Original size of the Philips cap is: 35diameter x 80mm height and have galvanic connection to the chassis (more about this at the bottom).
Best result with: Buy 2pcs 100uF+100uF Unicon 500V for the audio output (you will need to cut the metal plate a little to fit), 2pcs 100uF+100uF Mundorf Mlytic for the power supply (will be installed in the bottom), 1pcs Mundorf 47uF+47uF for riaa power supply, 2pcs 47+47uF Unicon 500 V for power suplly and for the riaa (top area, one will be instead of the 32+32uF, the orher will be installed behind the fuses, see my amp in the gallerie, how)
Details, considerations:
The C29, C30 (C129, C130) can be higher, up to 90mm, while removing the plate above the tubes could give maximum 110mm as height. The power supply caps have maximum 85mm space. Lets see what could fit! (if you do not have time scroll to the Unicon… is the best selection.)
The GZ34 datasheet mentions a limit of 60uF, but this can be ignored as this has relevance in connection with a given load resistance. So you can overload your GZ34 even with a 4uF but if your load is low… The 2x2x100uF after resistors do not cause any visible increase in the current from the factory default 4x50uF. It is still 400-500mA (depending on EL86 and GZ34 condition) I measerured on the first resistor R1 47Ohm. See scope picture of R1 two leg I = U/R= 19.06V / 47Ohm = 405mA max, while GZ34 datasheet is max 750mA.:
Black Gate WKZ:
47uF + 47uF/500V has a size of 35mm x78mm, bingo, that works! Unfortunately -3uF is missing right at the begin, but I think this is the best cap for this amp.
The 100uF+100uF/500V is 35mmx118mm, so it would work, but does not fit. Only if you remove or cut out the metal top plate and you allow ~10mm slip in of this huge cape into the electronic… So it could work.
Very unfortunate is that it is not produced, while NOS is available on not recommendable prices.
Elna Cerafine:
500V/47uf x 2 35x55mm
500V/100uf x 2 35x112mm
Again something out of production on crazy prices…
Mundorf Mlytic HV
MLSL5002-050 Body dimensions: 35mm (diameter) x 66mm (height). This is what I bought for the amp + power supply.
Mundorf Mlytic HV MLSL5002-040 Body dimensions: 35mm (diameter) x 50mm (height). This is what I bought for the riaa power supply.
SUN audio, Creative Audio non-metalized audio filmcap
Awesome Q values! huge! only for output! Price: 110EUR !
35mm x 121(135) mm.(including solder lugs) See measurement in table below.
JJ TC529 and VNH:
JJ TC529 50 x 50uF /500V Dimensions (D x L): 35 x 52 mm
JJ TC529 100x100uF /500V Dimensions (L x D): 68 x 35 mm.
There is another series (VNH) with higher voltage ratings:
JJ VNH 0505623 series capacitor. 50+50uF, 560V Dimensions (L x D): 50×35 mm.
JJ VNH 1005623 series capacitor. 100+100uF, 560V Dimensions (L x D): : 70×35 mm.
All JJ should work just fine, however never tested, while comments about it is very split.
CE Manufacturing:
Tunerman used C-EC40X3-525 , dimension 1 ⅜”D X 3″H. in the “retarded” unit. So 35x76mm, which is just fine in size, but -20% in the capacitance. Well, it works and the sound is perfect. I guess the 3rd 40uF was used for power supply separation L/R.
The 100+100uF, C-EC100-1-0 500 is too big: 1 ⅜”D X 4″H, so 101mm is the height.
More matching, but different look/series:
32+32uF C-EC32-32-500CE or 50uF + 50uF @ 500VDC, C-EC50-50-500CE, has the same size: 1 ⅜” diameter x 2 3/16 35x57mm
Richey:
This page https://www.justradios.com/DUALsection.html says:
“About RG ( Richey GOLDS ):
RG ( Richey GOLDS ) were originally developed for the Japanese audiophile market under the Unicon nameplate. JustRadios is honoured to be able to now offer these audio grade capacitors world-wide. These electolytic capacitors have been specifically designed for use as filter capacitors in power supplies of high-end audio amplifiers. Special features of these audio grade electrolytic capacitors include: ultra low impedance Japanese aluminum foil construction and the use of pure copper solder lugs (coated with a thin tin plating over the copper to protect the base metal from oxidation, thus preserving its solderability). Audio grade means lowest ESR/DF, but most important is an extra internal damping. With Black Gate WKZ capacitors out of production and no longer available at reasonable prices, Richey GOLDS are an excellent alternative. Richey GOLDS are by Richey Electronics Ltd. Richey have been making top quality electrolytics for almost 50 years (since incorporation in Nashville, Tennessee in 1965).”
Available is: 50uF + 50uF at 500 Volts RG Can Ecap with Solder Lugs: 1 3/8 inch dia. by 2 3/4 inch high (35mm X 70mm)
To be honest unsure which Richey is meant, probably this one:
http://www.richey.com.tw/products.php, while this also does not look like the Unicons as the size differs clearly. (The 47+47uF/400V has the same size as the 50+50uF)
Unicon
| http://www.acoustic-dimension.com/unicon/unicon-capacitors-main.htm says: “Now the Black Gate WKZ capacitors are no longer available, we have been testing other brands. We found a good sounding replacement in the Unicon 500V capacitors. These Japanese made capacitors are specially designed for AUDIO.” Audio grade means low ESR, low DF etc, but most important an extra internal damping. Well just take a look that currently this has the best measurements, see table. So my current recomendation. |
It has the same sizes as Black gate, so also here the 47+47uF could work, while the 100+100uF is to big for the little AG9015 (I mean physical size).
http://www.uniconcap.co.jp/productPDF/48.pdf
F&T:
50µFx50µF / 500V. 35x52mm
100uF+100uF 500V 35x67mm (exists in blue/black and in black/gold, unsure if it the same, or differing in quality – selected?)
Ruby GOLD:
50+50uF 500V 34x75mm
TAD:
100uF+100uF 500V 35×80, so size looks great, thinking to give a try.
MIEC:
50+50uF 500V 35x60mm
MA:
32uF + 32uF 500V 35mm dia X 50mm height. (for preamp)
50uF + 50uF 500V 35mm dia x 80mm height.
100uF + 100uF 500V 35mm dia x 80mm height.
All fit. The cheapest alternative. Did not tested.
K&D:
50+50uF 500V 34x75mm
JiaJia
Philips case DIY caps possibilities:
AN Kaisei in Philips DIY case
Using such requires some DIY. The idea is to use the original Philips metal case and fill it with some fitting caps… Actually 2from these into one housing:
CAP-100-R-100U-500V AN-KAISEI 100uF 500V ELECTROLYTIC SNAP-IN CAPACITOR 30 x 50 £82.50
CAP-100-R-50U-500V AN-KAISEI 50uF 500V ELECTROLYTIC SNAP-IN CAPACITOR 25X50 £53.35
Pro: The Kaisei is most probably one of the best caps.
Con: This may look odd. (2*50mm is longer than the Philips 80mm housing…) So some creativity is needed
Nichicon LKZ in Philips DIY case
LKX2W560MESY25 56uF 450V 20x25mm
LKX2W101MESY40 100uF 450V 20x40mm (smaller sized exists!)
may work, but the nominal voltage is not enough. You need 500V as the operating ~430V is to close to 450V which is dropping performance radically + shortens life way too much.
Non audio version could work:
LGX2H560MELZ25 or LGN2H560MELZ25 56uF 500V 22x25mm
LGX2H101MELZ40 or LGN2H101MELZ40 100uF 500V 22x40mm (smaller sized exists!)
You will need a cap holder:
The old lock solution will not work with a newer cap! Source something like this:
Electrical connection:
If you buy a plastic insulated cap, then you will need to restore the lost electrical connection of the power supply caps negative to the chassis grounding. (C1,C1a, C2,C2a) Please wire the negatives of these capacitors together and wire the last (as this is less noisy!) power supply capacitors negative (C2) to the mass of the house. This will be then the new central grounding, where you should also connect C135, R154 as these points are the least noisy. Perfect for this purpose is the nearest transformer screw. If you replace the preamp capacitor it should also connect to here, but none of the 8uF caps, should be connected as originally. (So close to the chassis GND pin of near circuits.)
If you double the capacity 50uF–>100uF, you should think about to separate the left and right channel. For the power amp this is easy separation, just use double resistors to have the same voltages:
Preamp is tricky as you either put a second capacitor somewhere (as on schematic), or you connect R3, R3′ to the left and right power amp supply (C2, C2a). R13 is in this case still a 10K resistor.
Comparison of caps:
My theoretical (not for every case) preference list is: BG WKZ, AN Kaisei, Elna Cerafine, Unicon, Mundorf Mlytic, F&T. I am working to get all these tested and confirm this ranking. Personally I think that all caps have to be audio grade. The small caps have to have low leakage (Mustards) to block DC and pass just AC, while at the big one’s rather their ESR(Q, D, Teta) counts that it looks like a capacitor also on higher frequencies (Mustard are superior here on all frequencies…). You may say that at the power supply just the 100Hz behavior counts… Well yes, but the last cap supplies the tubes, which pulls electrons from cap according frequency of music, so I believe that the power supply caps do influence the sound very well! And do not believe that new technologies offer more capacitance in smaller size, but without any cost… Just check how these newer caps degrade on higher frequencies, while the old Philips behaves more like a capacitor also at 1kHz. I am preety sure that the physical size helps BG WKZ and also the Unicon cap to perform like a Philips (or even better).
Measurements with the calibrated head (please scroll for details right):
Please scroll for details right:
| Capacity(100Hz) (higher better) | Capacity(1kHz) (higher better) | Capacity(10kHz) (higher better) | ESR(100Hz) (lower better) | ESR (1kHZ) (lower better) | ESR (10kHZ) (lower better) | Q(100Hz) (higher better) | Q(1kHz) (higher better) | Q(10kHz) (higher better) | Teta (100Hz) (-90 is the ideal ) | Teta (1kHz) (-90 is the ideal ) | Teta (10kHz) (-90 is the ideal ) | Leakage (uA)(lower is better) | |
| Philips original 50+50uF/500V (from 1959) | 56.22uF | 52.08uF | 1.5 Ohm | 0,54 Ohm | 17.67 | 5,63 | -86.7 | -79.9 | |||||
| Mundorf Mlytic 100uF+100uF/500V | 101.44uF | 99.7uF | 0.8Ohm | 0.72Ohm | 17.52 | 2.19 | -86.6 | -65.4 | |||||
| Mundorf Mlytic 50uF+50uF/500V | |||||||||||||
| Unicon 47+47uF 500V | 49.32uF | 48.66uF | 0.7Ohm | 0.39Ohm | 44.1 | 8.36 | -88.6 | -83.1 | |||||
| Unicon 100+100uF 500V | 102.87 | 101.2 | 88.6uF | 0.5Ohm | 0.39Ohm | 0.35Ohm | 30.8 | 3.97 | 0.511 | -88.1 | -75.8 | -27.1 | |
| F&T 100uF+100uF/500v | 100.21uF | 98.61 | 0.88 Ohm | 1Ohm | 15.37 | 1.821 | -86.2 | -61.2 | |||||
| Creative audio non metalized audio filmcap | 42.07uF | 42uF | 42.08uF | 0.00Ohm | 0.04Ohm | 0.02Ohm | 491 | 111.5 | 416 | -89.8 | -86.1 | -89.4 |
Philips AG9015 
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