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Why Low Leakage Caps Specified?

Vinylcafe

Vinylcafe

Linvin' the Dream
I am about to embark on a recap of a Luxman 1120a.
In the service manual, they specify for about 20 low leakage caps in certain places.
I wonder why the differentiation between regular electrolytics and low leakage ones.
What would happen if I just put regular ones everywhere?
 
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I believe this has been tried in vintage Pioneers and it was found that the regular 'lytics produced more noise. Can't comment on the Luxman specifically but generally speaking unless you've got an electrical engineering degree and know more than the people who designed the gear its best to stick with what they specified. Generally there was some good reason for doing it.
 
If they specified low leakage, get them. You should be able to do it relatively cheap. Nichicon Muse line is good in that regard. For small values (below 5uf) you can replace them with polypropilene capacitors, if they fit physically.
 
Thanks. Will do.
Was wondering if a regular cap in this era, was in essence the same as a low leakage cap from the mid '70s.
Muse were mentioned, but they are not positioned as a low leakage cap.
 
Nichicon KL is a low leakage and it is low ESR. It is the best replacement where these caps are specified. They are usually in the direct signal path.
 
Gadget was correct about real world experience. MTF did an SX-1050 recap with good caps and then did one with Low Leakage where specified and he noticed a lower noise level in the LL fitted receiver.
 
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