us for more information. If you have questions, you may contact us HERE
Value
(uF)
Voltage
(DC)
Dimensions
(inches)
1
piece
2
- 4 pieces
5-24
pieces
25
+ pieces
.01
600
.50 X .75
$52.48
39.36
35.42
32.59
.015
600
.67 X .8
$58.78
44.08
39.68
36.50
.022
600
.5 X 1.15
$60.88
45.66
41.09
37.81
.033
600
.61 X 1.15
$62.98
47.23
42.51
39.11
.047
600
.73 X 1.15
$69.28
51.96
46.76
43.02
.068
600
.73 X 1.4
$77.68
58.26
52.43
48.24
.10
600
.93 X 1.4
$81.88
61.41
55.27
50.85
.15
600
1.0 X 1.4
$113.38
85.03
76.53
70.41
.22
300
.7 X 1.325
$96.58
72.43
65.19
59.98
.22
600
1.0 X 2.0
$134.38
100.78
90.71
83.45
.33
600
1.27 X 2.0
$176.38
132.28
119.06
109.56
.47
300
1.06 X 1.35
$146.98
110.23
99.21
91.27
.47
600
1.45 X 2.0
$209.98
157.48
141.74
130.40
.68
300
1.0
X 1.9
$229.99
172.49
155.24
142.82
1.0
300
1.2
X 1.9
$269.99
202.49
182.24
167.66
1.5
300
1.4 X
1.9
$359.99
269.99
242.99
223.55
2.0
300
1.4
X 2.4
$459.99
344.99
310.49
285.65
3.3
250
1.8
X 2.5
$699.99
524.99
472.49
434.69
Please click HERE for terms and conditions of sale.
* Teflon is a registered trademark of DuPont corporation.
"V-Cap", "TFTF", "OIMP", "Reference Grade", and "Variable Stage Quadrant Dielectric" are trademarks of VH Audio, Inc.
