Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

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  • 3Phase615V
    New Member
    • Feb 2014
    • 6
    • United Kingdom
    #1

    Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

    Hi,

    I isolated a power supply failure in my Cambridge Audio Azur 550A to a shorted filter cap (C42, page 37 - see service manual attached) on the +45V supply of the right-hand channel PCB. The faulty cap is a Cambridge Audio branded "Audio Grade" 2200uF, 63V, 105°C 18mmx35.5mm (see attached photo), for which CA have refused datasheet information and the supply of a replacement(s) as they advise they do not supply these items to "end users".

    Since audio grade caps rarely appear available at more than 50V (105°C) it has me wondering whether or not a couple of decent quality non-audio grade Nichicon or Rubycon caps will suffice in the C41 and C42 positions (my intention is to replace both +45V side filter caps to reduce any untoward imbalances between original and non-original caps).

    Given that audio grade 2200uF, 63V, 105°C capacitors appear to be a rare item, I am looking for suggestions for potential replacements (brand and series) that I can use in place of the original CA caps. I would think that low ESR, high ripple would the guiding parameters, but the latter can be quite a range. In other words, what is considered too low, high enough or even excessively high ripple current for a cap for this particular purpose?

    So far I have been looking at the caps below, with the last two (Rubycon and Vishay) having quite substantially higher ripple current figures than the other three. Are these suitable/compatible? I am also wondering if leakage is a particularly important parameter to pay attention to for this usage:

    Nichicon UVZ1J222MHD

    Nichicon UVY1J222MHD

    Panasonic ECA1JHG222

    Vishay MAL214258222E3

    Rubycon 63ZLJ2200M18X35.5

    Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions.

    Tony
    Attached Files
    Last edited by 3Phase615V; 11-25-2020, 08:20 PM.
    Tags: None
    • stj
      Great Sage 齊天大聖
      • Dec 2009
      • 30978
      • Albion
      #2
      Re: Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

      scumbags.
      you dont use "audio grade" caps on power rails.
      look for low impedence caps with the highest ripple current you can find - preferably with a decent lifespan not some 1000hour shit

        Comment

        • redwire
          Badcaps Legend
          • Dec 2010
          • 3906
          • Canada
          #3
          Re: Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

          I would say the custom capacitors are for marketing wank and wooing reviewers, and for having a poor lifetime... strange it shorted.
          Sonically, low ESR and high capacitance are audibly better. I think Cambridge Audio saved money by keeping them relatively small value.
          Note the capacitors experience audio-frequency ripple currents (as well as mains) - so look at the 10kHz ESR spec as well for a figure of merit.
          So I think an SMPS-grade capacitor is more what these are.

          If it was my amplifier I would upsize the caps as 2x2,200uF per rail per channel is a bit lean, not the greatest. If you have the height see what might work.
          pic from Azur 651a

          edit: the problem is the small height.
          Nichicon UFW1J222MHD "Audio grade" 2,200uF 63V 2,000Hrs @85°C but more of a placebo.
          Taller, like 37.5 to 41mm MUCH BETTER:
          Nichicon UHW1J222MHD 20mohm 3.86A @ 100kHz ripple. But 18x40mm high.
          United Chemi-Con EKYB630ELL222MM40S 10,000 Hrs @ 105°C, very low ESR 16mohm 3.67A @ 100kHz ripple. Nice. But 18x40mm. I would stuff them in lol.
          Attached Files
          Last edited by redwire; 11-26-2020, 12:10 AM.

            Comment

            • 3Phase615V
              New Member
              • Feb 2014
              • 6
              • United Kingdom
              #4
              Re: Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

              Hi stj and redwire,

              Thanks for your replies and advice.

              It looks like didn't miss out much with the most sensitive parameters for my particular cap requirements. I was thinking I might be better focussing on longer life caps than the ones I found first off and you have confirmed that is worth doing- thanks.

              I want to try to stick with the original cap sizes (18x33.5), so I will continue looking for similar caps to the ones you have suggested, but the parameter figures are useful to me in that search, so thank you again.

              By the way, I meant to type I had the Azur 650A not the Azur 550A (hence requiring the larger voltage caps).

              The cause of the fault, I suspect, was a power surge or outage that caused the ring main fuse to trip while the amp was on standby. I cannot be sure though as I did not immediately use the amp in the days after the trip event.

              Thanks!

              Tony

                Comment

                • RJARRRPCGP
                  Badcaps Legend
                  • Jul 2004
                  • 6304
                  • USA
                  #5
                  Re: Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

                  Originally posted by stj
                  1000hour shit
                  Sounds like 1920s' incandescent light bulbs, LOL.
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                    Comment

                    • petehall347
                      Badcaps Legend
                      • Jan 2015
                      • 4426
                      • United Kingdom
                      #6
                      Re: Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

                      just put long life ones in and call it an upgrade .

                        Comment

                        • stj
                          Great Sage 齊天大聖
                          • Dec 2009
                          • 30978
                          • Albion
                          #7
                          Re: Cambridge Audio Azur 550A Power Supply Cap Replacement

                          how wide and tall can you actually fit?

                            Comment

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