sourcing 100pf polystyrene caps for Neve

[outoftune]

i'm trying to stock up on polystyrene caps to use for refurbing some old 1073s. i see that mouser has a large selection of xicon polystyrene...but they don't seem to have a 100pf that's used a few places on the neve.

anyone know of a source? or a possible source for the 100pf and other polystyrene caps?

 

[JohnRoberts]

I probably have a few laying around. How many do you need?

JR

 

[Whoops]

you can get them from Farnell, Banzai, Ebay, RS, Newark, Rapid, etc :

http://www.banzaimusic.com/Styroflex-100pF.html

http://uk.farnell.com/lcr-components/fsc-160v-100pf-2-5/cap-film-ps-100pf-160v-axial/dp/9520015

http://uk.farnell.com/lcr-components/fscex-100pf-1-630v/cap-film-ps-100pf-630v-axial/dp/9520660

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4pcs-TSC-100P-100PF-0-1nF-50V-5-Polystyrene-PS-Film-Axial-Capacitor-/161496121428?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2599eb4054

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/polystyrene-film-capacitors/0113263/

http://www.newark.com/lcr-components/fsc-160v-100pf-2-5/capacitor-polystyrene-100pf-160v/dp/64K0006

http://www.audiocap.co.uk/xicon-axial-polystyrene-100pf--50v-5-673-p.asp

http://www.rapidonline.com/electronic-components/100pf-160v-5-polystyrene-capacitor-12-0516

https://www.westfloridacomponents.com/PS010/100pF+160V+5%26%2337%3B+Polystyrene+Capacitor+Axial.html

 

[outoftune]

i need a large quantity and i will look into these. thanks to you both.

 

[ricardo]

Use NPO/CGO ceramics instead.

At Calrec, we replaced every single small polystyrene with ceramics on a new 72 channel broadcast desk when we realised how yucky small polystyrenes were.

 

[ruairioflaherty]

Use NPO/CGO ceramics instead.

At Calrec, we replaced every single small polystyrene with ceramics on a new 72 channel broadcast desk when we realised how yucky small polystyrenes were.

People pay good money for Neve yucky, whether it's worth it or not!  Most people would want their module maintained close to original spec (which I know varied over the years), not necessarily cleaned up.

 

[JohnRoberts]

Use NPO/CGO ceramics instead.

At Calrec, we replaced every single small polystyrene with ceramics on a new 72 channel broadcast desk when we realised how yucky small polystyrenes were.

People pay good money for Neve yucky, whether it's worth it or not!  Most people would want their module maintained close to original spec (which I know varied over the years), not necessarily cleaned up.

Well if you want to pay a premium for Neve (yucky-like) polystyrene I have whats left from a open 100 pc bag of old Mallorys.  I won't presume to speak for Ricardo, but as he knows the only thing yucky about polystyrene is their low tolerance for temperature, that makes them unpopular for modern manufacturing.

I loved polystyrene precisely because of their colorless linearity. These days NPO/COG are the go-to choice for colorless linearity, that can also be soldered without melting into a puddle.

If anybody wants to ague that polystyrene has a "sound" , you have been drinking too much Neve flavored kool-aid.  8)

JR

PS: For out of tune if your idea of a large quantity is  less than 100 I might be able to help you... New old stock mallory with that classic lack of any sound.

 

[ricardo]

Anyone with a load of 100p polystyrenes (including 1% ones) might like to measure a bunch and plot the distribution of values.  Compare with some cheapo NPO/COG ceramics from a single batch.

Also, if you are into microphones, you can easily test how microphonic caps are.  Guru Scott Wurcer recently confirmed this for polystyrenes as have others in this & other forums.

But if your polystyrenes are hand carved from solid BS, or better still Unobtainium, by Virgins, you will not carp over such trivialities. 

If you've never experienced the extreme clarity & definition from such caps, send me US$100 in used bank notes and I will send you a sample.  You will not be disappointed.  8)

PS  JR's polystyrenes ARE hand carved from solid .. bla bla.  You owe me John.

 

[JohnRoberts]

PS  JR's polystyrenes ARE hand carved from solid .. bla bla.  You owe me John.

Another reason I really liked polystyrene caps was because they were cheap... Caps that are both good and cheap are a win-win... It is more than a little ironic that these cheap value caps are now held in some special regard.  I repeat they do not have a sound. Their sound is no sound, unless perhaps if you tap on them, while I never experienced any microphonic issues, I rarely applied 60+ dB of gain after them.

COG/NPO are modern and better in several ways.

Of course customers may want some legacy component and the customer is always right, even when horribly wrong.

JR

PS: RIcardo, can I pay you in polystyrene caps? (not 1%).

 

[dustbro]

what are COG caps?  Multi layer ceramic?

 

[ricardo]

what are COG caps?  Multi layer ceramic?

probably the best small caps you can buy.  If the values & voltage fit, use them.

The only problem today would be availability of very high voltage for big tube amps where you might have to use inferior Silver Mica cos the only ones available.

Have a look at the appendix of http://www.johnhardyco.com/pdf/990.pdf

RIcardo, can I pay you in polystyrene caps? (not 1%).

Only those hand carved by Virgins please John  ;D