High End audio electrolytic capacitors vs China cheap generics caps

[Scott Adkins]

Let's talk about high end electrolytic capacitors vs China cheap generics caps.

What would be the sonic benefit of adding high end audio electrolytic capacitors to my amp compared to ultra cheap "XiaoBing" caps ?.

Thanks

 

[Pano]

You are new here "Scott", but these capacitor thread rarely have anything but a bad outcome. They normally just develop into pointless bickering. We really don't need another.

 

[jan.didden]

You sound like Robert. In case you are, be aware that multiple identities is against the rules here...

Jan

 

[Scott Adkins]

I need to replace all electrolytics in my Pioneer A9 those being to old and having a strange smell coming from the amp. They smell like a combination of fish, perspiration and pee .

What would be the sonic benefit of adding high end audio electrolytic capacitors to my amp compared to ultra cheap China caps ?.

All audio caps would cost me a lot but using Ebay and Alibaba I can sort the problem for very cheap buying from different merchants from China and HongKong.

 

[asuslover]

I would never buy any capacitors , any chips or any transistors from alibaba/eBay/China. Maybe resistors...

 

[abraxalito]

Having bought many thousands of caps of various brands from Taobao I'd say avoid buying cheap Nichicon as they're the most commonly faked name. Go for Samyoung.

 

[nigelwright7557]

If it says "Ebay", "cheap" or "Chinese" then do yourself a huge favour and walk away.

I bought some irpf240's for an amp off ebay.
Powered up the amp and it sounded great.
Then unplugged my soldering iron and the amp blew the 240's.
So I bought in some genuine parts from RS Components.
Despite trying very hard to blow them with plugging in/out and arcing and they wouldn't blow.
The fake parts probably had a low breakdown voltage and the spike on the mains blew them up.
Buy cheap, buy twice !

 

[asuslover]

Having bought many thousands of caps of various brands from Taobao I'd say avoid buying cheap Nichicon as they're the most commonly faked name. Go for Samyoung.

That’s a good advice , if you buy off eBay/China then don’t buy nichicons or Panasonic or other very well known brands.

 

[abraxalito]

Equally don't buy those highly dodgy Chinese brands like ChengX or Rukycon. There are some fairly reputable Chinese capacitor brands but I don't know if they show up on eBay though. Sancon is one I have had good experiences with.

 

[analog_sa]

What would be the sonic benefit of adding high end audio electrolytic capacitors to my amp compared to ultra cheap China caps ?.

It is perhaps amusing that among the many replies not even one addresses your question.

The China cap upgrade will also be amusing as it will make your amp sound worse than the original smelly caps.

As for the "high end audio"... not sure exactly what this means without mentioning specifics. Those will all have a sonic flavour, which may, or may not be to your liking. If you are, of course, inclined to hear such things.