Best electrolytic capacitors

[TonyTecson]

There are no best capacitor, it is mainly in combination of audio equipment, buy only 40 different capacitors, then you will find out what is the best capacitor for you, everyone does not have the same hi-fi combination. Give me a tip,I am looking for the best woman 😀😀. Regards,Wollie

yes, best is when you are happy with your choice....

 

[TonyTecson]

My two cents on this theme is, that this is very individual.
Almost everthing can be measured but I think Sound Quality in the way what one hears, is very difficult to measure.
Feelings are hard to measure. I agree with these Elnas.
Regards Hpro

agree....if you have lots of money to burn, by all means splurge.....
but if you are the kind looking for best bang for the buck, choose caps with very low esrs, no leakage, and close to labeled caps values..

 

[sumotan]

To me these are the best PSU caps on the market today. The "audio" grade Mundorfs and Nichicons can't compare. The DNM has no sound signature but does the whole spectrum equally right where others highlight some parts. The soundstage is very big and the timing is spot on.

No, i don't did a blind trail with 50 or more people and i did not measure anything. My claims to some here are 100% subjective but i know they sound better to me and i hear differences in PSU caps.

I guess it could be due to different equipment, my findings is Split foil sounds better then T caps

 

[diyiggy]

Guys, wait a little the new Silmic III !

 

[sumotan]

Is there gonna be a Silmic lll Iggy. Lol

 

[Destroyer OS]

yes, share your anecdotes....

In short most “audio” caps ultimately will be bad sound. Coincidence that many have a lot of leakage? If you want to tune sound electrolytics of exotic types will mostly be a disappointment long term. Funny enough old Blackgate N’s in my old DAC are good. Yet Rubyicon hasn’t been a favorite except in a feedback circuit.

Very low ESR hasn’t proven desirable. I say this because Panasonic FC/FM are bad. Very durable hours tend to be a mixed bag. General caps have been more desirable. Signal film caps and rectifiers are better things to play with for changes. That or different circuits.

As before GVD are nice smaller caps.

 

[rebone]

Hi
Does anyone have an opinion on Kemet PEH200 ( 47000µF 40V ) sound wise

 

[TonyTecson]

good as they were, why did manufacturers put the "blackgates at the end of their life? "silmic" too? if they were that good why did manufacturers stop [producing them?

could those lead to counterfeiters still making and then selling them?

 

[Mark Johnson]

Pressure from Mexican drug cartels.

 

[TonyTecson]

no one really knows to come up with a sane answer...

my guess is that manufacturers found something better.....

 

[tomchr]

Manufacturers could make more money by focusing their efforts elsewhere.

Tom

 

[TonyTecson]

In short most “audio” caps ultimately will be bad sound. Coincidence that many have a lot of leakage? If you want to tune sound electrolytics of exotic types will mostly be a disappointment long term. Funny enough old Blackgate N’s in my old DAC are good. Yet Rubyicon hasn’t been a favorite except in a feedback circuit.

Very low ESR hasn’t proven desirable. I say this because Panasonic FC/FM are bad. Very durable hours tend to be a mixed bag. General caps have been more desirable. Signal film caps and rectifiers are better things to play with for changes. That or different circuits.

As before GVD are nice smaller caps.

unlike vacuum tubes, moisture ingress inside the caps is just a matter of time...

 

[TonyTecson]

Manufacturers could make more money by focusing their efforts elsewhere.

Tom

yes, the name of the game is making money, so that audiophiles like them is merely coincidental...

 

[NickKUK]

Is there gonna be a Silmic lll Iggy. Lol

3x the price ..

 

[NickKUK]

I am very happy with the Nichicon "RNU series" aluminum organic polymer electrolytics I used in my most recent line level audio build. If your supplies can accept 16 volt capacitors, the RNE series is even better.

I put some panasonic organics in an old pre stage power supply. Made a difference (5mOhm ESR!) but how much was down to the low ESR vs simply refreshing the 24yo caps is anyone’s guess!
Also i found that their 50Hz current derating took them from 4A to 400mA! Still, more than enough for my needs.

 

[diyiggy]

good as they were, why did manufacturers put the "blackgates at the end of their life? "silmic" too? if they were that good why did manufacturers stop [producing them?

could those lead to counterfeiters still making and then selling them?

No, or Hermes would had stopped long time ago.

Black-Gate if I am correct stopped because of EC rules or maybe californian ones.

Silmic II, they stopped because we told the truth about it in that thread ! (I keep my Hermes copy over a true Silmic !)

Kemet... not bad, I prefer Panasonic caps though, but most of the time I blend brands on the pcb. Rubycon has some too. There are a lot of advices in that thread but people are not curious, only few are curious, cause it is not noble and snob enough, ah !

 

[Destroyer OS]

What Hermes thread?

 

[diyiggy]

Dunno if there is really a thread, but counterfieiters do not approach the quality and reliability when one has a real Know-how. Always copied, never with sucess !

https://www.hermes.com/us/en/story/271292-contemporary-artisans-since-1837/

 

[maxpou]

Silmic II, they stopped because we told the truth about it in that thread ! (I keep my Hermes copy over a true Silmic !)

Can i know the truth on silmic II? thank you! Maxpou

 

[nigelwright7557]

Elna silmic2 have beautiful treble but unrealistic bass. Bass is louder than normal and partially spoiled and midlle area. For me is much better capacitors Nichicon Muse KZ. Natural tones without pronounced.

If a cap is modifying the sound then its faulty.