Capacitor Type ... Help

[papanohn]

Hello all,
I've got some capacitor from old stock .Do anyone know what type of this cap ?Are they electrolytic , Film ,Foil or ??I would like to use for coupling in tube pre-amp.
Thanks ..

[jacco vermeulen]

Cornell Dubilier capacitor.

Polyester foil capacitor, aka MKT.
The WMF series merits is for high current loads, not much of a benefit for a tube amp.

[papanohn]

Many thanks Jacco,

[tomtt]

Originally posted by jacco vermeulen
Cornell Dubilier capacitor.

Polyester foil capacitor, aka MKT.
The WMF series merits is for high current loads, not much of a benefit for a tube amp.

i know of people using these, for coupling,

try these , and see how you like them.

[mitwrong]

Papanohn:

From the photo, it is a teryproprene cap. I've been using these caps. in tube amp. coupling, it sounds great, something like Wima, Ero, mkt series, but not as good as mkp. polyester.

It's a high voltage cap. around 250vac, try them in your tube cct. see if you like the sound?




WE CONSIDER NO WAISTING

[kevinkr]

I used these commercially back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. IMO the WMF series is nothing special, it is just an early type of polyester film and foil. Intended primarly for coupling/bypass applications - I have seen them used in Marantz 10B tuners and model 9 monoblocks as this type became available in the 1960's. Last time I checked they were still in production, however they are no longer made in the USA and depending on vintage can look quite different, part numbers are the same however.

Note that these as shown are clearly marked as 100Vdc and as such are not suitable for use as coupling caps in most tube amplifier topologies. WMF types come in a variety of voltage ranges.

IMO the reference in the spec to high peak current capability is a bit of a red herring, the actual rating is not specified and the comment general purpose is more appropriate.
See here for more information:

http://www.cde.com/catalogs/WMF.pdf

Incidentally I don't think these capacitors sound particularly good compared to a lot of others out there, including a lot of metalized films like the inexpensive ICW Clarity Cap.. Just my opinion, no flame fest please..

As always YMMV.

[mitwrong]

Kevinkr:
Of cause, these caps. are industrial type, today, many people use oil can capacitor in audio. In famous brand " Western Electric " is the fact. Everyone says Tcc silver film cap provide the best sound,
some say Wonder Cap, Sidereal, black widow, vitamin Q ------etc.

I found the cap we mentioned is not that bad, it produces clean sound than the round oil cap which were used in olden days. ( exactly used in the Japanese products ).

Anyway, you pick the cap. what you like. " ONE MAN'S MEAT IS ANOTHER'S POSION ".





WE CONSIDER PRODUCT AND PRICE

[papanohn]

Hi all,

Many thanks for all comments.I'll try this cap in my 12A6 SE amp asap.

Bye,

[kevinkr]

WMF Generates audible and measurable distortion. Audible smear in high frequencies was my biggest complaint. And yes they are far better than some oil filled caps, but not others. My favorite dielectric is teflon, followed by some paper types and polystyrene. I'm not big on copper clad steel leads either.. My list of acceptable caps in descending order of preference:

* Vcap TFTF
* Rel TFT
* Wonder SETI Caps (version I liked longer made)
* Jensen CPIO (copper and paper in oil)
* Jupiter (some applications)
* Rel RTX (Tizzy, harsh highs, but very detailed)
* Rel RT
* CDE WMF
* Solen (As coupling caps, psu caps would be tops)
* Wima
* Everything else

I haven't tried the Mundorf, a bit too expensive for me, despite some of the obviously expensive ones I already use.

You should definitely start with the WMF, but there are others worth checking out. The Russian milspec surplus Teflons currently available on eBay for short money are very highly regarded by diyers in this neck of the woods. I've heard them in several amplifiers that were quite good sounding. (Have not yet tried them in one of mine.)

Watch the voltage rating, the ones you show are rated 100VDC.

Obviously YMMV