I'm not sure if this is the correct term for cutting the outer jacket off electrolytic caps, but is it worth it sonically? Has anyone tried this? I've seen it done on occasion but google searches didn't provide any information
Sorry to sound rather derisive but how on earth would this affect the sound quality, it is these rather way out silly ideas that do not help the world view of Audiophiles, moving the toe in of your speakers by 0.1mm would have more effect...
It's supposed to improve sound for some reason best known to audiophools, but, back in the real world, I read somewhere that removing the sleeve puts the cap under greater thermal stress, thereby shortening its life, because the shiny can radiates heat away less efficiently than the (usually) darker sleeve.
There's also the issue of electrical shorts without a sleeve - isn't the can connected to the power supply voltage?
Who knows? I'd leave as is if I were you.
There's also the issue of electrical shorts without a sleeve - isn't the can connected to the power supply voltage?
Who knows? I'd leave as is if I were you.
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[Aluminium electrolytic capacitors housed in aluminium cases are supplied with a plastic oversleeve, which serves two purposes, it is easily printed with capacitance and voltage etc., but more important this sleeve actually dissipates heat more rapidly than does the bare aluminium can, so must never be removed. When I first worked designing electrolytics, like many people I queried this fact, so performed several practical test measurements of capacitors specially assembled with thermocouples to measure
internal temperatures. Subjected to 50Hz test current, I measured the internal hot spot temperature of each capacitor after 3 hours, initially complete with its plastic sleeving then having removed this sleeve, retested each capacitor. In every case the sleeved version was several degrees cooler. Researching my reference books I found the answer, the low temperature infra-red radiation from the semi-polished aluminium cans was significantly lower than that from the near mat surfaced thin plastic sleeving.]
The text is from Cyril Bateman:
Capacitor Sounds, Speaker Cables and Crossover Inductors.
internal temperatures. Subjected to 50Hz test current, I measured the internal hot spot temperature of each capacitor after 3 hours, initially complete with its plastic sleeving then having removed this sleeve, retested each capacitor. In every case the sleeved version was several degrees cooler. Researching my reference books I found the answer, the low temperature infra-red radiation from the semi-polished aluminium cans was significantly lower than that from the near mat surfaced thin plastic sleeving.]
The text is from Cyril Bateman:
Capacitor Sounds, Speaker Cables and Crossover Inductors.
There is/was a good video on YouTube where two identical pop cans were filled with warm water. One of the cans was covered with the non glare type scotch tape. You would think the one covered in tape would cool more slowly having the extra layer of plastic and adhesive, however it cooled more rapidly as the tape made the can a better black body radiator. Using one of those far infrared cameras, you could see how adding the tape made the can brighter emission wise.
The plastic sleeve may also serve to dampen any mechanical resonances in the capacitor. Any change in sound when it is removed is therefore likely to be a reduction in sound quality. Reductions in sound quality are often misinterpreted as improvements in sound quality, especially when the listener has been told to expect an improvement or when the listener doesn't actually like hi-fi.
Emissivity, the black tape on top of IC's (with shiny tops such as Virtex 5's etc.) on a PCB allows you to use a thermal camera to correctly measure their temp.
Already been given a thrashing here ... http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/6031-removing-plastic-covers-capacitors.html.
The metal jacket is there to serve as partial electromagnetic field isolation, and heat-sink too.
In simple English it helping the capacitor to maintain it thermal stability against load variations.
And also this metal jacket works as shield against corrosion caused by atmospheric air.
I think that this story about removing the metal jacket is another myth with out dragon.
Interesting thread, in the way it shows how many will follow some whacky idea with no thought to whether it is an improvement or no measurements apart from the "I perceive therefore its true".
Of course if you want to get totally insane about denuding your caps there is always this!!!!!
Studio Zèy
Another example that in the world of audiophoolery every change is an improvement and if it's measurably worse there is clearly a fault with measuring.
You've got to give the bloke points for his detailed instructions ... 🙂
And ... unfortunately, I know exactly what he's talking about when he describes the nature of the quality improvements, in subjective terms ... 😛
Which doesn't mean I'll be copying his methods - many roads to Rome, etc, etc - just something else to keep in mind, 🙂.
And ... unfortunately, I know exactly what he's talking about when he describes the nature of the quality improvements, in subjective terms ... 😛
Which doesn't mean I'll be copying his methods - many roads to Rome, etc, etc - just something else to keep in mind, 🙂.
Without something to back it up subjective is just an opinion though, as the earlier link shows many are happy to follow a suggestion based on an opinion, Monty Pythons Life of Brian and the shoe sketch comes to mind.....
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