Opinons on Blackgate Capacitors

[seandfac]

I am about to start upgrading my VRDS-7 and after I have fitted my IEC socket i plan to upgrade the Capacitors on the audio board to all blackgate capacitors (due to the reviews i have read)

I would like some unbiased opinions on blackgate or recommendations and pricings of a better make?

Your views will be read with interest

Sean
Bespoke Audio

[analog_sa]

recommendations and pricings of a better make

There is no better make

[Drew.J.K]

i used OScons in the digital sections of my player and silmics through out the analouge stage

silmics are very nice sounding, especialy if ya players sounding a bit harsh

my only experience of black gates is when i used the n/nx series as coupling caps and FK's as decoupling in my amp. After the lengthy burn in they start to sound rather clean sounding. TBH i dunno if i like their sonic signature all that much, dont get me wrong they are very good caps, suposedly the best lytic around, but their signature is fairly different to others and they are very expensive.

[eeka chu]

Also, they're about to go out of production, which is really annoying if you're planning on finding source to use for any length of time.

A lot of people have already questioned how likely it is that they'll actually drop the production.

Audio Note use them for a lot of their Hi-Fi's; they don't think there's anything better. Given that they've already started their own line of resistors to match the Japanese ones they used to buy, and a line of paper in oil caps to replace the ones they used to buy from Jensen, I'd agree with fdegroove that they may even try to pick up the license for manufacturing Blackgate caps themselves.

Since they use so many of them, it might actually be economical.

[seandfac]

I got an e-mail form Partsconnexion about the blackgate production and they are currently buying up as many of the blackgates as they can lay their hands on so as they said hopefully when I fax them my list of requiredd parts (including the iec socket and all wires I need) I won't have a problem getting them

I won't buy them here in the uk as they are about 3X more expensive than it is to buy from Canada and get them shipped in.

Just for all you peeps in th UK I have bought From Partsconnexion before and they are fast and reasonably priced.


Sean
Bespoke Audio

[seandfac]

BTW They also stock Kimber Caps as well 60% cheaper than the uk supplier.

[slawney]

BGs are fairly highly-colored by comparison to many other low ESR lytics, but they have a sound that most audiophiles like quite alot: very impressive bass extension, mids with alot of presence, very quiet backgrounds, with reported long lifetime. On the other hand, besides the high price and the possibility that they will go out of production, they do not really excell in treble region as much as they do in lower frequencies, their soundstage width is a little above average, they add a tube-like warmth that some may not like, they take a long time to break in, and overall sonic signature is really a matter of taste (indeed, some people loathe the sound of BGs).
I have used BGs in commercial digital and analog audio modifications, the ACs in loudspeaker crossovers, the PKs in mixing board and tape machine restoration as well as musical instrument electronics, and I even swapped out the -lytics in a TV with BGs
BGs are my first choice in low-voltage power supply smoothing and regulation circuits, digital decoupling (over OsCons); certain types work better than others in analog circuits; for coupling, I prefer the sound of some film caps over BGs, and I recommend they be used rather sparingly in this application, or at least tested against other options. Also, some of the claims in the Jelmax Reports (downloadable at partsconnexion) should be tested for yourself. The ideas about "dumping", adding extra ground mass, and some of the suggested circuits are good, but I really would not recommend the "graft method" for replacing 'lytics, nor is NX Hi-Q series (even with Super E L-cancelling configuration) effective in the Gigahertz region.

[peranders]

I started a thread here:
Black gate caps = religion = humbug?

[eeka chu]

Originally posted by seandfac
BTW They also stock Kimber Caps as well 60% cheaper than the uk supplier.

That's really interesting information. What's the postage cost and time like?

[seandfac]

Well from my last purchase (2 books on tube amp design and build) the postage was about $20 US and took 3 days) if i remember correctly.

It was a few months ago.

Their postage is calculated by weight so a load of caps etc will/should be cheaper.

Hope this helped

Sean
Bespoke Audio