replace electrolytic capacitors with solid state, Do i need to replace capacitors on a like for like basis? Options

[john11]

Hi and thanks for reading this post.

Do you think it would be a good idea to replace the usual aluminium electrolytic capacitors on a Zero dac board for the better specs of a solid state (polymer) type capacitor.

I have a Zero dac which reproduces digital sound signals from my pc's usb port and it has 4 aluminium electrolytic's around the dac chip (47uf 35v) which are swollen and leaking and 4x 10uf 63v output coupling caps in the analog section, so 8 caps to replace in all, do you think a like for like replacement of the stock aluminium electrolytics for solid state polymer type caps would be okay in this situation.

I have done a google search and people have performed this on pc motherboards but there is not much on other types of equipment.

Many thanks in advance. John.

[john11]

Hi. Thanks for the replies.

Can anyone support Glenn with his preference of the panasonic fp and fk series.

47uf panasonic fk esr=0.2 ohms @11 pence each (smt)
47uf panasonic fm esr=0.3 ohms @ 50pence each (aluminium electrolytic)
47uf Nichicon RNU1H47 esr= 0.02 ohms @ $2.50 each (smt)

It appears the nichicon has ten times less esr than the panasonic fk, but looking at it another way the esr difference is 0.18 ohms is this something significant something the human ear can detect.

On the farnell website when the caps are listed in order of esr, the lowest esr ones are the most expensive is there something to that.

Many thanks. John.