Black Gate Capacitors are JUNK

[jgwinner]

he he I figure that'll get some traffic.

I'm looking for recommendations for 'good' capacitors for use in a solid state amp (either the Leech low TIM or Opti-MOS).

I don't need Black Gate, but was planning on finding some 'good' capacitors.

I'd go with Black Gate, but they seem fantastically expensive and also seem to be 'only' Audio file caps; I don't really trust something that isn't proven by industry. I'm pretty solidly in the objective camp.

From another thread:

I used polystyrene when I could find them, and silver mica for all picofarad caps

So that helps, but does anyone have a brand recommendation for low loss, 'good' quality caps? I'm not looking for 'audio only' caps, but mainstream parts that I can get through say Mouser, etc.

So I gather the best would be:

1) Polystyrene
2) Silver Mica

[HarryHaller]

Beats me.... Go read the objective specs in the Mouser catalog.

"I don't really trust something that isn't proven by industry"

Which industry?

This subject has been discussed to death.....

HINT!

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/searc...g&pagenumber=2

[jam]

Polystyrene?

Most manufacturers don't use them because of reliability and not being able to use flux remover without dissolving them.

You did say industry proven capacitors?

Jam

[Petter]

for the power supply, and if so -- you can choose between many good brands.

General recommendations are:
1. Don't go above 80% of manufacturers maximum capacitance for a given form factor
2. Don't use too small units -- say diameter under 1cm as they will likely dry up quickly and have a short life.
3. Try to get low impedance types capable of high ripple current.
4. 105 degC devices will typically have much higher life expectancy than 85 degC units unless you are running them at low ripple and cool.

I know Rifa, Elna, Panasonic and others make great devices. I have personally standardized on Rifa for reasons which are tangential to this discussion. I guess some of these make some low quality units as well .... My general guess is that if you spend the same amount on industrial quality units you will get better results than with lower audiophile capacity.

Your mileage may vary.

Petter

[jgwinner]

Jam:

Thanks, that's good to know! Forget that.

What I mean by 'proven to industry' is something that isn't "Audio Only".

Other than that, I don't care.

Harry:

A search for "Capacitors" is pretty useless. FWIW, I DID search for some more definitive search terms on typical manufacturers I did see on a few web sites (Mouser among them) and didn't see very many applicable hits, i.e. Nichicon, Mallory, etc.)

A search for "Precision Capacitor"

yields basically nothing. There's a lot ot capacitors I haven't seen discussed.

Wet Tantalums? Organic Polymer? Film, Polyester? Polypropylene?

Xicon has some 2% Polyester Film, but stuff like Jam points out is invaluable, that's typically not on spec sheets.

Frankly, good design principles override the need for precision 'anything' but precision components are usually also higher quality. I'm just looking for some good high quality components without paying for the snake oil.

So what brands do YOU care about?

[jgwinner]

Thanks Petter, that helps.

I was looking for electrolytics as well as some pico farad caps, I was really shopping a pricelist for all the parts, so I basically need everything.

I have some stuff in stock, but I'd rather buy everything at once to get a good rate (I'm building six),

[jam]

John,

I have very good results with most Panasonics. Pass Labs also use them in their products if that helps.

Jam

[sonnya]

Sanyo OSCON ESR value is specified in the area of 100KHz to 300KHz not the 100KHz they normaly specifie for caps. Drawback is their low voltage ratings (< 30Vdc).

Panasonic (FC), ELMA (RJH) or nichicon (HD,PL) makes good caps to.

Sonny

[HarryHaller]

Don't you mean Elna Sonny? Most all these caps have been discussed. I guess nobody will use the search feature of this sight.

[sonnya]

ooops!!! Harry You are right again!

I do use the search function before making any questions.. Why do i not put up a lot!?

Sonny