Hi all!
I’ve been a big fan of the Telos Quantum Caps. These are like the RCA noise blockers or shorting caps which were popular many eons ago.
I started with the RCA Caps, 4 to a set. I used these successfully on me VTL The Ultimate preamplifier, it improved the sound quality by an appreciable degree.
The RCA caps made hardly any difference to my DOGE 8 Clarity preamplifier.
I bought a set of the Cardas XLR to RCA adaptors for the princely sum of A$250 a pair way back in 2012. I used a pair of the RCA caps on these for my then Esoteric K-03 SACD player. Boy was I surprised as in socks knocked off. The RCA caps made a huge difference, making the already good sound quality more analog!
As the Cardas XLR to RCA adaptors are now A$340 each, I decided to buy 2 sets of the Quantum Caps in XLR, one set female, the other male.
The female set went to my now Esoteric K-03 XD SE (just released in 2025). An already great player made more analog!
The male set went into the Stellar 1200Ms. I was not expecting that much of a difference. It wasn’t a huge difference, but it was an improvement nonetheless. The biggest improvements were to the treble (way less spalshy) and the soundstage (deeper, wider)!
The Quantum Caps are not just a shorting RCA plug - they have a propriety red coloured material within.
Alas Telos no longer manufacture the Quantum Caps. Not sure why.
I bought my sets locally for A$110 each, way less than the exorbitant price asked by Cardas for their adaptors. If you can find the Quantum Caps locally, they are cheap enough to have a try.
To say I’m happy is an understatement.