Panasonic ECA Audio caps?

[h_a]

Hi folks!

Ever heared or even used Panasonic's ECA Audio caps? I usually use FC or FM for audio thingies, but today I stumbled over these and wondered that I've never heared or read something about them. Looking at the date on the engineering datasheet, 12/2006, they seem brandnew.

However I do know that Panasonic uses some 'special audio' caps in their high end stuff and even advertise that. However I do not know wether these are the same caps.

Panasonic do not list them on their industrial website, however Farnell lists some information

Some general information/overview over Panasonic ECA Audio

An example of Panasonic ECA Audio

So, do you ever have heared something about these? Or am I just the last person that didn't know these parts?

All the best, Hannes

[h_a]

Ha! I found the stuff on Panasonic's noble audio caps:

They call 'em Panasonic Pureism (PZ) and use 'em in their Bluray players, see here

Sometimes these are also sold on ebay

Ebay-ad mentions also X-pro caps; however this sounds like the usual marketing gimmick.

I never took that serious, however if they sell now even at very industrial, no-nonsense distributors like Farnell I'm getting interested.

What do you think?

All the best, Hannes

[h_a]

So here's the datasheet - should work without cookies.

They mention Manila hemp as separator and 'solid tinned copper weld steel wire' as leads.

What the heck does that mean? Copper weld? Is that non-standard?

Otherwise Manila hemp seems to me to be the same class of materials as what all the other audio caps use (Muse, Silmic).

Still nobody heared of these Panasonic caps?

Nobody an opinion on these?

All the best, Hannes

[TimA]

I have used lots of them in my diy DACs, tempted by the low price. Previously I had used Silmics with very good results in other projects. I have not directly compared these ECAs against Silmics though.

Tim.

[max29]

Tim:
Anywhere for sale the pureism of panasonic ?
Need alsoo the higher values cause like the sound.

Thanks Max
Do they sell the Jensen 4 pole somewhere in UK at reasonable prices or the BHC slit foils.

Used or new both welcome

[h_a]

Hi Max,

I think Tim meant the ECA Audio caps, not the pureism. The pureism were only used in that bluray-player and I know of only one shop to get them (in very few sizes).

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that pureism and ECA Audio would be essentially the same thing.

All the best, Hannes

[audioDIYer]

Originally posted by h_a
...I know of only one shop to get them (in very few sizes).

I have 47/16, 470/16, 1000/16, 3300/16, 10/25 and 47/63...

Only these values...


BTW: I prefer Panasonic FM's

[h_a]

(@Pureism: Well, seems there are also 100uF, 470uF, 1000uF with 25V voltage.)

I just wondered why nobody uses or even mentions them, they are fairly cheap and appear to be no-nonsense parts (I especially like the claim of other cap manufacturers that their audio grade caps feature copper leads to reduce distortion. What about the large aluminium foil inside the cap?).

They even offer decent life time (2000 hours 85°C).

Appears to me that Panasonic makes too little marketing for these, no special brand name like 'fine gold', 'muse', whatever. No black sleeve with gold imprint.

Well, since there is no common sense about audio grade caps anyway I guess one could just use whatever one wants.

At least interesting to know that such a huge company like Panasonic/Matsushita offers them and even at a decent price.

All the best, Hannes

[CharleyW]

"Copperweld" is a steel-cored wire with a copper plating. Generall a sonic recipe to be avoided (or, I think so, anyway).

The Sprague Orange Drop 715P caps have leads of this formulation - the 716P's have "pure" copper leads.

Hope this helps.

[h_a]

Thanks for your explanation! Hannes