Budget electrolytic cap for signal coupling

100db · 4th February 2009, 09:40 AM

Hello,

I would like to upgrade signal coupling caps in car CD player, the original one is 10uf/16v Elna cap.

I usually prefer BGN but I can not afford them in this system. It has 3 dac chips, 1 for each channel and I'll need 24 of them for coupling between DAC and LPF, between LPF and Electronic volume and between Electronic volume and output.

Space is also very limited, vertical space is 11mm. max

Checked on pcx, BG-STD 10uf/16v and OS-con SG 47uf/20v can physically fit in, anybody used to compare them before ?

Any cap around 1-2 $ that will fit well with this application ?

Thanks.

linuxguru · 4th February 2009, 10:07 AM

Nichicon Muse SW (subminiature series) - the 10uF, 25V unit is about 4mm (D) x 7mm (H). It should run about 10c or less in volume, and less than a dollar at retail. I use it extensively in the signal path, and it sounds very good (smooth and laid-back) for the money. However, it's an 85c (not 105c) temperature-rated cap - YMMV, but it may still be OK for automotive small-signal applications.

The 105c alternative is the old faithful, Panasonic FC.

sangram · 4th February 2009, 10:07 AM

Nichicon Muse KZ 10uF/100V are .70 each from Percy or PCx, and IMO sound as good as Blackgates for most applications, specially in series coupling.

If 2$ is your budget, 22uF/6.3V BG NX also comes around that much - I last got from Percy at that price (I think 2.25 or so). the voltage difference isn't very significant in series coupling, the max voltage they will ever see is 6V(12v single supply half-bias point).

100db · 4th February 2009, 01:56 PM

Hi both,

Thanks for your comment.

BGNX 22/6.3 is what I normally use, but in this case LPF opamp has a single supply at 8.x volt... I believe I'll need at least 10v. rated cap and BGN 33/16 is going to be too expensive compare to cost of the head unit.

KZ seems very interesting, I used them in power supply part of my rotel cd player and my gainclone amp but never try as signal coupling.

Any further comment are very welcome

sangram · 4th February 2009, 02:06 PM

Voltage at output pin will be 4V if it is properly biased to half-supply voltage.

I agree that a 12V cap would actually be safest, btw. If you are trying KZ, I'd love to hear feedback on how it went for you.

hafp · 4th February 2009, 02:52 PM

Give the ELNA America Silmac II RFS series caps a try.
The 10uf 25v caps from Digikey are very cheap.
Some say the RFS caps sound close to the BGs.
Good luck.

Bernhard · 4th February 2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by linuxguru
Nichicon Muse SW (subminiature series) - the 10uF, 25V unit is about 4mm (D) x 7mm (H).
I use it extensively in the signal path, and it sounds very good (smooth and laid-back) for the money.

smooth and laid-back, thats how electrolytic coupling caps sound...

100db · 5th February 2009, 01:39 PM

Just ask Percy for the quote, will start with KZ in the front channel and see how it perform

4th February 2009, 09:40 AM	#1
100db diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangkok, Thailand	Budget electrolytic cap for signal coupling Hello, I would like to upgrade signal coupling caps in car CD player, the original one is 10uf/16v Elna cap. I usually prefer BGN but I can not afford them in this system. It has 3 dac chips, 1 for each channel and I'll need 24 of them for coupling between DAC and LPF, between LPF and Electronic volume and between Electronic volume and output. Space is also very limited, vertical space is 11mm. max Checked on pcx, BG-STD 10uf/16v and OS-con SG 47uf/20v can physically fit in, anybody used to compare them before ? Any cap around 1-2 $ that will fit well with this application ? Thanks.

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4th February 2009, 10:07 AM	#2
linuxguru diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2007	Nichicon Muse SW (subminiature series) - the 10uF, 25V unit is about 4mm (D) x 7mm (H). It should run about 10c or less in volume, and less than a dollar at retail. I use it extensively in the signal path, and it sounds very good (smooth and laid-back) for the money. However, it's an 85c (not 105c) temperature-rated cap - YMMV, but it may still be OK for automotive small-signal applications. The 105c alternative is the old faithful, Panasonic FC.

4th February 2009, 10:07 AM	#3
sangram diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: India	Nichicon Muse KZ 10uF/100V are .70 each from Percy or PCx, and IMO sound as good as Blackgates for most applications, specially in series coupling. If 2$ is your budget, 22uF/6.3V BG NX also comes around that much - I last got from Percy at that price (I think 2.25 or so). the voltage difference isn't very significant in series coupling, the max voltage they will ever see is 6V(12v single supply half-bias point).

4th February 2009, 01:56 PM	#4
100db diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangkok, Thailand	Hi both, Thanks for your comment. BGNX 22/6.3 is what I normally use, but in this case LPF opamp has a single supply at 8.x volt... I believe I'll need at least 10v. rated cap and BGN 33/16 is going to be too expensive compare to cost of the head unit. KZ seems very interesting, I used them in power supply part of my rotel cd player and my gainclone amp but never try as signal coupling. Any further comment are very welcome

4th February 2009, 02:06 PM	#5
sangram diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: India	Voltage at output pin will be 4V if it is properly biased to half-supply voltage. I agree that a 12V cap would actually be safest, btw. If you are trying KZ, I'd love to hear feedback on how it went for you.

4th February 2009, 02:52 PM	#6
hafp diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2008	Give the ELNA America Silmac II RFS series caps a try. The 10uf 25v caps from Digikey are very cheap. Some say the RFS caps sound close to the BGs. Good luck.

5th February 2009, 01:39 PM	#8
100db diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangkok, Thailand	Just ask Percy for the quote, will start with KZ in the front channel and see how it perform