The best Coupling cap (under $20)

[alexmoose]

Hey, I am looking to see what you all think about the best coupling capacitors under 20 dollars. I used Hovlands in my last amplifier design, and would have no objection to using them again unless I am told something is better. so what do you guys think? am I missing a seceret of the coupling cap world?

[tubelab.com]

You are asking for an opinion, and I am sure that you are going to get several! My vote, Auricap.

[Eli Duttman]

716P series "Orange Drops" are the least costly coupling caps. that sound OK. A very nice price for a film and foil part.

[Sherman]

I haven't tested them all but have used Solen, Auricap, Hovland and a couple others. Like Tubelab my vote goes to Auricap.

[alexmoose]

Originally posted by tubelab.com
You are asking for an opinion, and I am sure that you are going to get several! My vote, Auricap.

I am asking for opinions, but not for three-digit price tag opions.. haha

[tubee]

Whats capacity do you need Alex, until 1 uF or so? If you can find them: MKC caps, dielectricum is polycarbonate. The best plastic & cheap cap for coupling imo. Auricaps are rather expensive. A better choice then would be russian made paper in oil caps, again if you can find them. Pio is the best "secret" of coupling in tube amps.
And if you want a better option: no cap, but transformer coupled. But this will rise the price.

Check for Lundahl.se

[dsavitsk]

My opinions on some cheaper caps: http://www.ecp.cc/cap-notes.html

[Miles Prower]

Another vote for AuriCap. These are under $20.00 a pop, and work great. Replacing a 1.0uF electrolytic coupling capacitor with an AuriCap in a SS design I did made a noticeable improvement in how it sounded.

You don't need some such like a $100.00+ PiO with pure silver foils hand rolled by virgins on their thighs filled with extra special extra virgin olive oil and sealed in GEN-U-INE teak (or some other exotic wood) cylinders. Strictly a rip-off.

[tubee]

You don't need some such like a $100.00+ PiO with pure silver foils hand rolled by virgins on their thighs filled with extra special extra virgin olive oil and sealed in GEN-U-INE teak (or some other exotic wood) cylinders. Strictly a rip-off.

Agreed.

I placed four 2nd hand and old (Philips? 1965?) pio caps of 0.47 uF/700V DC in my hybrid amp(tube/fet) They beat everything for that price. They are wound from ordinairy aluminium foil.
As cap in X-over for tweeter i used some 3.4uF caps from a tube lights armatures of mid 70's. Sounds great, better than standard MKP's, they tend to sound coloured and some sharp in treble.

[tubelab.com]

I am asking for opinions, but not for three-digit price tag opions.. haha

You said COUPLING caps. .22uF 450 volt $8.50 each US. $6.85 if you are a business.


PIO caps are hit and miss. Some can sound good, and some flat and lifeless. Anything that was made out of paper 50+ years ago has degraded.

For power supplies, I have found that modern motor RUN caps have a far lower ESR than those old military PIO caps that I have been using. You can get a 100uF 370 VAC (at least 500 VDC) ASC motor run cap on Ebay for under $15. Just accidentally spark it when it is charged and you will see how good it is an delivering a bunch of energy in a big hurry. Do not confuse these with motor start caps. They are electrolytic junk.