Be Cautious with Obbligato Film Caps

[Steve Morley]

The shiny gold case just under the thin plastic cover is conductive. If you are bending the leads close to the case it might be wise to insulate them. As well if other components come close to the case some heat shrink tubing might be in order.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Mush]

There's also Plasti-Dip Electrical.

Liquid Electrical Tape & Spray Electrical Insulation | Plasti Dip International

 

[ddroukas]

I just got some of these in the mail but they appear to be shrink wrapped in plastic. Am I supposed to remove it?

 

[kevinkr]

I wouldn't..

 

[Steve Morley]

The shrink wrap is thin

DDROUKAS,

It just looks like packaging wrap, too fragile and thin to be seriously considered insulation.

 

[jameshillj]

You can simply wrap insulation tape around them but I add good quality heatshrink over the metal body plus tube sleeve insulation on the wires - better to be safe than ...

 

[Eli Duttman]

Belt and suspenders, uh huh.

 

[jameshillj]

It's quite surprising how often you see these 'bare metal' capacitors in builds, often just relying on the leads to support them

I remember a time when the idea was to remove the insulation jacket off electrolytic caps too - apparently, they can 'sound better' that way, but ...

And then there was the horrible practice of breaking off the power cord 'earth pin' to avoid ground loop hum - makes you wonder how we survived!

 

[wrenchone]

I'm so cautious, I don't buy them... Well constructed, well documented film caps are available at a fraction of the cost.

 

[infinia]

my shiny precious

 

[Pano]

Well constructed, well documented film caps are available at a fraction of the cost.

They aren't as bad as you think. They are built on reputable machines to good tolerances an they prices are not bad. I've use them, they are just fine.

 

[ericj]

It's quite surprising how often you see these 'bare metal' capacitors in builds, often just relying on the leads to support them

I remember a time when the idea was to remove the insulation jacket off electrolytic caps too - apparently, they can 'sound better' that way, but ...

And then there was the horrible practice of breaking off the power cord 'earth pin' to avoid ground loop hum - makes you wonder how we survived!

These fancy caps wouldn't sell nearly as well if they were dipped in epoxy. Unless the epoxy was deer hunt safety orange i guess.

I've seen run of the mill metal film resistors that have had the conformal coating washed or chipped off, too.

Without the shrink wrap label, an electrolytic looks more vintage and more vintage means sounds better.

As for the earth pin - most consumer audio gear doesn't have it to begin with and then when you connect something that does, you get a ground loop because of the poor design of either or both components.

 

[cygnus x1]

Try the CDE 940-942 series. A third of the price, very balanced sound. Built to industrial standards in the good old USA. Even Humble Homemade HIFI rated them pretty well.

 

[MelB]

"Try the CDE 940-942 series." I second that. I use them. I love them.