• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Capacitor replacement Bumble bees Help

detroit47

detroit47

Member
I have read all sorts of things on capacitors. The more I read the more confused I get. I have replaced all the electrolytic in my MC 240. This leaves m with all the plastic ones. I don't need the holy grail I just want it to sound reasonable. Are orange drops ok so many choices. There seems to be a 100 different kinds. I have an account with Antique electronic supply. Hopefully they have something appropriate.
 
Register to hide this ad
On a side note I have read about people talking about dog bone capacitors. I restore Antique radios in the old radio world dog bones are resistors. I did some Googling and dog bone caps look like their resistor cousins. News to me.
 
detroit47 said:
The more I read the more confused I get.
Click to expand...
Completing opinions will do that to you.

I’d solicit opinions on a type-by-type basis. Your reasonable approach will serve you well, but the designers selected the cap types for specific reasons based on their place in the circuit.

Dog bone caps are ceramic. I’d be surprised if they need to be replaced. It’s usually not necessary to replace every cap. That is a costly approach with little benefit.
 
Last edited:
Me personally I'd go for axial in not larger physical size than what is there so it fits cleanly. Recently bought some Cornell Dublier 942c to replace a bunch of bumblebee in a Marantz and they fit well. Film and foil, not crazy money, and the various major suppliers have them. Just my 2 cents.
 
Gadget73 have you ever used Solen caps made in France. I was looking at Illinois Capacitor they are owened by Cornell Dubilier
 
detroit47 said:
Gadget73 have you ever used Solen caps made in France. I was looking at Illinois Capacitor they are owened by Cornell Dubilier
Click to expand...

I live about 40 minutes from Solen. I have been using their capacitors since the 1980s. Very inexpensive and impeccable performance, with several models to choose from.

After all of that time and having gone through many, many hundreds of them in electronics and speakers, I have not had a single failure or received one that wasn't perfectly on-spec.
 
The Orange Drops are good caps although the fit may not be as good as some others. There are a few types of orange drops - there are polypropylene and polyester (Mylar) - chose according to your preference. I just want you to know there is a choice.
The other caps mentioned above are good too. Personal preference.
 
the 240 is a high feedback design. so likely not going to hear a ton of difference with high dollar boutique caps. Antique electronics offers several metalized polyprop and polyester film caps.
Another option would be the Jupiter vintage tone caps which are very close sonically to the bumble bees.

jupitercondenser.com

Yellow Vintage Tone Capacitors

Jupiter Yellow Vintage Tone Capacitors Aluminum Foil Mylar 1960's Style Build Tone: Very Creamy Break-up. Construction: Polyester/Aluminum Foil/Tape Wrap Tolerance: +/-10% typically much closer. Operating temperature: -55C - 85C, derate 50% at 125C. Voltage: 600VDC - Tested at 1200VDC (at three...
jupitercondenser.com jupitercondenser.com
 
The orange drops are large. Good capacitors but may not fit without some effort. Film capacitors rarely fail or need replacing unless you just want something to do.
 
detroit47 said:
Gadget73 have you ever used Solen caps made in France. I was looking at Illinois Capacitor they are owened by Cornell Dubilier
Click to expand...
Have not, was going to use them in something but not all the values I needed were available. One of these days I'll probably get some when I have a piece they will work in.


Generally polypropylene is a better dielectric than polyester for audio type stuff. Less dielectric absorption so it should have less distortion. How audible, don't really know.

Mylar is just name brand metalized polyester. I have stuff with old mylar that's doing fine so I'm not entirely opposed to it, but not sure I'd seek out new either.

I've used plenty of Illinois MPW with no complaints but I've never messed with Mc tube gear either.
 
gadget73 said:
Have not, was going to use them in something but not all the values I needed were available. One of these days I'll probably get some when I have a piece they will work in.


Generally polypropylene is a better dielectric than polyester for audio type stuff. Less dielectric absorption so it should have less distortion. How audible, don't really know.

Mylar is just name brand metalized polyester. I have stuff with old mylar that's doing fine so I'm not entirely opposed to it, but not sure I'd seek out new either.

I've used plenty of Illinois MPW with no complaints but I've never messed with Mc tube gear either.
Click to expand...
Guitar amp techs will frequently remove Illinois caps from the power supply, because they are prone to failure. I've come across a few of them, that were leaky. It might not matter much, in low voltage applications, but I'm just sayin'....
 
I am having a hard time finding what i want. I am trying to go with CD. All the big places are a patch work of available values. I refuse to use Illinois. I just want good quality polypropylene. I figure they will be throwing dirt in my face before it needs recapped again.
 
Mouser has a good selection of CD 940C and 942C. May need to bump the voltage though to get the right values. 940C is metalized polypropylene, 942C is film and foil.
 
Well I put an order in with DigaKey. I am somewhat less than impressed. I order Cornell Doublier Knowles Polypropylene. They said they are US made. When I looked at the invoice it said Illinois capacitor from China. This is exactly what I didn't want. I will put them in if I don't like the results the amp will go bye bye. The whole experience has been annoying.
 
Illinois was bought by C-D. Which type did you order exactly? Illinois types seem to generally be letter series where the C-D are numbers. Both are now listed as C-D Knowles since that is the manufacturer these days.

any special reason you're avoiding Illinois? Asking because I've used a lot of them in a lot of things and never had issues, other than ones I caused myself. They don't like to be brushed with soldering irons, but that isn't unique to IC caps. My newly-acquired big Bogen actually has Illinois MWR which are the polyester types. I'd have gone polypropylene but its a good install and the amp sounds fantastic so I have no motivation to change it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom