I've been musing on this for awhile, re boutique capacitors; who makes these posh caps, the likes of Auricap, Solon etc? I wouldn't have thought there's many factories where you can get your own caps made to spec ( reputable ones that is) or is it as simple as re-badging existing capacitors? Must be easier to stick a swanky label on an existing one than muck about getting one made, they do it with water.
Not really interested in the whole posh caps v's ordinary types debate, more the process of getting bespoke components manufactured.
Andy.
Not really interested in the whole posh caps v's ordinary types debate, more the process of getting bespoke components manufactured.
Andy.
On the contrary, look at the Asian factories on sites such as Aliexpress where they advertise they can brand practically anything if you order sufficient numbers. I'd say they'd be happy to make whatever you want for the right volumes and/or money...including particular specifications. They're pretty accommodating I believe.
For example, the other day was looking for an airconditioning compressor for a French car I own and found a Chinese factory that would put any label you want on the identical (copied) unit if you ordered 100+. I know this isn't a bespoke unit, but you get the idea.
Note I have no idea if, say, Solen make their own caps or subcontract it out, though.
For example, the other day was looking for an airconditioning compressor for a French car I own and found a Chinese factory that would put any label you want on the identical (copied) unit if you ordered 100+. I know this isn't a bespoke unit, but you get the idea.
Note I have no idea if, say, Solen make their own caps or subcontract it out, though.
Solen being a "posh cap"? 🙄 Made my day.
They are made by SCR, originally in France, today probably China.
They are made by SCR, originally in France, today probably China.
Hi Stuey, I need one of those for a french car I own too (still the same one) 😉
Certainly I would say that some manufacturers do make their own, but I've always personally had a large amount of suspicion when it comes to excessively priced caps. I suspect the markup on them is obscene, and that they are probably manufactured on similar equipment to similar or worse tolerances to many standard capacitors.
Tony.
Hi Tony, yeah, mine just packed it in on the 206 GTi. I couldn't believe the number of copies of the Sanden unit that were available! Good to see you still have yours.
I take the same position as you regarding caps.
I take the same position as you regarding caps.
lucky for us, esr testers are now ubiquitous and cheap and china made so that you can test your caps and compare values to labels.....
Mundorf has it's factory still in Koln, Germany (Liebigstr. 110 in 50823 Koln), but they may be the only one who's not in China.
^i wouldn't bet on that too much, i have a local american friend and he tells me he can get mundorfs in china...
I would wager a Chinese Mundorf wouldn't be a Mundorf. Germans have a knack for engineering and manufacturing. Something they are very proud of. The Chinese have a knack for half copying cosmetics and calling it authentic.
when original manufacturer's go to china to have their goods manufactured at a lower cost and therefore have bigger profit margins, one consequence is the transfer of technology....
like it or not, this is no brainer...
like it or not, this is no brainer...
Mundorf dies not produce in China, but they do export to there. And i know people who work at their plant in Koln. I’m rather sure they still do all their production there.
Interesting, thanks for the replies. Solen not posh? Probably right, the prices aren't too mad. I was over on Hifi Collective tother day and looking to see what was the most expensive cap, the winner came out at £419, bet there's more expensive examples though.
A.
A.
And often it is not about bigger profits but simply about surviving as a company ...
Jan
Which does not in any way stop them from adding gold lettering to F&T caps too. Mildly ugly.
Are Chinese machines different than German machines? I'm not sure Hans is painstakingly winding caps all day.
I have worked directly with a contract manufacturer in China that makes a significant number of parts for Bosch's medical group. They do a pretty good job, they were trained by Bosch for years.
In 2020, national pride can't hold a candle to shareholder pressure and the temptation of increased profit margin.
I wouldn't buy any Mundorf caps simply because I don't like to support snake oil salesmen. At least they don't sell beeswax caps.
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China can make great things, on their own designs and as subcontractor for the rest of the world. More hi end stuff than you would expect is made in china, and a big part of the parts also, even when the device is assembled outside China. If you pay the right price, they can make anything in any quality. But that last one is mostly the issue...
And that does not mean that someone who does everything outside is snake oil. Mundorf is a bit expensive for what they deliver, but no real snake oil. But i also use other cheaper equal good parts mostly. Jantzen crosscaps are equal good as Mundorf Mcaps, and 1/4th of the price....
If you want American-made caps, you need to look at Arizona Capacitors who also now owns Plastic capacitors, Inc, based in Chicago. I've used the PCI LQ series as xover capacitors more than once now. On Ebay, there are sources for them fairly inexpensively, whereas you would pay >$100/ea if you bought direct.
I did some digging, and at $28 for a pair shipped of 2uF 2kV (truly) Dupont Mylar^Copyright^/Aluminum Foil/oil-impregnated/bifilar (non-inductively) wound/phenolic-tube-encased/really low ESR and large contact area due to voltage ratings; you cannot get any other Film/Foil 'posh' cap in the USA for less. The lowest I found was a clearanced/sale-priced Jensen PIO/aluminum for about 3 dollars more in cost. When you go back to normal cost, it's about $35 cheaper than the Jensen, and I bought 3x to make value.
Apparently there are some made in Canada as well, but I could not tell you the 'boutique' namesake.
I don't feel the Supreme line is snake oil, as I've not heard a Mundorf I did not like. They are however- overpriced. When you figure the Jantzen Superior and Silver lines are less expensive for basically the same kind of metallized design in a metal tube.
As per my previous lay out of the LQ caps, the equivalent Supreme MKP to the same LQ F/F, actually cost $6 more than the LQ did me, with the Silver Z-Caps being $4 lower than the LQ were.
At full price, I would not seriously entertain their usage, but at the Ebay prices- they are a contender to get F/F at MKP pricing or below.
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BTW- I do not work for Arizona or PCI, and only feel they have great products for these applications.
Later,
Wolf
I did some digging, and at $28 for a pair shipped of 2uF 2kV (truly) Dupont Mylar^Copyright^/Aluminum Foil/oil-impregnated/bifilar (non-inductively) wound/phenolic-tube-encased/really low ESR and large contact area due to voltage ratings; you cannot get any other Film/Foil 'posh' cap in the USA for less. The lowest I found was a clearanced/sale-priced Jensen PIO/aluminum for about 3 dollars more in cost. When you go back to normal cost, it's about $35 cheaper than the Jensen, and I bought 3x to make value.
Apparently there are some made in Canada as well, but I could not tell you the 'boutique' namesake.
I don't feel the Supreme line is snake oil, as I've not heard a Mundorf I did not like. They are however- overpriced. When you figure the Jantzen Superior and Silver lines are less expensive for basically the same kind of metallized design in a metal tube.
As per my previous lay out of the LQ caps, the equivalent Supreme MKP to the same LQ F/F, actually cost $6 more than the LQ did me, with the Silver Z-Caps being $4 lower than the LQ were.
At full price, I would not seriously entertain their usage, but at the Ebay prices- they are a contender to get F/F at MKP pricing or below.
Untitled Document
BTW- I do not work for Arizona or PCI, and only feel they have great products for these applications.
Later,
Wolf
I like MIT/ Film and foil and Relcaps, but Wilson Audio bought them, and you know what their prices are like