Best sounding 500v. electrolytics

[john dozier]

There are not too many choices in 500v. electrolytics. Does anyone have experience in the difference in SQ among these? Which manufacturer produces these caps with the best SQ. Thanks

[bigwill]

The good quality ones that don't pop and thus keep the amp working

[scott17]

I have had good results with the JJ Electronic 500V caps. Decent pricing.

Also used Nichicon PT series with good results however they are only available up to 450V.

[Salectric]

The best all-around 500v caps I have are the Black Gate WKZ series, but unfortunately they are no longer made. I have tried several other types since then and the best ones are the Mundorf M-TubeCap (actually a film cap) and the Jensen.

The Mundorf sounds very good. Compared to the BG WKZ, the Mundorf is a bit warmer and less bright, and also does not have the recessed mids of the BG caps. However, the Mundorf doesn't have the overall speed and frequency extension of the BG. I do not like the Jensen as much as the Mundorf. The Jensen has fairly good detail and deep bass, but it is rather dark and heavy sounding. The Jensens I have tried are all 100 + 100 uf/500v. The Mundorfs I have used are all single 100uf/550v.

[MrCurwen]

My point of view is that any design that is serious about sound quality wouldn't have an electrolyte in the signal path anyway, so the question is moot. Bias can be had with LEDs for example and PSU's should be isolated behind a regulator. Does wonders to the sound quality in my opinion.

[scott17]

Originally Posted by MrCurwen

My point of view is that any design that is serious about sound quality wouldn't have an electrolyte in the signal path anyway, so the question is moot. Bias can be had with LEDs for example and PSU's should be isolated behind a regulator. Does wonders to the sound quality in my opinion.

There was no mention of 500V electrolytics in the signal path in the OPs question, so the question is in no way moot. I was thinking the question was in reference to the power supply.

[Green77]

I'm with scitizen17..JJ works fine for the money

[TubeManiac]

Originally Posted by bigwill

The good quality ones that don't pop and thus keep the amp working

I agree

[data]

It would be nice and also helpful to know, in what position these will be used.

[richwalters]

Originally Posted by MrCurwen

My point of view is that any design that is serious about sound quality wouldn't have an electrolyte in the signal path anyway, so the question is moot. Bias can be had with LEDs for example and PSU's should be isolated behind a regulator. Does wonders to the sound quality in my opinion.

Fact of life: electrolytics (in the hundreds) are used in the sound path of every studio console whether one likes it or not: economics.
The 500V elco types I come across, typ Farnell stock 536490,536519,1369534 all screw types and not cheap, often have horrendous delivery times.
The only way I get out of the problem is to double up in series with mass produced 105°C types, space takers which is annoying. I often use 600V B+ where a series cap combination is a painful unavoidable solution.

richy