Panasonic FM on signal path ?

[deuginthesky]

Hello all,



These caps are highly praised in PSUs, but what about signal path ?

Can they compete with Nichicon FG or FW, as well as Silmic II or others "audio grade" electrolytic caps ?

Thanks.

edit: Intended use is on CDP output stages (also integrated amps signal path).

 

[Eric Juaneda]

Hi deuginthesky,
Do you really need electrolytic capacitors in signal path?
Eric

 

[deuginthesky]

To upgrade the caps that already are on the signal path.

I can not replace them with MKPs or any good film caps because of capacitance required and size needed.

 

[Eric Juaneda]

I perform listening comparison between electrolytic capacitors in power supply : Comparing electrolytic capacitors
Perhaps it will help you.

Eric

 

[stephensank]

Eric,
Not a really fair test, as you used one of the lowest grade Nichicon caps. Try Muse ES, FG, FW or at least PL or VZ grades for a fair comparison.
But, I think more importantly, you don't take reliability into account. From 30 years of experience, I can tell you that Panasonic/Matsushita, Rubycon & Elna are the most guaranteed-to-fail(usually leaking corrosive electrolytes on the board) lytics made in Japan, perhaps in the world. Lucky if you get five years out of them. Nothing is more reliable than Nichicon, in my experience, and I think the upper grades of them are as good or better in performance for audio applications, whether signal or power use.

 

[Eric Juaneda]

Hi stephensank,

...Not a really fair test, as you used one of the lowest grade Nichicon caps. Try Muse ES, FG, FW or at least PL or VZ grades for a fair comparison...

I'm not a specialist of Nichicon capacitors. I buy one low ESR series available at Farnell. It seems that none of series ES, FG, FW be available on their catalog. Thanks for the information.
I look at Nichicon web site, actual audio grade series : ES, KZ, KW.

...But, I think more importantly, you don't take reliability into account. From 30 years of experience, I can tell you that Panasonic/Matsushita, Rubycon & Elna are the most guaranteed-to-fail(usually leaking corrosive electrolytes on the board) lytics made in Japan, perhaps in the world. Lucky if you get five years out of them...

Many Japanese electronics use Elna, I never ear problems about theses components. My Marantz CD 94 have plenty of, and after 20 years of working, none of them fail. Maybe I'm very lucky 🙂

Eric