Capacitor quesiton..

Dxvideo · 19th October 2006, 11:15 AM

Hi all,
I'm here for another stupid question again...!
As i see many manuals, they say "use Mylar or Metal capacitors for signal coupling." First of all; whats the mylar capacitor? I cannot find any mylar or metal capacitors in Turkey or i couldnt tell the salesmen them! Can i use standard electrolityc capacitors for coupling? What diffenence it makes?
Thanks a lot for your answers in advance...

Stuey · 19th October 2006, 11:58 AM

Hi Dx,

I'm pretty sure Mylar is someone's trademark for the generic term polyester. Metal would mean metal film, or either metallised polyester or polypropylene most commonly.

Most people think that film caps provide a better quality of sound when in the signal path.

Stuey

Dxvideo · 19th October 2006, 01:23 PM

Thank you Stue. I hope its easy to find metal film capacitors... Ill use metal films as you say.

Stuey · 19th October 2006, 01:46 PM

Hi Dx,

Note that there's a difference between metal film and metallised. You'll find metallised (eg. metallised polypropylene) are more common and are usually the type used in most reasonable quality amps.

I believe metal film are quite expensive and more difficult to get.

Stu

Fin · 9th November 2006, 04:07 AM

So - would these be good (in our part of the world)??
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Capacitor-Met...QQcmdZViewItem

Nordic · 9th November 2006, 06:28 AM

Noting special about those, but they would work...
Being Mylar is not so important, what is important is to note that it is a non polar cap, unlike elctrolitics... So any non polar cap of the right value would work, mylar, polyester, polypropelyne, ceramics all work the same way, except for diffiring levels of linearity... Ceramics should be avoided unless it is NP0 or COG types

But film caps are generaly better than ceramics

The mylar references probably comes from older schematics, various forms of polyprop and polyester has taken over since then in terms of production cost and performance.

Stuey · 9th November 2006, 11:41 AM

Not that it really matters, but as I say mylar IS polyester - it's a DuPont trademark.

http://heritage.dupont.com/touchpoin...overview.shtml

Minion · 10th November 2006, 07:19 PM

I"m pretty sure "Mylar" and "Metal Film" and the same thing, Mylar is just a Trademark name for metal film or metalized polyester....

I"m sure we have all seen those shiney silver Balloons , Well those are made from Mylar which you can easily tell from looking at one that it is made from a Metalized Plastic ,They also use the same type of material for packaging materail like on chocolate wrapers and chip bags and very thin mylar for condenser microphone diaphrams......

You can get Metal Film Capacitors for pretty darn cheap these days ,I recently bought 100 0.1uF metal Film caps for $3 and they are quite small.....

Cheers

CarlosT · 10th November 2006, 10:27 PM

Is it generally true that non polarized caps can be substituted in any application that calls for polarized caps with no ill effect?

I've been perusing some old tube amp/guitar amp webshops and there are a lotta "old school" capacitors showing all claiming to have that old warm sound from who knows when. All have cool names like:

Orange Drops

Atoms

Black Cat

Tiny Chief

Black Beauty

Cute...innit?

Stuey · 10th November 2006, 11:35 PM

Does anyone read the previous posts on this forum?

19th October 2006, 11:15 AM	#1
Dxvideo diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Turkey	Capacitor quesiton.. Hi all, I'm here for another stupid question again...! As i see many manuals, they say "use Mylar or Metal capacitors for signal coupling." First of all; whats the mylar capacitor? I cannot find any mylar or metal capacitors in Turkey or i couldnt tell the salesmen them! Can i use standard electrolityc capacitors for coupling? What diffenence it makes? Thanks a lot for your answers in advance...

9th November 2006, 04:07 AM	#5
Fin diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: -	So - would these be good (in our part of the world)?? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Capacitor-Met...QQcmdZViewItem __________________ Regards Fin

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
SMD capacitor - how to tell the value?	Pulse-R	Digital Source	5	18th April 2008 05:42 AM
Air gap capacitor	2litre	Everything Else	4	18th January 2007 02:09 AM
capacitor	uvodee	Parts	4	12th April 2004 05:23 AM
Capacitor	Christian	Swap Meet	0	2nd January 2003 06:49 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

19th October 2006, 11:58 AM	#2
Stuey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Hi Dx, I'm pretty sure Mylar is someone's trademark for the generic term polyester. Metal would mean metal film, or either metallised polyester or polypropylene most commonly. Most people think that film caps provide a better quality of sound when in the signal path. Stuey

19th October 2006, 01:23 PM	#3
Dxvideo diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Turkey	Thank you Stue. I hope its easy to find metal film capacitors... Ill use metal films as you say.

19th October 2006, 01:46 PM	#4
Stuey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Hi Dx, Note that there's a difference between metal film and metallised. You'll find metallised (eg. metallised polypropylene) are more common and are usually the type used in most reasonable quality amps. I believe metal film are quite expensive and more difficult to get. Stu

9th November 2006, 06:28 AM	#6
Nordic diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	Noting special about those, but they would work... Being Mylar is not so important, what is important is to note that it is a non polar cap, unlike elctrolitics... So any non polar cap of the right value would work, mylar, polyester, polypropelyne, ceramics all work the same way, except for diffiring levels of linearity... Ceramics should be avoided unless it is NP0 or COG types But film caps are generaly better than ceramics The mylar references probably comes from older schematics, various forms of polyprop and polyester has taken over since then in terms of production cost and performance.

9th November 2006, 11:41 AM	#7
Stuey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Not that it really matters, but as I say mylar IS polyester - it's a DuPont trademark. http://heritage.dupont.com/touchpoin...overview.shtml

10th November 2006, 07:19 PM	#8
Minion diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	I"m pretty sure "Mylar" and "Metal Film" and the same thing, Mylar is just a Trademark name for metal film or metalized polyester.... I"m sure we have all seen those shiney silver Balloons , Well those are made from Mylar which you can easily tell from looking at one that it is made from a Metalized Plastic ,They also use the same type of material for packaging materail like on chocolate wrapers and chip bags and very thin mylar for condenser microphone diaphrams...... You can get Metal Film Capacitors for pretty darn cheap these days ,I recently bought 100 0.1uF metal Film caps for $3 and they are quite small..... Cheers

10th November 2006, 10:27 PM	#9
CarlosT diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Is it generally true that non polarized caps can be substituted in any application that calls for polarized caps with no ill effect? I've been perusing some old tube amp/guitar amp webshops and there are a lotta "old school" capacitors showing all claiming to have that old warm sound from who knows when. All have cool names like: Orange Drops Atoms Black Cat Tiny Chief Black Beauty Cute...innit?

10th November 2006, 11:35 PM	#10
Stuey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Does anyone read the previous posts on this forum?