Nichicon Filter Caps

[groovtubin]

Anybody ever had problems with Nichicon Filter caps. The UVZ or UVR radial lead series?

Thanks in Advance
Dan

sound great in my amps, also try BLACK GATES, awesome as well, pricey, but the red can looks good! I use them on cathodes and they are non-polarized.

[JD0x0]

F&T are great. Hiwatts use them so theyve got to be pretty good

[Ken Moon]

Nichicon has a bunch of radial electrolytics. They also have an extensive guide on their website, where you can compare max voltages, esr, and special features such as high temp or long life. The data sheets also have handy flow charts at the top, showing which series to go to for smaller size, longer life, hi temp, etc.

The Nichicons I've used for a while now are the PW series - long life, hi temp, small size, low esr, widely available and resonably priced:

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/products/pdf/e-pw.pdf

Unfortunately, almost all (or maybe all) of these caps max out at 450V. So for B+ nodes that are higher than 400V, I've been using the F&T axials or the JJ cans, or motor caps.

The KZ Muse series is their "audiophile" series, but I've A/B'd them extensively with the PW series, and see no benefit to the higher price:

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/products/pdf/e-kz.pdf

[Gaz]

I'm currently using the VZ series of Nichicons, and just stacking some 315v/100uf caps for a 500vdc main B+ node. With these I can fit all filter caps on the board, making for easy grounding layout and assembly. Plus they are cheap as $#*t!

[FUCHSAUDIO]

Anybody ever had problems with Nichicon Filter caps. The UVZ or UVR radial lead series?

Thanks in Advance
Dan

sound great in my amps, also try BLACK GATES, awesome as well, pricey, but the red can looks good! I use them on cathodes and they are non-polarized.

Weren't the black gates discontinued ?

[David Root]

Yes, a few years ago. The 500V PS ones are long gone, but most of the others are still available.

The best stocks I think are with the ex-US Master Distributor, Percy Audio in California.

[PlinytheWelder]

Anybody ever had problems with Nichicon Filter caps. The UVZ or UVR radial lead series?

Thanks in Advance
Dan

sound great in my amps, also try BLACK GATES, awesome as well, pricey, but the red can looks good! I use them on cathodes and they are non-polarized.

Weren't the black gates discontinued ?

Yes, they're discontinued. I have some as cathode bypass on my express.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

I suspect they ain't RoHs....grrr. Reserved for "personal builds"...Used 'em in early production, they sound sweet...

[C Moore]

Generally speaking, is there much/any difference between a Xicon and a Nichicon? I am referring to the values that would normally be used in a guitar amp.
Thank You

[David Root]

I haven't used Xicon caps. Nichicon are good.

I have seen some negative comments about Xicon MPP coupling caps and equally positive comments too.

The Black Gate coupling caps are great, I also use them as cathode bypass caps. The 350V 22 uF VKs are still available.

Except in Dumbles, where I would love to use the 500V 47 + 47 uF, only have two of them left, saving them for a pair of KT88 monoblocs with a good CD player.

[Cliff Schecht]

Xicon caps are usable, but they are cheaply made. The ESR and rated ripple is typically higher/lower (respectively) compared to Nichicon and other higher quality brands. You can definitely do worse than Xicon too.

My problem with Xicon comes down to the physical packaging and lead strength issues. The leads on almost all Xicon parts are very flimsy and malleable which is great for pedals/PCB mounted stuff but not so great for stranding along a point to point build or even floating across a turret board.

[RJ Guitars]

Does anybody know anything about the old Mallory filter caps and more specifically the newer CDE/Mallory caps? For filter caps in a Trainwreck PS you need 20uF and 40uF values and only a Mallory will do it for a purist. Current production CDE has a bunch in those same values but the housings are different (smaller mostly) so I suspect the technology is different. Are the old Mallory's "special" and/or are the new CDE's good/better/ comparable to the old...

Getting back to the Nichicon chatter that started this thread. I use them in my submini-tube amps with good results... quiet and nothing DOA so far. It is especially nice to have them in the compact size and a variety of values although 20uF and 40uF isn't among them.

rj

[Ken Moon]

Has anybody here A/B'd 40uF filter caps in a TW against 47uF caps of similar construction?

I can't imagine the difference between 20UF and 22uF could be audible, but maybe with 40 vs 47? - just wondering if anyone's tried it.

[Alexo]

Has anybody here A/B'd 40uF filter caps in a TW against 47uF caps of similar construction?

I can't imagine the difference between 20UF and 22uF could be audible, but maybe with 40 vs 47? - just wondering if anyone's tried it.

Wouldn't 40 and 47 actually fall within each other's tolerances? (for most brands of E-caps?)

[David Root]

That's right, you'd have to a low 40 and a high 47 eg 36 and 55 before you noted any real difference.