Just for fun, I'll start this thread to go along with the one for electrolytic capacitors. Lets see what others would choose/recommend and that they use/recommend.
So to make it more logical as far as comparisions go, and to focus on the application, I'll narrow it down to a part that I am looking at for options, one that would fit the particular footprint (5,10,15mm lead spacing) on a amplifier pcb design I am evaluating. The part selection will have the same capacity and voltage ranges ( 63VDC to 450VDC) suitable for the function of input coupling into a power amp having an input of 62kohm.
This is a link to a Mouser page that selects the candidates, which are in stock at this time, there is enough of them to choose from.
https://www.mouser.ca/c/passive-components/capacitors/film-capacitors/?capacitance=1 uF&dielectric=Polypropylene (PP)&lead spacing=5 mm~~15 mm&termination style=Radial&voltage rating dc=63 VDC|~100 VDC|~160 VDC~~200 VDC|~250 VDC~~350 VDC|~400 VDC|~420 VDC~~450 VDC&instock=y&sort=pricing&rp=passive-components/capacitors/film-capacitors|~Voltage Rating DC|~Lead Spacing
The cheapest is the Panasonic ECW-FD2W105J ( $0.595CDN) vs the most expensive Vishay BFC241611005 ($8.90)
So to make it more logical as far as comparisions go, and to focus on the application, I'll narrow it down to a part that I am looking at for options, one that would fit the particular footprint (5,10,15mm lead spacing) on a amplifier pcb design I am evaluating. The part selection will have the same capacity and voltage ranges ( 63VDC to 450VDC) suitable for the function of input coupling into a power amp having an input of 62kohm.
This is a link to a Mouser page that selects the candidates, which are in stock at this time, there is enough of them to choose from.
https://www.mouser.ca/c/passive-components/capacitors/film-capacitors/?capacitance=1 uF&dielectric=Polypropylene (PP)&lead spacing=5 mm~~15 mm&termination style=Radial&voltage rating dc=63 VDC|~100 VDC|~160 VDC~~200 VDC|~250 VDC~~350 VDC|~400 VDC|~420 VDC~~450 VDC&instock=y&sort=pricing&rp=passive-components/capacitors/film-capacitors|~Voltage Rating DC|~Lead Spacing
The cheapest is the Panasonic ECW-FD2W105J ( $0.595CDN) vs the most expensive Vishay BFC241611005 ($8.90)
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No one has been able to make quantitative measurements that translate into superior sound from any capacitor (and resistor for that matter).
Listening tests need to be done semi scientifically - i.e. blind listening tests. I suspect the results would not be conclusive.
You may just as well buy the cheapest from a reputable source like Mouser and save the money.
Listening tests need to be done semi scientifically - i.e. blind listening tests. I suspect the results would not be conclusive.
You may just as well buy the cheapest from a reputable source like Mouser and save the money.
No idea what you mean by this, Cyril Bateman did exactly this.
My point is that the OP is not doing this.
He will get as many opinions are there are choices so might as well choose one himself.
There is rarely a defintive 'good' or 'bad' choice and too many variables - not least of which is personal preference for a particular sound.
He will get as many opinions are there are choices so might as well choose one himself.
There is rarely a defintive 'good' or 'bad' choice and too many variables - not least of which is personal preference for a particular sound.
This is the contentious and debatable issue, that I find, at least for myself, impossible to differentiate, either by instruments or by my ears.
I could sell the amp and have the option for the customer to select which one they want to use and charge a premiun for the bother to stock all those possibilities. I bet >95% will say "just use what you think is best, you are the designer, so you should know what's best" 🙂 and there will be <5% that will have their preference for what ever logical or illogical reason(s). 🙂
That's easy from a logical designers perspective 🙂 Next chance I get/Mouser Order, I'll try out the ECW-FD2W105J and compare it too the F461BS105 that I currently have installed in the design under test.
Tolerance is not an important selection criteria for the application,one could filter for >5% and narrow it down even more.
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If I was a betting man, I'd wager that you couldn't hear the difference.
If you claimed you could, I wouldn't believe you unless at least 20 others had heard both in a blind test.
If you claimed you could, I wouldn't believe you unless at least 20 others had heard both in a blind test.
Best cap is no cap. 🤓
But if you must have one, and it has to be PP, then the famous Viktor oscillator uses WIMA FKP2.
I have seen his comparison with other caps.
Cheers,
Patrick
But if you must have one, and it has to be PP, then the famous Viktor oscillator uses WIMA FKP2.
I have seen his comparison with other caps.
Cheers,
Patrick
Oh boy, there are no 1uF FKP2 to start with
https://www.mouser.ca/c/passive-components/capacitors/film-capacitors/?q=FKP&capacitance=1 uF
1uF FKP are huge, I see wolverine designers have a footprint for such a part, good for them 🙂 I guess they can justify one.
I have built a few of the famous Viktor oscillators, but my amp has -90dB THD not -120dB THD = a waste of $ using a FKP, I'll reserve them for PS filtering and Zobels etc
I’ll bet you couldn’t either. They’ll have different strengths and weaknesses, but neither will make a difference working against a 62k impedance. Ten ohms of ESR or ten ohms of ESL would be indistinguishable. And I don’t think either cap gets that bad. Drop the impedance to 600 ohms, then you might want and old fashioned shootout.
Visually, when one sees flying leads and the cap held inside the chassis with zip ties they think it’s doing something special.