+/- rail electrolytic caps - need to be identical

Ziggy · 29th May 2009, 02:32 AM

Hi guys, want to replace two Elna 5600uf caps in a 13 year old kenwood 2 channel receiver that sounds bloody amazing.........don't ask why.........it just does

My question is............do both capacitors need to be the exact brand, uf (within reason) and voltage (as per original or higher)?

The circuit has one in line bridge rectifier that is connected to the two caps which are in series creating the +and - rails.

Can different caps (brands, paralelled banks etc.) used to replace two same brand types affect the sound quality of the amp purely because they are not identical?

ostripper · 29th May 2009, 03:19 AM

Yes, both rail caps should be the same value/ brand. Different caps have different ESR (equivalent series resistance ) , so , under load, you might hear a difference.

Different caps are more forgiving , you might even improve the sound. If you get some 6800uF @ 50/63V ones (CDE, nichicon,panasonic, etc) , you will have better bass, slightly more headroom. If you parallel 2 for each rail (2 X 3300uf) , lower esr !!

http://www.low-esr.com/LowESR_Trends_QT.pdf

PC's use paralleled caps in their super high current CPU supplies.
OS

Ziggy · 29th May 2009, 05:31 AM

Thanks ostripper. I'll chuck my original idea in the bin and purchase a few good ones and maybe paralell them.

Cheers,
Rob.

29th May 2009, 02:32 AM	#1
Ziggy Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: West Australia	+/- rail electrolytic caps - need to be identical Hi guys, want to replace two Elna 5600uf caps in a 13 year old kenwood 2 channel receiver that sounds bloody amazing.........don't ask why.........it just does My question is............do both capacitors need to be the exact brand, uf (within reason) and voltage (as per original or higher)? The circuit has one in line bridge rectifier that is connected to the two caps which are in series creating the +and - rails. Can different caps (brands, paralelled banks etc.) used to replace two same brand types affect the sound quality of the amp purely because they are not identical?

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29th May 2009, 03:19 AM	#2
ostripper diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Albany , NY (smallbany)	Yes, both rail caps should be the same value/ brand. Different caps have different ESR (equivalent series resistance ) , so , under load, you might hear a difference. Different caps are more forgiving , you might even improve the sound. If you get some 6800uF @ 50/63V ones (CDE, nichicon,panasonic, etc) , you will have better bass, slightly more headroom. If you parallel 2 for each rail (2 X 3300uf) , lower esr !! http://www.low-esr.com/LowESR_Trends_QT.pdf PC's use paralleled caps in their super high current CPU supplies. OS

29th May 2009, 05:31 AM	#3
Ziggy Account Disabled Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: West Australia	Thanks ostripper. I'll chuck my original idea in the bin and purchase a few good ones and maybe paralell them. Cheers, Rob.

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