Hi, I'm looking for advice on choosing good quality components for my first amp build. I want to avoid exotic and expensive (especially capacitors) but also want to avoid the cheapest components intended for disposable electronics. Any advice on buying good quality components would be appreciated.
I include a link to the build: The 6CY7 Amp | Cascade Tubes
I include a link to the build: The 6CY7 Amp | Cascade Tubes
Farnell doesn't sell any garbage. Check their stock. For the .01 uf I would use vishay sprague orange drop, the polyprophylene ones, but they are quite pricey. Make sure the voltage rating exceeds the application. Put voltage and value in their selector tool, check stock only and no special order, they will show you what they are keeping. I believe they will force you to call the .01 uf a 10 nf, just because a rating has worked for 70 years doesn't mean we shouldn't change today.
The multi uf caps will have to be electrolytic, which are inevitably short life. Buy the longest service life rating you can find in stock, sometimes 3000 hr, sometimes 10000 hr. I've been happy with panasonic, nichicon, rubycon. Less strenuous end of life rating caps are united chemicon, CDE, multicomp. All those brands have performed okay for me in my organs & amps. Prior to the internet & debit card, I had to buy the TV store stock caps, probably 1000 hour service life rated or shorter. I've had to replace those electrolytics 4 times in my tube amp I bought in 1970. the 50 uf cathode bypass cap should be rated 25 or 50 v to maintain the capacitance value at the low voltage on it.
The starred sale caps are passed their shelf life. Charge them up with the ohms scale of a dvm to reform before using them.
The multi uf caps will have to be electrolytic, which are inevitably short life. Buy the longest service life rating you can find in stock, sometimes 3000 hr, sometimes 10000 hr. I've been happy with panasonic, nichicon, rubycon. Less strenuous end of life rating caps are united chemicon, CDE, multicomp. All those brands have performed okay for me in my organs & amps. Prior to the internet & debit card, I had to buy the TV store stock caps, probably 1000 hour service life rated or shorter. I've had to replace those electrolytics 4 times in my tube amp I bought in 1970. the 50 uf cathode bypass cap should be rated 25 or 50 v to maintain the capacitance value at the low voltage on it.
The starred sale caps are passed their shelf life. Charge them up with the ohms scale of a dvm to reform before using them.
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An easy way to tell if components are quality, is a standard magnet, avoid components with steel legs, they are often low quality.
I often place bids on eBay auctions, some components dealers, often clear their shelves and sell mixed lots of capacitors, I've made many good deals this way.
Just buy a giant neodymium..Interesting, but a bit difficult to do on the Mouser website.
If you buy from Mouser or Digi-Key there won't be a problem. Look at the datasheets to see which cap is closest to your application.Interesting, but a bit difficult to do on the Mouser website.
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