You allready have very good capacitors there.Why are you looking to change them.The blue ones are Panasonic FC-low esr , probably on the digital side , and the black ones are Nichicon muse KZ, again very good ones if they are used on the analog side after the dac . The rest like NP capacitors for tube coupling might be the usual polypropilene and they are very good too.
...they are currently all panasonic FM/FC - 35v
8 are 33uF
2 are 470uF
2 are 1000uF
replacing with Elna Silmic II
2 are 150uF
4 are 1800uF
...don't know what to replace these with (inc.2200uF/220uF)?
Just thought I might get help/suggestions on 'here' (DIY)
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how can Ii check for DC voltage? I don;t have specification sheet or schematic diagram!
this is the separate DAC board
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtvZwp0rE3Aa0GFjs59rDJJkZ-FH
this is the overall view:
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtvZwp0rE3Aa0GfLkFMO0wenmp5q
this is the power board:
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AtvZwp0rE3Aa0GXd7qK6OL9JVZ_N
I once tried to find out what made an 'audio cap' (electro) different from a 'normal' cap.
No one could tell me.
Nothing in their spec sheets explained it either.
In my experience, most of my customers report sonic improvements after I've recapped their old piece of gear.
BUT, I'm replacing 20 year old caps with modern vastly better made new caps.
I also almost fully resolder it due to bad joints, and reset bias and offset (where applicable).
So those changes are also thrown into the mix.
FYI, I tend to use panasonic FC or FM where I can.
My research has told me;
FM is the replacement for FC which is being phased out.
FM also has lower esr than the low esr FC.
In special cases I will use Elna silmic II.
Do they make a difference ?
I don't know.
I have never tried one, pulled it all apart, swapped caps, put it back together, tried again.
Last bit I worked on was a parasound A21 amp.
Replaced the main filter caps that were bulging and failing for new CDE ones.
Owner reports its has regained everything it had lost over the last year.
Nothing special about the CDE caps.
Just a good well made cap that suited the purpose.
Oh, and they weren't failing like the old ones...............
No one could tell me.
Nothing in their spec sheets explained it either.
In my experience, most of my customers report sonic improvements after I've recapped their old piece of gear.
BUT, I'm replacing 20 year old caps with modern vastly better made new caps.
I also almost fully resolder it due to bad joints, and reset bias and offset (where applicable).
So those changes are also thrown into the mix.
FYI, I tend to use panasonic FC or FM where I can.
My research has told me;
FM is the replacement for FC which is being phased out.
FM also has lower esr than the low esr FC.
In special cases I will use Elna silmic II.
Do they make a difference ?
I don't know.
I have never tried one, pulled it all apart, swapped caps, put it back together, tried again.
Last bit I worked on was a parasound A21 amp.
Replaced the main filter caps that were bulging and failing for new CDE ones.
Owner reports its has regained everything it had lost over the last year.
Nothing special about the CDE caps.
Just a good well made cap that suited the purpose.
Oh, and they weren't failing like the old ones...............
thedoc375, if by audio capacitor you mean one that gives more sonic advantages than drawbacks, then I suggest you don't trust entirely marketing and vendors.
There are capacitors meant for industrial applications, common devices and heavy duty use that IMHO beat many so proclaimed "audio capacitors" on the market.
It is also likely that some expensive capacitors are due to cheap products covered in luxury looking "clothes".
One of the brand I suggest for you to try is Epcos LL series. Available pretty much everywhere and also in a Snap-in version.
RIFA PEH169 are also good, a bit brighter sounding in this highs.
Siemens (orange colored) and Sikorel series are for now my favorite when it comes to screw terminal capacitors, if you can find them in a good shape and carefully reform them.
One of the best electrolytics I've heard is a Blackgate NX, but I doubt you'd like to pay a kidney for it. It's such a shame, because they weren't so expensive ten years ago.
Rubycon ZL is also a nice, pretty cheap and good performing capacitor.
There are capacitors meant for industrial applications, common devices and heavy duty use that IMHO beat many so proclaimed "audio capacitors" on the market.
It is also likely that some expensive capacitors are due to cheap products covered in luxury looking "clothes".
One of the brand I suggest for you to try is Epcos LL series. Available pretty much everywhere and also in a Snap-in version.
RIFA PEH169 are also good, a bit brighter sounding in this highs.
Siemens (orange colored) and Sikorel series are for now my favorite when it comes to screw terminal capacitors, if you can find them in a good shape and carefully reform them.
One of the best electrolytics I've heard is a Blackgate NX, but I doubt you'd like to pay a kidney for it. It's such a shame, because they weren't so expensive ten years ago.
Rubycon ZL is also a nice, pretty cheap and good performing capacitor.
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interesting comments!!
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AtvZwp0rE3Aa0Gv1BCexgR5Bf8G8
....this is the output/buffer board, the arrows indicate the caps to replace.
...OK forget audio : what caps other than panasonic are suitable for DAC use: (with these parameters)
1800uf + 35v ?
150uf + 35v ?
or substitute:
1800 for 2200 ?
150 for 220 ?
thanks for the recommendations!
...OK forget audio : what quality electrolytic radial caps other than panasonic are available: (with these parameters)
1800uf + 35v ?
150uf + 35v ?
or substitute:
1800 for 2200 ?
150 for 220 ?
...'blackgate' not made anymore?
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OK, forget 'audio' probably a bad choice of word! I should have phrased the question differently! I think we have all heard enough about so called audiophile caps.
Please lets concentrate on good quality replacements for the panasonic brand, and I'm not saying they are bad in anyway!!
So, what quality electrolytic radial caps other than panasonic are available: (with these parameters)
1800uf + 35v ?
150uf + 35v ?
or substitute:
1800 for 2200 ?
150 for 220 ?
Please lets concentrate on good quality replacements for the panasonic brand, and I'm not saying they are bad in anyway!!
So, what quality electrolytic radial caps other than panasonic are available: (with these parameters)
1800uf + 35v ?
150uf + 35v ?
or substitute:
1800 for 2200 ?
150 for 220 ?
Really?
If you don't know what to measure, where to measure it, or anything really, if you have to ask these questions you have asked in this thread, it's probably not a good idea for you to do anything with this circuit! While these tubes can be run at pretty low voltages, you just might encounter hundreds of volts, if you don't know what you're doing, you REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Death may be an interesting experience, but it's usually a once in a lifetime thing.
Please for your own sake gain some basic knowledge before you do anything!
PS Under the right (or wrong, Your POV) circumstances, 24V can be lethal.
If you don't know what to measure, where to measure it, or anything really, if you have to ask these questions you have asked in this thread, it's probably not a good idea for you to do anything with this circuit! While these tubes can be run at pretty low voltages, you just might encounter hundreds of volts, if you don't know what you're doing, you REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Death may be an interesting experience, but it's usually a once in a lifetime thing.
Please for your own sake gain some basic knowledge before you do anything!
PS Under the right (or wrong, Your POV) circumstances, 24V can be lethal.
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Agreed. Even if you don't hurt yourself there's a good chance you will make the DAC worse. Have you ever desoldered a large cap before? Do you know they can be polarized. That looks like a nicely built unit with quality parts and probably a good design. Why do you want to risk screwing it up for unlikely gains. ..
thanks! ~ I came here for useful/helpful advice, not ridicule! I have been soldering and swapping out dead components for over 40 years (like for like) and I'm still alive! I always discharge circuits before I do anything anyway. No helpful knowledge divulged here then? Basically you;re saying don't come to DIY forum for useful knowledge - go somewhere else! But if I was an expert I wouldn't need any forums anyway because I'd already know.
Have you ever desoldered a large cap: "YES" loads of times!!
Do you know they can be polarized. "YES" or bi-polar.
I wanted to try out some other caps (like for like). However, after reading things on the net regarding the high quality of panasonic FM I may decide to leave it with them. Not sure yet.
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