Which BG cap best suited for cathode bypass?

[reaction]

I am about to order Black Gate caps for my pre-amp project and I am little bit confused - one source claims that FK serie is best for cathode bypass and other source claims that non-polar NX serie is best!

Could you please give me some ideas which type to order, because I haven't listen to any FK and NX caps till now. I really don't know how they would behave there. Thank you in advance.

 

[kevinkr]

A couple of my friends have tried both and the consensus seems to be that the NX sounds best as cathode bypass. Why this would be so is not intuitively obvious to me. Your mileage may vary - try both!

Kevin

 

[andyjevans]

Since BGs are now officially unobtanium, could folks suggest substitutes that are widely on sale?

 

[analog_sa]

Since BGs are now officially unobtanium, could folks suggest substitutes that are widely on sale?

Who told you that? I have no probs obtaining them. Then again i live in Africa and stuff is easy to get here

 

[andyjevans]

There were a few posts on AA saying that Black Gates production was stopped, leaving only existing stocks. If you are sitting on existing stocks in Africa, that could be useful - people are still trying to locate them.

 

[kmtang]

BG capacitors are still available from Canada. However, I now switched to other film or oil capacitors for my new amps.

Johnny

 

[analog_sa]

There were a few posts on AA

Rumours. Production has not stopped.

 

[andyjevans]

"The latest news is that Takeda/Jelmax have announced that for the time being Rubycon will continue to produce the full range of Black Gate capacitors, probably due to the enormous rush of orders they received in the run-up to ceasing production. This is good news indeed, even for us who have invested in years of stock at considerable cost.
Sincerely,
Peter Qvortrup
10th April 2005"

Seems they are available after all.

 

[boneshaker]

Myth or fact: "BG N caps must be used constantly to sound good"?

I read on the net that BG N-type caps (after initial forming) continue to sound good only if they are used constantly, and that otherwise they will have to be "re-formed" again and again (e.g. after you have not used the amp for 3 weeks).

Is this myth or fact? If this is true, are there alternative cap choices that are not so "touchy"?

Best wishes
Peter

 

[analog_sa]

Is this myth or fact?

It obviously depends on who you're asking. They sound fine to me even new and i don't notice any startling difference with break-in. Of course i realise (at 43) a lot of people have better hearing.

 

[Jasper]

BG FK vs Nx

I've tried both BG Nx and FK and the Nx sounds more refined in my 2A3 amps. I think the bipolar and symmetrical construction of the Nx helps here.

Both types are definitely better sounding than the Standard BG's. I have ordered a supposedly last large batch of BG's in the Netherlands which should arrive this week (types: Nx, Wkz, NH and VK).

I am glad to get rid of all those large oilcans in the powersupply of my tube amps!

Enjoy,
Jasper