What brand capacitors in a CR-2020

What brand capacitors have you used in a Yamaha CR-2020. Do you like the sound? What brand works well with this receiver?

I just had most of the capacitors replaced in my CR-1020. The tech used Nichicon Muse capacitors. Whether it is the brand or the fact that the old capacitors really needed to be changed with anything could be debated. Either way, the old receiver really sounds great!

I was leaning towards Nichicon Muse Caps as I did a Kenwood receiver a couple of years ago with them. It was my practice receiver.

For small value audio caps I'm partial to Nichicon KZ, but they're tough to find anymore. FG series are the next best choice. KW if all else fails. ES series - the neon green ones - are the Bipolar MUSE caps.

PW/PM series for power circuits, long life, low impedance, high temp. KT series for general purpose, high temp.

I know there are many fans of Elna SilmicII and there are some higher end Yammies that use them. Haven't really tried them much myself but I know Avionic uses them and Panasonic FC/FM a lot so they must all be good.

FWIW, Mouser seems to have a pretty good stock of Nichicon lately, but last week or so is the first time I've ordered parts in 2 years.

Anyone ever use the Nichicon KA? It seems like they are one of the few "audio" branded caps that are rated 2000 Hrs @ 105°C.
I put them in my Onkyo but haven't actually gotten it fixed so can't say if I like them or not.

OMGCat! said:

Anyone ever use the Nichicon KA? It seems like they are one of the few "audio" branded caps that are rated 2000 Hrs @ 105°C.
I put them in my Onkyo but haven't actually gotten it fixed so can't say if I like them or not.

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Slightly higher grade than the general purpose KT 105*. More suited to digital gear IMHO. They are not "MUSE" caps. I would stick to FG or, if you can get them, KZ.

FWIW, unless they are in the signal path, any modern cap you put in is going to outperform the old, dried up caps that are in there now. Blackgates are unobtanium for the most part. FG's are my goto cap for audio path stuff.

brutal said:

Slightly higher grade than the general purpose KT 105*. More suited to digital gear IMHO. They are not "MUSE" caps. I would stick to FG or, if you can get them, KZ.

FWIW, unless they are in the signal path, any modern cap you put in is going to outperform the old, dried up caps that are in there now. Blackgates are unobtanium for the most part. FG's are my goto cap for audio path stuff.

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Everything I have read anywhere has said this plus his prior statement.

There is an unlimited supply of "new old stock" BlackGates coming out of China. An unlimited supply of shrink-wrap.

My EE friend made the same statement, the production quality is way up from 30 years ago, so are the materials. Any quality modern cap is better than any 30 year old cap.

brutal said:

Slightly higher grade than the general purpose KT 105*. More suited to digital gear IMHO. They are not "MUSE" caps. I would stick to FG or, if you can get them, KZ.

FWIW, unless they are in the signal path, any modern cap you put in is going to outperform the old, dried up caps that are in there now. Blackgates are unobtanium for the most part. FG's are my goto cap for audio path stuff.

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Any downside to using the FGs everywhere, other than the large filter caps? or is it just a cost issue?

Bubo said:

Any downside to using the FGs everywhere, other than the large filter caps? or is it just a cost issue?

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I would not recommend using audio grade caps in power supply circuits. Use the right caps for the right job. PM/PW for power, KG for filter caps if you can get them in suitable sizes.

Lots of good info here: If you review the data sheets, you can see the progression of grades and quality as well. KZ is the top dog for Nichicon small cap values, and I feel equivalent to the Blackgate of days gone by. FG is the next best option.

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/index.html

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/products/alm_mini/pict_f.htm

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/products/alm_larg/pict_f.htm

If you can't find what you're looking for at Mouser or Digikey, there's always Parts Connexion. http://www.partsconnexion.com/capacitor_ele_nichicon_all.html

P.S.

You'll want some very low impedance/ESR caps to replace any tantalums you find in that CR-2020. I believe the phono section is rife with those little bastards.

Good info here, thanks.

brutal said:

P.S.

You'll want some very low impedance/ESR caps to replace any tantalums you find in that CR-2020. I believe the phono section is rife with those little bastards.

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Not sure about low ESR for replacing tantalums. The reading I've done indicates they were used for their low leakage capability, and it''s been recommended by several of the community here to use the KL series from Nichicon there, unless a film cap will fit.

I don't tend to just use one cap series, so I can't say anything definitive re: specific cap, other than I like the results I've gotten using KZ, KA, KT, FG, KW, ES, Silmic II, and Cerafine. FM, FR, FC, PM, PW, HE, PS, PJ, KZE are all others I use for power supply and general purpose.

brutal said:

I would not recommend using audio grade caps in power supply circuits. Use the right caps for the right job. PM/PW for power, KG for filter caps if you can get them in suitable sizes.

Lots of good info here: If you review the data sheets, you can see the progression of grades and quality as well. KZ is the top dog for Nichicon small cap values, and I feel equivalent to the Blackgate of days gone by. FG is the next best option.

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/index.html

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/products/alm_mini/pict_f.htm

http://www.nichicon.co.jp/english/products/alm_larg/pict_f.htm

If you can't find what you're looking for at Mouser or Digikey, there's always Parts Connexion. http://www.partsconnexion.com/capacitor_ele_nichicon_all.html

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Thanks for the info, I'm on a steep learning curve.

My EE friend goes back and forth on whether there is any point in using different Models of modern quality caps on old gear, his belief is that any of the quality modern caps is better than the 30 year olds...... when they were new. I can't get him interested in stereo gear.........

Anyway, thanks for the info....My MX-600 amp that I recapped using all FGs sounds great and hasn't gone up in flames yet......I did it as a learner and a warm up before touching my MX-800s and an M-80, which are warm ups for my McIntosh gear........... I have an A-1000 that wants some love, so that will probably be my next victim. I'll start a thread on it before I order the parts.

I'll also try to put my learning to work and branch out into more than one model of Nichicons.....