Hi all,

I'd just like to share some interesting information on changes to the capacitors on vintage B&O equipment.

B&O was a loyal customer for many years of Philips Electrolytic capacitors - the turquoise cylindrical units with the diagonal stripe.

In the picture, the UPPER capacitor is a 1970's Philips type 20 - middle-quality 85-degree unit

In 1999, BC Components (Germany) emerged from Philips Capacitor division, and changed the colour slightly to deep blue.

In the picture, the MIDDLE capacitor is a 2005 production unit, type 118 - high-quality 105-degree unit.

In 2002, VISHAY bought BC Components and started revising the entire line.

In the picture, the LOWER capacitor is a brand-new 2008 production unit, type 138 - high-quality 105-degree unit.

As you can see, the classic blue casing is gone forever, replaced by a plastic epoxy casing. Quality is still quite evident with low-ESR's, and claimed 2000+ hours life at the rated temperature (which means many 10,000+ hours at room temperatures).

I generally use Type 118 (105-degree) or Type 120 (125-degree) in the power-supply sections, and the type 138 in the rest of the circuit.

No, they are not cheap, but I am a bit of a perfectionist, and I like to keep the specs as close to (or better than) the original as possible.

Unfortunately B&O has not been using Vishay/Philips capacitors in their new equipment for many years. I have seen mostly only Chinese and Korean capacitors in many of their latest models, and so we cannot expect the same long and reliable lifespan, as we all well know from their older models.

Menahem