How about a capacitor discussion?

[Alex SE]

actually, i've bought a few of those big 1uF WIMA but i still never tried them!

Regarding some good ones, don't know if as coupling caps (their capacitance values are way too low for that) but surely as loading caps (parallel between head's signal and ground) or into EQ networks, where you can be OK with capacitance values in the hundreds of pF or a few nF, a very very good choice would be the polystirene ones... but they need special attention while soldering them.

Yes, polystirene it was and loading it was. Some of well known factories used them, I believe it was Nac. I've been adviced to put them in my 965, but have been warned to solder quickly which I always is, no mather what I'm soldering. Nobody wants overheated pads and solder joints. Thats why good soldering equipment is worth money.
Anyone can comfirm thet polystirene makes a difference?

 

[vince666]

Yes, polystirene it was and loading it was. Some of well known factories used them, I believe it was Nac. I've been adviced to put them in my 965

just fyi, in my own 965MF (the one modded with ferrite heads), i've spotted a couple polystyrene loading caps at the PB amp inputs.
Then, yes, I guess they are better than average.

another deck where i've noticed a couple polystyrene caps (this time put there just by factory) is my Technics RS-M63 and those caps are near the dolby chips.

 

[mr_rye89]

From left to right: 10uf 440ac paper in oil, .1uf 1800vdc paper in oil, 4.7uf 200v polypropylene film, 10uf 630v Solen polypropylene, 4700uf 50v electrolytic, 1uf 63v Wima polyester. I had some .22uf polystyrene caps that were yuuuuge….

 

[mlucitt]

I found this helpful. Wima (Germany) and other European Capacitor Type Codes:
Foil
FKC - Metal Foil and Polycarbonate Film
FKP - Metal Foil and Polypropylene Film

Metalized (Vacuum Deposited)
MKC - Metalized Polypropylene Film
MKI - Metalized Polyphenylene Sulphide Film
MKP - Metalized Polypropylene Film (a "Power Cap")
MKS - Metalized Polystyrene Film
MKT - Metalized Polyester (aka Mylar or Polyethylene Terephthalate {PET})

This makes sense to me now.
Ref: https://kaizerpowerelectronics.dk/theory/capacitor-code-table/

 

[Alex SE]

just fyi, in my own 965MF (the one modded with ferrite heads), i've spotted a couple polystyrene loading caps at the PB amp inputs.
Then, yes, I guess they are better than average.

That's what I was thinking about. Idea can be good but the question is where to find them and if it is worth money, since they are not easy to find. Can't be cheap.

 

[vince666]

mouser has some of them

example: https://www.mouser.it/c/passive-components/capacitors/film-capacitors/?m=Xicon&series=23P

 

[Alex SE]

mouser has some of them

example: https://www.mouser.it/c/passive-components/capacitors/film-capacitors/?m=Xicon&series=23P

Not strange at allthat I couldn't find them. Was searching "polystyrene"
Will see next month when I'm back to Sweden, who have everything I need, mouser or Digikey. Dont even know which values I need. Thinking, if I'm already there, why not to put them even in 555, 565 and 727. Just for fun.

 

[vince666]

to find them, i selected film caps and the polystyrene in the dielectric box.

maybe they are overkill on those decks? but, anyways, they would do bad for sure.

 

[Alex SE]

to find them, i selected film caps and the polystyrene in the dielectric box.

maybe they are overkill on those decks? but, anyways, they would do bad for sure.

It is maybe overkill even for 965, but for the price, it's nothing so why not.
For myself, playing with electronics is "my five minutes". Somehow, when sitting with disassembled deck I'm totaly disconnected from the rest of the world and it feels sooooo good Addicted to electronics

 

[vince666]

sure, why not?

of course, on my previous post, i meant "they would not do bad for sure" but i forgot the not.

 

[George S.]

And some big 36 uF Panasonic polypropylene. The Panasonic polypropylene in the squared black form factor also have good reviews for audio use.
These are the largest value I could find with 2 leads. Larger values have four leads.

 

[20tajk7]

Already seen these big Panasonic caps on filter circuit boards of Panasonic inverter air conditioning units.

 

[8991XJ]

10uf Solens are pretty big.

A quarter next to the cap I used for the replacement for the large value electrolytic cap in the DQ-10s would almost not show up. I had to use a large coffee cup to show the size. The cap is 3.75Φ x 3.25". I used a diced tomato can, not that regular 14.5 oz but the 28 oz. size cut and smoothed before putting some duct tape around it and attached that to the speaker. Cap is held in with a wire tie.

 

[Alex SE]

Already seen these big Panasonic caps on filter circuit boards of Panasonic inverter air conditioning units.

HUH?
I bet those air conditioners sounds good

 

[mr_rye89]

I like how this became a “whose capacitor is bigger” thread lmao

 

[Alex SE]

I like how this became a “whose capacitor is bigger” thread lmao

Well, in our ages thats the only thing we can compare.... ok, maybe speakers too.
Just hope that we'll make some conclusion about which caps for what. Otherwise this discussion will become as same as all other out there
Still no answers if 500mV in signal path can be cosidered as 0V

 

[8991XJ]

Just hope that we'll make some conclusion about which caps for what.

Just ordered caps for 3 power amps. Got UPWs for the AC power supply and audio caps for the amplifier boards. I'm going to use films for the small values and that will be good enough to be a nice improvement overall, whether sonic or not, maybe I'll see as I'm doing two of the same amp. Compare before restore then restore one and see if there is an improvement. I'm not changing the big caps in those amps. They are dual caps, I'd need to replace with a pair of caps on each channel...these amps have dual power supplies for their 80 wpc rating.

 

[Alex SE]

Just ordered caps for 3 power amps. Got UPWs for the AC power supply and audio caps for the amplifier boards. I'm going to use films for the small values and that will be good enough to be a nice improvement overall, whether sonic or not, maybe I'll see as I'm doing two of the same amp. Compare before restore then restore one and see if there is an improvement. I'm not changing the big caps in those amps. They are dual caps, I'd need to replace with a pair of caps on each channel...these amps have dual power supplies for their 80 wpc rating.

What audio caps was your choice? Are you gonna replace some polarized with bipolars or direct replacements only, as originals?

 

[8991XJ]

Same as originals.
Nichicon. oops, I lied, I am using mostly UKL which are not listed as Audio grade. And UPW for the power supplies. I am using a UFW in one location.

KL being low leakage will be a quieter cap than original, not that it is necessary.

This based on my order. I have a handful of caps in stock to fill out the needs of these amps. UFG and UFW are probably represented and the bipolars radials are UES. The axial bipolar is a CD/IC cap. Bourns multi-turn vrs.

 

[Alex SE]

Hello guys!
Had some family things to solve and 2 months later I'm back, finally. Anyway...

Just found out that Nichicon have updated a homepage and one thing that is missing is a capacitor catalog by pictures. There was two ways to find a right capacitor, by series list and description and by pictures and description. I'm looking for the other one which can be used to identify a capacitor by how it looks (color and stripe), some of you surely know what I mean. I'm wondering if anyone have it or know where to find it. Was searching on google but couldn't find anything.
BTW, here is a link to diagram for those who would like to have it on a local HDD.