[Faust2D]

What would be the best brand capacitors to use in a high voltage power supply of a stat tube amp? I am looking for very neutral and clean sound, but but still with a certain warmth to it.

 

[nikongod]

film?

motor run caps are your new best friend.

 

[Faust2D]

Yeah, electrolytic capacitors.

 

[spritzer]

Jensen and Mundorf spring to mind along with Nichicon and Elna if you can find them.

 

[Pars]

How high of voltage? Pana TS-Hx variants are good, but only go to 450V. They also make a TSUP (IIRC) that is 500V.

 

[luvdunhill]

Jensen 4-pole

edit: also important, what case temperatures are we talking about here? I wouldn't recommend anything under 105C

 

[Faust2D]

Caps above 300V is what I am looking for. Nichicon and Elna I tried, I am looking for other interesting and good caps. Thanks for all your suggestions guys.

 

[AudioCats]

BlackGates VK or NH? Maybe?

 

[Uncle Erik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif film? motor run caps are your new best friend.

Really? There's a mess of motor run caps at my local junk/surplus store. I've been curious, but I haven't seen them suggested for audio use before.

Might have to work a few of them into my electrostat amp.

 

[Faust2D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioCats /img/forum/go_quote.gif BlackGates VK or NH? Maybe?

That would be very nice, but lots of $.

I also like big Hitachi caps. But wanted to get opinions from people to see what sounds good to them, so i started this thread

 

[AudioCats]

the BG Vk is not too expensive, 150uf/350v is only $20 each, which really isn't that much more than the paper/oil motor caps.

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Really? There's a mess of motor run caps at my local junk/surplus store. I've been curious, but I haven't seen them suggested for audio use before. Might have to work a few of them into my electrostat amp.

people dont use film for 2 reasons (or should i say they use electrolytics for 2 reasons over film...)
size
cost

theres noting you can do about size, these bad boys are BIG.
cost can be worked around by employment of creative sourcing. IE motor run caps

it is worth note that a well designed PSU for a tube amp dosnt need anywhere near the capacitance of a SS amp. experience says that the QUALITY of the capacitors is almost more important than the capacitance.

i would look around if you are seeing motor run caps selling for $20. buy surplus and in bulk. someone on ebay sells 20 26uf caps in a lot every now and again... they go CHEAP

 

[Faust2D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioCats /img/forum/go_quote.gif the BG Vk is not too expensive, 150uf/350v is only $20 each, which really isn't that much more than the paper/oil motor caps.

Where did you find it for $20? I did not see BG high voltage caps that cheap.

 

[AudioCats]

soniccraft

but I agree with NiknoGod, the high voltage cap's quality is super critical, you probably want to use oil cap or polyprop if you have the space. The 630v X2 series polyprop is about $1/uf and probably sound better than a BG.

 

[Budgie]

I will also recommend motor run caps. I use them for power supplies and also for signal coupling. They always sound better then any other cap I have found, until you get into the really exotic copper foil caps, etc. Those are not worth the huge price for the small improvement they make over motor run caps.