Hi folks , has anyone replaced an inexpensive capacitor with an expensive one in a speaker crossover, I have built a troels gravessen design 3 way speaker and the capacitors that I am thinking about replacing are for the midrange speaker a SEAS ER18RNX, they require between 80 and 100 uf
I have fitted 4 clarity cap esa 22uf, im thinking about replacing these with
1. mundorf supreme
2. jantsen superior z cap
3. audyn cap plus
Would I see an improvement in sound quality or should I save my money.
I have fitted 4 clarity cap esa 22uf, im thinking about replacing these with
1. mundorf supreme
2. jantsen superior z cap
3. audyn cap plus
Would I see an improvement in sound quality or should I save my money.
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He was implying that the capacitors won't sound different, just look different.
Really?....there are countless threads regarding capacitor differences...real or imagined....
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/247113-example-capacitor-sound-comparison.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/258126-difference-capacitors-used-speaker-crossovers.html
Just two I found within 5 secs of searching.......
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/247113-example-capacitor-sound-comparison.html
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/258126-difference-capacitors-used-speaker-crossovers.html
Just two I found within 5 secs of searching.......
And, almost without fail, the more expensive the capacitors are the better they'll sound according to the "golden ears". 
Paul
Paul
I wouldn't say that. The correlation between "better" and "more expensive" is pretty weak, though. And "better" is very dependent on exactly how the cap works in a given crossover.
ESR, ESL, and microphonics are the most important parameters to consider, and again, depending on the filter design, "lower" may not necessarily be "better" for the first two.
Be highly skeptical of marketing claims for expensive caps!
ESR, ESL, and microphonics are the most important parameters to consider, and again, depending on the filter design, "lower" may not necessarily be "better" for the first two.
Be highly skeptical of marketing claims for expensive caps!
I've heard a difference between caps. I replaced some Solens with Auricaps and could definitely hear a difference. I also replaced the orange drops with Russian PIO caps and could also hear the difference, this in a pre-amp and amp respectively. Neither set of replacement caps cost much so it wasn't the money that made them sound better. I've heard that wound up Franklins in oil sound really good though .
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I've gone through a load of caps in different places. They do make a difference. However, considering you're in the course of replacing quite good caps with slightly excellent but extremely expensive ones... Just use the money to buy records. It'll buy you more joy for the money, really.
If it were a treble unit, and you were replacing a small Clarity ESA with a small Jantzen Superior Z, I would say "go for it", but not in this case. Buy More Records instead.
If it were a treble unit, and you were replacing a small Clarity ESA with a small Jantzen Superior Z, I would say "go for it", but not in this case. Buy More Records instead.
To the OP....hope you have hip waders cause you'll need 'em to get out of the dung that's going to accumulate in this thread now....
I don't think you like humanity in general.
Sure theres repetitive threads over the same issue, but thats life, it doesn't have to be inorganic and rigidly Logical.
And OP:
Its really completely random how a capacitor sounds, sure there are material differences, Ceramic vs Silk, Copper vs Aluminium. But price doesn't dictate this.
For example: I'm really really fond of Russian K73 caps and Petp caps in general but if you measure its spectrum vs a PIO cap the PIO cap has a flat line whereas the Petp is lopsided.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/lounge/143675-petp-capacitors-one-best.html
And i've compared them to MUSE and ERSE and UK made PIO and still prefer the ruskys.
Hell once I got a cheaply made 2.2uF Chinese electrolytic capacitor and put it in my TDA1543 dac as a coupling capacitor and was blown away over how well it sounded. But when I sat back down again and listened for a few minutes I realized that the top end was almost completely gone and the sound was very strange. And that capacitor cost no less than a few cents.
I do have Audionote but not the copper type, the yellow ones. I've yet to try this brand/type.
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Did you notice that all 3 of your caps have a name that implies something
very positive about them. Supreme, superior, plus...wow, they must be special.
I wonder what people would think of them if they had a negative sounding sticker
like CrapCap or MuddyCap.
I am not saying there are absolutely no differences. I am saying you can expect
all kinds of replies based on subjective testing and all things are possible then.
Being expensive doesn't automatically mean they will sound better.
I found some inexpensive motor run caps that sound practically as good as an expensive Mundorf cap. Can't say if all values behave the same way.
You really need to try out the different caps you can afford. I think it's silly to buy the super expensive ones unless you find them 'affordable' !
Like Adolf says...more music is top priority!
I found some inexpensive motor run caps that sound practically as good as an expensive Mundorf cap. Can't say if all values behave the same way.
You really need to try out the different caps you can afford. I think it's silly to buy the super expensive ones unless you find them 'affordable' !
Like Adolf says...more music is top priority!
IMO, more often than not, it's your brain adjusting. When a manufacturer recommends hundreds of hours for their product to break in, whether the product is an electronic item or a speaker system, be very wary about their motivations. That said, I did hear a slight difference in sibilance between a couple of capacitors, but not nearly the "night and day" difference that seems to be claimed so frequently.
Paul
Paul
Before you start replacing caps, first ask the question if you can adequately measure the results of these changes. Differences in ESR or ESL might lead to pushig the xover out of its original tuning. This could make your loudspeakers sound differently, but what you actually did is to introduce a tone control without knowing it.
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