Nichicon KZ vs Blackgate FK for low noise use

johnsonad · 30th June 2009, 01:37 PM

I'm building up a Hagermann Piccolo headamp and it calls for 100uF 25v caps. One guy I know used Blackgate FK's with great results. These are pricey at nearly $6 from the usual retailers and I'm wondering if the Nichicon KZ or FG's are as good (or close) in low noise applications? Any experience would be appreciated. Thanks!

IanAS · 11th May 2010, 07:52 PM

They are a very different sound from each other.

The Black Gates are very 'punchy' and fast with massive weight compared to the Nichicon KZ, which can sound rather bland after listening to BG's, but then, after a while, one realises the KZ are actually rather nice and maybe the BG's are a bit overly slam bam and weighty.

On a revealing enough system it's easy to hear the different character of each capacitor.

I used both KZ (1000u 50V) with BG FK (100u) in parallel with each other and a low cost 10,000u in a power amp. We felt too boomy. Preferred just the BG across the 10,000u.

However on my Meridian 605's, I have both the above KZ and BG FK across the output MOSFETs supply rails to Ground and it sounds good. Though the F series BG's sounded grainy an harsh.

Sorry, that doesn't help your question about noise. But the effect on the sound, as mentioned about, will be a bigger issue I think.

30th June 2009, 01:37 PM	#1
johnsonad diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Nichicon KZ vs Blackgate FK for low noise use I'm building up a Hagermann Piccolo headamp and it calls for 100uF 25v caps. One guy I know used Blackgate FK's with great results. These are pricey at nearly $6 from the usual retailers and I'm wondering if the Nichicon KZ or FG's are as good (or close) in low noise applications? Any experience would be appreciated. Thanks!

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11th May 2010, 07:52 PM	#2
IanAS diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London	They are a very different sound from each other. The Black Gates are very 'punchy' and fast with massive weight compared to the Nichicon KZ, which can sound rather bland after listening to BG's, but then, after a while, one realises the KZ are actually rather nice and maybe the BG's are a bit overly slam bam and weighty. On a revealing enough system it's easy to hear the different character of each capacitor. I used both KZ (1000u 50V) with BG FK (100u) in parallel with each other and a low cost 10,000u in a power amp. We felt too boomy. Preferred just the BG across the 10,000u. However on my Meridian 605's, I have both the above KZ and BG FK across the output MOSFETs supply rails to Ground and it sounds good. Though the F series BG's sounded grainy an harsh. Sorry, that doesn't help your question about noise. But the effect on the sound, as mentioned about, will be a bigger issue I think.

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