Bottlehead Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: atchicago on March 16, 2024, 09:33:16 AM

Title: need help with capacitor in s.e.x 2.1
Post by: atchicago on March 16, 2024, 09:33:16 AM

The audio bugs are getting back to me. I want to upgrade the caps. I did a bit homework and found this:
https://forum.bottlehead.com/index.php?topic=11668.0

quote, "  I bought a pair of Audiocap PPT Theta 0.10uF 600V Film/Foil Capacitors for about $15 USD",  by Natural Sound.

but when I look it up. it is more than $70 now for a pair on part express. ouch
https://www.parts-express.com/Audiocap-PPT-Theta-0.10uF-600V-Film-Foil-Capacitor-027-710?quantity=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20339235570&utm_content=164922435532&gadid=692917497003&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GogyOdgzoPGF-Xm946wT5dilVpu8zb7CyDHJJ21JhQv_excdUjrmcT0aAiEPEALw_wcB


any suggestions? any other caps that will work as well as Audiocap?

I found this one: Jantzen Audio 0.10uF 1200V Z-Superior Capacitor.
https://www.parts-express.com/Jantzen-0502-0.10uF-1200V-Z-Superior-Capacitor-027-460?quantity=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20339235570&utm_content=164922435532&gadid=692917497003&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GoixGaUbTp4BAx9hBUGpZQUztNmDwHO8qpDNragLEBeapt2Q95TWts8aAvPxEALw_wcB (https://www.parts-express.com/Jantzen-0502-0.10uF-1200V-Z-Superior-Capacitor-027-460?quantity=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20339235570&utm_content=164922435532&gadid=692917497003&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GoixGaUbTp4BAx9hBUGpZQUztNmDwHO8qpDNragLEBeapt2Q95TWts8aAvPxEALw_wcB)


or this one,
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nichicon/PHC1604200KN/13662904?utm_adgroup=General&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMax%20Shopping_Product_Zombie%20SKUs&utm_term=&utm_content=General&utm_id=go_cmp-17815035045_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-13662904_sig-Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GojGhwOGG7w3brDbw14rqoqIV5aPXe6X-mP1Sps8MkFSS6YhQgA-xfkaAgTFEALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GojGhwOGG7w3brDbw14rqoqIV5aPXe6X-mP1Sps8MkFSS6YhQgA-xfkaAgTFEALw_wcB (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nichicon/PHC1604200KN/13662904?utm_adgroup=General&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMax%20Shopping_Product_Zombie%20SKUs&utm_term=&utm_content=General&utm_id=go_cmp-17815035045_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-13662904_sig-Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GojGhwOGG7w3brDbw14rqoqIV5aPXe6X-mP1Sps8MkFSS6YhQgA-xfkaAgTFEALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GojGhwOGG7w3brDbw14rqoqIV5aPXe6X-mP1Sps8MkFSS6YhQgA-xfkaAgTFEALw_wcB)



mundorf for $15:
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/mundorf-mcap-evo-oil-caps/mundorf-0.1mfd-evo-oil-capacitor/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0Goh8_qDvNNj5NXEY-UA52olyZXZwMOTTZ8ODXOf1UC0mdWJKpacBnzoaAiDBEALw_wcB (https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/mundorf-mcap-evo-oil-caps/mundorf-0.1mfd-evo-oil-capacitor/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0Goh8_qDvNNj5NXEY-UA52olyZXZwMOTTZ8ODXOf1UC0mdWJKpacBnzoaAiDBEALw_wcB)


Thank you in advance. Have a great weekend

Title: Re: need help with capacitor in s.e.x 2.1
Post by: Larpy on March 16, 2024, 01:05:23 PM

Caps do sound different from each other (at least to me), but whether you'll like a new one depends on your ears and the circuit it's in.  So no universal recommendations are possible.  The Jantzen Z-caps you mention are good, quality caps and very affordable.  I say you try them and see if they sound better to you than the stock caps.  If they do, great.  If they sound the same, then you'll know that rolling caps isn't for you (and no judgment there; plenty of people whose ears I respect don't hear differences between caps).

If you do hear a difference but you don't like it, you can put the stock caps back in and be thankful for conducting an inexpensive experiment  Or you can go down the rabbit hole like many of us.  You can try something like a Mundorf Supreme (or Silver Supreme) if you want a zippier or more highlighted treble.  If you want a more mellow sound, try some paper-in-oil caps.  Miflex caps, made in Poland, are very nice, pricey ($35 each for 0.1uF), but a relative PIO bargain compared to Dueland, AudioNote, or Jupiter.