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The Market => Manufacturer News => Topic started by: Response Audio on December 05, 2013, 08:06:25 AM

Title: Black Gate capacitors - $350 each..... Are people crazy?
Post by: Response Audio on December 05, 2013, 08:06:25 AM
I am in the process of building a custom LeAnna preamp to sell when complete. I had a stash of some brand new Black Gate 150uF/350V VK series capacitors that I am using in the power supply. I wanted to find out what they are worth so I did some searching.
Several people are selling these all over the place and asking as much as $350 a piece for them.
I realize they are no longer made but do they not realize that companies like Parts Connection still has this exact capacitor and asking $20 a piece for them?
Title: Re: Black Gate capacitors - $350 each..... Are people crazy?
Post by: rollo on December 05, 2013, 08:25:18 AM
   Crazy is as crazy does. Try ASC caps which have the best specs around. They break in quickly as well.


charles
Title: Re: Black Gate capacitors - $350 each..... Are people crazy?
Post by: Triode Pete on December 05, 2013, 04:06:20 PM
Crazy is what the Duelund Cast Caps cost...  :duh

They do sound fine in many applications...
Title: Re: Black Gate capacitors - $350 each..... Are people crazy?
Post by: BobM on December 06, 2013, 04:00:12 AM
There's a lot of Panache in name brand recognition, especially in hobbies like ours. I always opted for Nichicon's over Black Gates for power supply purposes. Panasonic has some lines tht are also very good. Excellent quality and real-world pricing.
Title: Re: Black Gate capacitors - $350 each..... Are people crazy?
Post by: _Scotty_ on December 06, 2013, 10:16:26 PM
For low voltage power supplies, under 25 volts, Aluminum Organic Polymer caps are very good. If leakage current is not a problem, they also make excellent coupling caps for single-ended Class A Solid State circuits. I prefer them to Black Gates for this type of application. They are much more transparent with far less grunge and they break-in very quickly. They also skip the Black Gate awkward stage where they sound like crap.
Did I mention they are as inexpensive as $1 for a 100UF 16V Panasonic version of the technology. Panasonic,Nichicon and United Chemicon are manufacturing the widest range of values and voltages in a through-hole package.
Scotty
Title: Re: Black Gate capacitors - $350 each..... Are people crazy?
Post by: Response Audio on December 07, 2013, 07:39:13 AM
QuoteCrazy is what the Duelund Cast Caps cost... 

They are a bit pricey but at least that is what they sell for. People buy them or they don't. But asking $350 for a cap that can be had for $20? I wonder if they have sold any  :duh


QuoteTry ASC caps which have the best specs around. They break in quickly as well.
Yes these are good capacitors but I don't use them very often. I don't use Black Gate either but had several laying around that were never used so I thought I would put them to use for a custom piece.


QuotePanasonic,Nichicon and United Chemicon are manufacturing the widest range of values and voltages in a through-hole package.

For lower voltage requirements and cathode bypass, I use a lot of ELNA. The Silmic II are my favorites. When I want to use electrolytics in the power supply, I try to stay with the Panasonic ED series. Never had a problem with them.