I own some vintage McIntosh amps that I need fully restored and capped. I have an MA-5100, MC-2300,MC-2500, C-28, and a MAC- 4100 receiver.
I believe I’m in dire need of a good restoration and recapping of my amplifiers, meaning getting the highest quality caps and innards. Currently I’m running on the old silver General Electric big filter caps in mine at present, but I’m getting some scratching, leaky odors, and even humming in the 2300 and tha MA-5100. I’ve heard of brand names such as Elna, Nichicon/Panasonic, IC, Chem Con, and Mepco/Electra.
If anyone who has knowledge of these brands of parts, please let me know. Thanx very much.
I believe I’m in dire need of a good restoration and recapping of my amplifiers, meaning getting the highest quality caps and innards. Currently I’m running on the old silver General Electric big filter caps in mine at present, but I’m getting some scratching, leaky odors, and even humming in the 2300 and tha MA-5100. I’ve heard of brand names such as Elna, Nichicon/Panasonic, IC, Chem Con, and Mepco/Electra.
If anyone who has knowledge of these brands of parts, please let me know. Thanx very much.
Best sources in the USA are DIGIKEY and Mouser.
Use their search engines with the part values to easily find modern substitutes.
It is possible you may need to make some adapter boards to use newer parts.
The larger capacitors should have low ESR and reasonable voltage derating.
A temperature rating of 105C rather than the usual 85C would also help.
Probably best to work on only one amp at a time, slowly and carefully.
ONLY use parts that fit the board and chassis properly.
Use their search engines with the part values to easily find modern substitutes.
It is possible you may need to make some adapter boards to use newer parts.
The larger capacitors should have low ESR and reasonable voltage derating.
A temperature rating of 105C rather than the usual 85C would also help.
Probably best to work on only one amp at a time, slowly and carefully.
ONLY use parts that fit the board and chassis properly.
Space maybe an issue.if not clarity tc2 caps for powersupply.they sound better than any electrolytic including the so called audiofile types. They are big though.
"sound better' ?? ha ha ... It could be a selling point. Actually testing - some do have flatter ESR vs. freq. Even in the audio path ,
the amp circuit's design just might highlight subtle cap qualities.
Speaker Xovers are different ,cap type "sound" can be drastic.
OS
I use these for 95% of replacements. CDE silver mica's for pF , Wima poly's for input - local rail decoupling.
Hypex uses "Samwha" mil. spec electrolytics. seen them on old Gov. e-waste , test good after 30 years.
OS