Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: dude on December 11, 2022, 11:22:05 am
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Are Mod Electrolytic Capacitors "decent" for our builds, seems a lot less expensive then F & T's. I've notice component pricing is going up like everything else. I use mostly Mallory 150 caps in my Marshall type builds, have used them in Fender types too with good results. Is it really worth spending big bucks for all these boutique coupling caps out there...? I mean just the coupling and tone caps can be close $100 more than Mallory 150's. Just wondering what's your take on all these $8 to $10 coupling caps..? Worth it..?
https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/capacitor-mod-electronics-aluminum-electrolytic-105-c-axial-lead
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i use em mostly because they look cool and are inexpensive. i haven't had any issues so far
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I mostly use F&Ts for filters. They do not seem that expensive to me - Atoms are too $$. I have used the 16uf 475V Mojotone Lytic caps, mostly because they are small. I suspect they are the same as the MODs? So far so good. Tone caps - I use decent but reasonable priced caps - 150s, Xicons, recently some Panasonics, various ODs, and some ceramic discs. My crappy ears cannot tell much difference between them. But lordy the whole cap industry is out of control. Hard to tell who might be making what these days.
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I mostly use F&Ts for filters. They do not seem that expensive to me -
I agree. Generaly speaking you have for what you pay.
On good amps ( vintage Fende Marshall... ) I will use the know good one; F&T
On less expensive amps, I may try those MOD.
On many hundreds $ amps if not $1 or $2K I will not look to save few $ if I don't know the quality of the parts.
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Are Mod Electrolytic Capacitors "decent" for our builds, seems a lot less expensive then F & T's. ...
When you look at their data sheet (https://www.tubesandmore.com/sites/default/files/associated_files/c-et20-500-mod.pdf), you see a 2000-hour life at 105ºC.
That temperature is higher than we'd typically see in an amp, but lifespan is shorter than available with other parts.
Axial caps are relatively expensive; PC board construction favors radial caps, so they're higher volume products & cheaper.
Some radial caps have 5-6x the claimed lifespan (10-12,000 hours at 105ºC (https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/420/KXLLL_e-2887556.pdf)) yet are half the price (https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/United-Chemi-Con/EKXL401ELL220MJ25S?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvwFf0viD3Y3fHxNcSaiftw7iup3Ldx95pNuSejtmvQgA%3D%3D). Some other caps are available for half that price, but you gotta buy 3-5000 caps in one order.
Many "guitar amp" filter caps don't even have data sheets, because their performance is poor relative to caps used in most commercial products.