Ripple current Q for amp capacitors

Thanks a ’lot’ for all the help here.. I should have started this thread months ago. Everything I have done in the past has been max 1000uf, or the occasional 3300uf in the audio amps of old arcade games, and topping out at 470 everywhere else. I’ve always just bought 105’s and paid little attention to anything else as the machines after restoration would never be routed, or left on more than the occasional hour here and there and they weren’t exactly made for SQ. But with this amp, it literally changed a part of my life going from what I thought was ’high end’ at the time, a Yamaha rx-v992, to a Lexicon MC-1 and this amp. That first time turning it on and hearing that combo is something I’ve never forgotten so I’ve been incredibly paranoid of not getting the right part in there.

Question on that above though as that’s interesting.. I assume at the time EAD had capacitance testers, and that every cap in this size they got, would be tested first to see where it was at. Why would they pick one like this with potentially a large throw away range? Or did they pick it because on the low capacitance end they would by odds be closer to 100k which was important to not be below that, but on the top end of the error they didn’t care if it was 120 or 150? I’m sure package size would have played a part as well.. there are two of these in each amp.

All the other caps, I think were 100 and 470 on each side of each channel throughout and were mainly Panasonic. I say mainly because there was one, that was a different brand I can't recall right now that had initials written on top. I saved it just in case, but it wasn't special, just a different brand and metered about as well as all the others. Not sure why it was initialed unless it was just to signify who assembled or something.

So when I have read before that a lower ripple is better for SQ because it filters more, if that’s not really true, and that the esr and ripple ratings are ’only’ an indication of how well it will take abuse, and by that it’s lifespan, and that every 100k filter cap will pretty much ’sound’ the same? If people are picking these specific brands like Black Gate, Audio Note, I have to think there is something that makes a difference. Which spec is it? Or is it more what materials are in it.

I’ve been incredibly paranoid of not getting the right part in there.

Question on that above though as that’s interesting.. I assume at the time EAD had capacitance testers, and that every cap in this size they got, would be tested first to see where it was at. Why would they pick one like this with potentially a large throw away range? Or did they pick it because on the low capacitance end they would by odds be closer to 100k which was important to not be below that, but on the top end of the error they didn’t care if it was 120 or 150? I’m sure package size would have played a part as well.. there are two of these in each amp.

Capacitors produced in the same path usually have very similar capacitance and will not cause any problems if you replace both capacitors in the amplifier. Just for a peace of mind, the TDK also comes with 150,000uF 63V. However, I wouldn’t recommend anything over 180,000uF unless the power transformer is up to the task.

BTW, the TDK is a newer design with better technology, and the CD is a three decade old design.  

So when I have read before that a lower ripple is better for SQ because it filters more

I think you got it wrong!

Yes, a power supply with lower ripple is better for SQ. However, this does not mean that using a capacitor with a lower ripple current rating will help SQ, the fact is that you must choose a capacitor with a ripple current rating that exceeds the power supply requirements. There is an equation and I recommend you read this article to better understand how circuit designers select power supply filtering capacitors.

if that’s not really true, and that the esr and ripple ratings are ’only’ an indication of how well it will take abuse, and by that it’s lifespan, and that every 100k filter cap will pretty much ’sound’ the same?

Well, since you have two powermaster 1000 on hand, you can easily compare it, one with CD capacitors, and one with TDK capacitors. IMHO, lower ESR is better, theoretically.

BTW, I should have mentioned this before.  DIYaudio is a great place for this kind of question as many there touch this subject regularly.