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Audio grade capacitor series codes for best brands 2022.

H

Hifibythekg

Super Member
I want to recap my Yamaha C4’s Function Board with good quality caps. Would probably just buy all Nichicon Muse (ES code) or Fine Gold (FG) and have done with it but it’s very hard to get the various cap sizes in all the specs because of distributors supply issues. As long as the cap is by a reputable brand and in the same ball park as the ES and FG ones I’ll be happy.

Please could anyone recommend the appropriate and contemporary series codes for the following brands?

Nichicon

Panasonic

Elna

Vishay

ChemiCon

Kemet

Wurth
 
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Hifibythekg said:
I want to recap my Yamaha C4’s Function Board with good quality caps. Would probably just buy all Nichicon Muse (ES code) or Fine Gold (FG) and have done with it but it’s very hard to get the various cap sizes in all the specs because of distributors supply issues. As long as the cap is by a reputable brand and in the same ball park as the ES and FG ones I’ll be happy.

Please could anyone recommend the appropriate and contemporary series codes for the following brands?

Nichicon

Signal path: I'd go with UKL Low Loss (replacements for the "orange" caps)
Power Supply and elsewhere: UPW, UPM, UHE, UHD
BiPolar: UES

Panasonic
FM, FR, FC, FK

Elna
RFS (Silmic II)
ROA "Cerafine"
ROB: Tonerex (bipolar)

Vishay

ChemiCon
KZE, KYB

Kemet

Wurth
Click to expand...

Those are some I've used anyway.
 
Thanks jheu02, much appreciated.

I should have emphasised that the Function Board on this amp is mostly Phono and some signal path so I’m only seeking out the codes for this type of usage at this time.
For Panasonic, imagine the ‘FC’ would be the most appropriate series in this location?
ChemiCon: Both KZE and KYB here?
Elna: I think all 3 are good for this location?
RFS (Silmic II)
ROA "Cerafine"
ROB: Tonerex (bipolar)


(I’ve already recapped the PSU with Nichicon UPW’s and very happy with that so far.)
 
You can go to at least a few of the sites of the manufacturers and find charts and lists showing what is best.

Go to Nichicon's site look at miniature aluminum electrolytic caps if that is what you want to investigate and then the chart or the list across the top of the section. Easy really. You will find the FG isn't the best, but look out for the best audio cap they list, it is bigger than what it replaces.

Some other company sites seem exactly the same for their products.
 
Cheers Blue Shadow, thanks for the advice was aware of the suppliers’ tables but the manufacturers categorise it more readily, especially for newcomers. However, often there will be a few choices to be made on the actual suppliers site between something like high or low ripple current, or impedance... or something else.. and I’m quickly out of my depth for making a confident purchase, especially if the first choice isn’t available.
Still open to personal recommendations.
Thanks again.
 
Hi redk9258.
Will definitely put these on the list. Especially as the C4 is known to run hot in one area of the Flat Amp board (around the heatsinked transistors.)
 
Hifibythekg said:
For Panasonic, imagine the ‘FC’ would be the most appropriate series in this location?
Click to expand...
I'd go with Panasonic FM. At least with anything in or on the signal path. FC is fine for (sub) power supply usage.

For me the problem is that I can't get FM smaller then 22uf, and the MKSII ends at 4,7uf. But maybe your supplier has smaller value FM? You never know..
 
Hifibythekg said:
I want to recap my Yamaha C4’s Function Board with good quality caps. Would probably just buy all Nichicon Muse (ES code) or Fine Gold (FG) and have done with it but it’s very hard to get the various cap sizes in all the specs because of distributors supply issues. As long as the cap is by a reputable brand and in the same ball park as the ES and FG ones I’ll be happy.

Please could anyone recommend the appropriate and contemporary series codes for the following brands?

Nichicon

Panasonic

Elna

Vishay

ChemiCon

Kemet

Wurth
Click to expand...
Panasonic FR or FM or FC
Very good caps
 
For signal path applications, I've pretty much switched from "audio" caps to film or UKL series of low leakage caps (which can also have the 105 C rating you desire. Low leakage translates to less noise. If the location requires bipolar, and the capacitance is higher than about 4.7uF, then I'd use the Nichicon UES "Muse" series. I'd only use the low ESR series (FM, FC, PW, etc in the signal path if I didn't have the KL, film, or ES series in stock. And then I would use the other audio caps over those also.

Some get fine results with ANY modern cap over the older ones, but they are designed for different uses, so I try to stick with that. If you really want to look into types of caps for different applications, go to the Pioneer subforum and look at the tuning fork series which explains the old Pioneer cap codes, what they were used for and why.
 
jheu02 said:
Those are some I've used anyway.
Click to expand...

Use good quality capacitors, Yamaha did when they designed and built their gear. Don't go all out, audiophile extreme capacitors. Yamaha knows how to design and build great audio gear (even though I'd usually rather own and listen to other gear I like better). Yamaha is among the better brands, and in certain eras, made above average audio gear.
 
Looking at the scat, it shows UKN series in the phono amp. I'd bet those are Low Leakage caps (probably the series before UKL). Looks like most of the rest of the audio path uses Bi Polar caps, though I do see a 47uF/25V cap in the flat amp that isn't specified. I'd suggest using UKL, UES and/or Elna RBS (not Tonerex but Silmic Bi Polar) The scat shows the audio path in orange, so easy to see which caps need special thought. All the rest you'd be fine using PW, PM, HE, HD, FM, FC, FR, FS, FK, KYB, KZE...
 
Blue Shadow said:
You can go to at least a few of the sites of the manufacturers and find charts and lists showing what is best.

Go to Nichicon's site look at miniature aluminum electrolytic caps if that is what you want to investigate and then the chart or the list across the top of the section. Easy really. You will find the FG isn't the best, but look out for the best audio cap they list, it is bigger than what it replaces.

Some other company sites seem exactly the same for their products.
Click to expand...
This is a great suggestion, thank you.
 
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