s5 - Black Gate upgrade?

#1 · 28 September 2026, 4:17 PM

Hello, I am thinking about recapping the output of an S5 with Black Gate capacitors. Is this a worthwhile pursuit or better left stock?

Thanks for any guidance.

Daryl

#2 · 30 September 2026, 7:03 PM

i'm searching too but unfortunatly nowadays all Black Gates N you can find on the market are fake . you could try the new Audionote Kasei NP sounds great if you dont have the place to put a Film or Paper in oil cap .

#3 · 3 October 2026, 11:58 AM

For me, BG N sounded best when two pieces were used in BG's so-called "anti-parallel" configuration. That way, they provide a more pleasant tone and timbre than any single capacitor, while remaining highly precise.

On the other hand, Elna Silmic II, which is regularly installed in the S5b, does bring a bit more texture to the tone.

Trying BG is certainly interesting, but other than availability, the problem today is also that even the last production runs are now more than 15 years old.

#4 · 12 October 2026, 1:23 AM

Thanks, Pedja.