pooge said:
I was surprised too, but my Wimas where all buyed from RS Components here in Italy in various batches from 2006 to the last one, of 3 differents values, in December 2008.
All of them, except one single capacitor, are non-magnetic.
Another batch buyed from Distrelec (10% precision) two years ago is magnetic.
I've buyed two FPK2 2,5% from mouser and they're going to arrive in middle January: I'll put a magnet nearby...
FedEx arrived yesterday with a Mouser's box...
Nichicon KW Magnetic (Surprise!)
Nichicon KS Magnetic
Nichicon VR Magnetic
Epcos B32520 Magnetic
Koa Speer MF1/4 Magnetic end caps
IRC RC55LF NON-Magnetic (Surprise!)
Wima MKP2 5% Magnetic
Wima FKP2 2.5% NON- Magnetic
So the IRC's datasheet do not tell the truth... no steel end caps!
Koa Speers MF have copper leads but steel endcaps...
And it seems confirmed that Wima FKP2 under 5% is NON-magnetic!
Nichicon KW Magnetic (Surprise!)
Nichicon KS Magnetic
Nichicon VR Magnetic
Epcos B32520 Magnetic
Koa Speer MF1/4 Magnetic end caps
IRC RC55LF NON-Magnetic (Surprise!)
Wima MKP2 5% Magnetic
Wima FKP2 2.5% NON- Magnetic
So the IRC's datasheet do not tell the truth... no steel end caps!
Koa Speers MF have copper leads but steel endcaps...
And it seems confirmed that Wima FKP2 under 5% is NON-magnetic!
You really need to listen to the individual parts. I've listened to some components with paramagnetic parts inside that clearly sounded better than other brands of non-magnetic parts.
Design is important. But execution of the design is equally as important. But is seems like few companies get every aspect of a part optimum. You need to select the least of the evils.
Kindof like voting for politicians.
Design is important. But execution of the design is equally as important. But is seems like few companies get every aspect of a part optimum. You need to select the least of the evils.
Kindof like voting for politicians.
Hi KBK,
could you perhaps tell what's wrong with brass?
Are you aware of the probably(?) much 'worse' alloys used in metal film resistors for example?
Or maybe it's not the Rho coefficient in brass that 'disturbs' you most?
Otherwise a very good initiative regarding non-magnetic components.
Cheers Michael
Mundorf - NONmagnetic
Kiwame - magnetic, and I think non carbon, because very low temperature coefficient. I think this resistor is simple metal oxide.
As they are rebadged KOA Speer SPR2 and SPR5 (Mouser stocks them), "well priced" is really pushing it. The originals seem to sell for something like 4c ea in Japan.
Although I find them almost grotesquely coloured they are still good value @4c if your system is intolerably harsh. The audiophile price otoh...
I just bought a batch of 100 capacitors from the EPCOS "B32612 ... B32614" series of capacitors. They are MKP metallized film capacitors.
http://www.epcos.com/inf/20/20/db/fc_2009/MKP_B32612_614.pdf
The ones I bought are non magnetic. I say 'mine' are as sometimes times things can change, or different versions made in different factories. Getting a high current low diss. factor good sounding film cap at a good price these days... can be quite difficult.
This Epcos series looks like a good contender for a budget priced quality capacitor.
Considering that the availability and the pricing of the Wima MKP series can be compromised, at best... this is a good thing to know -about this EPCOS series of capacitors.
http://www.epcos.com/inf/20/20/db/fc_2009/MKP_B32612_614.pdf
The ones I bought are non magnetic. I say 'mine' are as sometimes times things can change, or different versions made in different factories. Getting a high current low diss. factor good sounding film cap at a good price these days... can be quite difficult.
This Epcos series looks like a good contender for a budget priced quality capacitor.
Considering that the availability and the pricing of the Wima MKP series can be compromised, at best... this is a good thing to know -about this EPCOS series of capacitors.
1/f and/or molecularity sourced diode(ish)junction noise. Brass has it. Silver and copper have less of it.
It also has to do with the complex field bleed in and bleed out or 'fluctuation of the complex LCR fields' and interactions with the metals... and their physical 3d construction. And so on.
Mundorf can make a decent sounding alloy, regarding their solders. This is a dark art, in some ways.
Suffice it to say I prefer no brass if I can get it. Copper is better, to me, than silver, sonically speaking, for connectors. Silver is second, to me.
All can have variations on their molecular noise due to alloy or purity considerations. For example, I prefer the Cardas pure copper binding posts, over anything else. I have not tried all binding posts. The given binding post would have to be a very pure metal and not alloy, to grab my attention.
It is a case of removing noise from the given chain, one step at a time, until you get to the point that single changes become very obvious,as the window is finally cleaning up.
One cannot get there to realize these points, until one embarks on clearing up all those layers of noise. Which is why it can be difficult to figure out that this is what needs to be done--as the difficulty resides in understanding that the noise is there in the first place. It is hidden under the noise created by all the substandard parts! Noise on noise, who who can figure this out? It takes time to 'get it'. Nothing new under the sun, it seems.
Which is why it tends to be the last state of audio design or DIY efforts, with regard to one's 'path' in audio.
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Hi,
Mundorf Supreme Silver/Oil are definitely non-magnetic, and knowing the pedigree of the company, I would be very surprised if all Mundorf caps are not similar.
Kiwame are also non-magnetic, as are the newer Takman carbon-films and very likely their metal film range - although I don't know for sure as I haven't tested metal-film Takmans.
The popular Mills wire-wounds are non-magnetic as well.
Are you shure about it?
KOA SPR, which as far as I know are Kiwame, are magnetic.
Takmans are all non magnetic. I've used both Carbon and Metal film.
Hi,
Why does the system crash just before pressing the send button!!
This is the second attempt at a reply, and it is lucky you queried the Kiwames.
Prior to posting previously I checked the 2W & 5W Kiwames I have in stock and their leads are all non-magnetic. However, I just checked again and surprisingly their bodies are magnetic, so I am sorry if I temporarily misled anyone over their construction.
In around 40yrs I don't recall many (any?) times when the leads were OK but the bodies were magnetic, as usually the problem is the other way around with leads which are frequently magnetic.
I should have been more careful but I only use Kiwames (and Takmans) for occasional repairs/upgrades to guitar amps so I am not as concerned about the components construction. I wouldn't use Kiwames for audio use but they are good for guitar amps because they do sound more like the original vintage carbon resistors of the time.
The Kiwames I have were all purchased from PartsconneXion in Canada and they have green cement-coated bodies with their values shown in 3 places around the body. I don't know anything about "KOA SPR" resistors or who makes them as I have not come across them before.
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Do you intend Kiwames, isn'it?
Yes leads are copper made but endcaps are magnetic.
There are other threads here on DIY Audio where KOA (SPR, you can find them from Mouser) is told to be the real manifacturer of Kiwames.
I assume KOA bought Speer a resistor manufacturer in Bradford PA. Oil country but enough coal mines to get the right carbon for carbon comp resistors.
Attached are the distortion curves for a carbon comp and a KOA Speer unit.
Doesn't anybody read Jan Didden's Linear Audio?
Attached are the distortion curves for a carbon comp and a KOA Speer unit.
Doesn't anybody read Jan Didden's Linear Audio?
