[Joshatdot]

I want to replace the coupling caps on my AV-710, but I am unsure what their lead spacing is.

I know Blackgates would be best to buy, but am wondering what caps would be best from Nichicon or Panasonic, PW & FC series?

 

[joe_cool]

I don't have access to an AV-710 but I can help with your problem. For power supplies I use Panasonic FM (best performance) and FC (more values). For DC signal coupling consider the ELNA Silmic II (RFS series) which are reputed to have silk fibers in the composition.

IMO the best signal coupling cap is the Black Gate N or NX. They do have some coloration but the overall performance is unmatched (OK, a jumper wire is pretty good). I recently bought a batch of 47uF 6.3v NX caps for $2.50 each and a pair of 220uF 6.3v NX caps for $5.00 each.

Electrolytic caps are usually specified in millimeters (diameter, height, and lead spacing). Let me know if you want to replace caps with 2.0mm, 2.5mm, or whatever lead spacing.

 

[Joshatdot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_cool /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't have access to an AV-710 but I can help with your problem. For power supplies I use Panasonic FM (best performance) and FC (more values). For DC signal coupling consider the ELNA Silmic II (RFS series) which are reputed to have silk fibers in the composition. IMO the best signal coupling cap is the Black Gate N or NX. They do have some coloration but the overall performance is unmatched (OK, a jumper wire is pretty good). I recently bought a batch of 47uF 6.3v NX caps for $2.50 each and a pair of 220uF 6.3v NX caps for $5.00 each. Electrolytic caps are usually specified in millimeters (diameter, height, and lead spacing). Let me know if you want to replace caps with 2.0mm, 2.5mm, or whatever lead spacing.

Thanks...but I don't have anything to measure the spacing...yet.

I special ordered a digital caliper from work on Tuesday, and hopefully be here this coming Monday.

 

[Logistics]

I can't imagine the coupling capacitor on your card is anything larger than a 10uF 16V cap, which is pretty much the standard on sound cards, anymore. It's probably a 4mm, maybe a 5mm cap. On a 4mm cap the lead spacing or "Pitch" would be 1.5mm, which on an american ruler would cause the leads to line up almost perfectly on top of the lines on the ruler which make up 1/16 of an inch, whereas 5mm would be a pitch of 2mm or cause one of the leads to cover a line and the other lead would be just outside of the opposing line making up 1/16 of an inch. The heads on a 4mm and 5mm cap will read on the american side as two and one half 16ths of an inch and 3/16ths of an inch respectively.

Note: Many agree that Black Gates are repackaged Muse caps.

Is there a special reason you want to retain electrolytics?

 

[Joshatdot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logistics /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can't imagine the coupling capacitor on your card is anything larger than a 10uF 16V cap, which is pretty much the standard on sound cards, anymore. It's probably a 4mm, maybe a 5mm cap. On a 4mm cap the lead spacing or "Pitch" would be 1.5mm, which on an american ruler would cause the leads to line up almost perfectly on top of the lines on the ruler which make up 1/16 of an inch, whereas 5mm would be a pitch of 2mm or cause one of the leads to cover a line and the other lead would be just outside of the opposing line making up 1/16 of an inch. The heads on a 4mm and 5mm cap will read on the american side as two and one half 16ths of an inch and 3/16ths of an inch respectively. Note: Many agree that Black Gates are repackaged Muse caps. Is there a special reason you want to retain electrolytics?

Thanks for the info about measurements.

Retain electrolytics?...shrug I dont 't know what you are asking. I just want to mod my AV-710 for fun & hopefully make it sound better.

 

[Logistics]

Granted, Black Gates are considered the best "electrolytic" for audio, but they are hardly the best capacitor for audio because they are still electrolytics. I have seen the specs on some Black Gates and in some areas they are on par with electrolytics used for CPU voltage regulation stages, but their markup is comical.

From what I've seen online though, they aren't that expensive in the typical values. I saw the NX (which is what you'll want for your signal path) in a 10uF for just a few dollars. The metallized polypropylene film caps I would have suggested cost the same, but they would be much larger, axial and would have to be glued to the card.

 

[Seaside]

lead space at that G-luxon caps in output stage is like 4mm.

What I thought is ... its bass is kind of weak with 10uF crap cap. I believed a bit more capacitance would help improve its bass, so I replaced it with 22uF Silmic II, which fit in the space without problem, made sound way better. Better bass and warm sound with better clarity. So this is what i recommend.

I agree on film cap idea. That is the best way to go, better than any electrolytic cap, that is only if you can find a film cap that fits in the space. Most film cap of 10uF is huge. it's not easy to mount those huge film caps at soundcard, and even so, it looks ugly.

 

[Joshatdot]

can you give me some examples, like brand & model of Film Caps?

edit: you mean like Polyester/Polypropylene/Polycarbonate Film Caps?

 

[Joshatdot]

Anywho I am ordering some Nichicon PW 470uF & 22uF caps from Digi-Key

 

[headphonejunkie]

I would get the silmic II's. They made my millett sound nice and warm. Which is what I wanted with my grados.I think I will use them in my av710 when I install and start to use it.

 

[Logistics]

If you're changing power caps or decoupling caps, I would use the Panasonic FM's as they are very low impedance/esr and have high ripple ratings. If you're changing the signal caps, Digikey doesn't sell anything of a suitable value in a film. Move over to partsexpress.com under Electronic Parts, on the right you will see "Crossover Caps Index," then Dayton Metallized Polypropylene.

 

[Joshatdot]

Hmmmm...Panny FM's are about 1/2 as low imped/esr then the Nichy PW's

 

[Logistics]

I don't understand your sentence. The FM's are way better than the Nichicon PW's. Much lower impedance, much lower leakage current and much higher ripple.

 

[Joshatdot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logistics /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't understand your sentence. The FM's are way better than the Nichicon PW's. Much lower impedance, much lower leakage current and much higher ripple.

I meant that the Panny's have a better/lower impedance/esr then the Nichy PW's

 

[Joshatdot]

I finally got a Digital Caliper, the 10uF's are 2.0mm spacing and 220uF's are 2.5mm spacing.