How do Solid State (eg, Polymer) capacitors sound?

rochmndx · 10th March 2008, 04:00 PM

I've been reading about the new "solid state capacitors" being used in motherboards today, and I'm wondering if their any good for audio/how do they compare to good electrolytic caps?

KOA · 13th March 2008, 02:52 AM

Sorry i cannot offer any advice, but I am curious as well. It would be nice to have a higher quality large value capacitor choice. If I can salvage a solid electrolytic from a computer with high enough voltage tolerance I will give it a shot in my audiosector kit lm4780.

jcx · 13th March 2008, 03:36 AM

Bateman's "Capacitor Sound" series suggested that polar electrolytic cap nonlinear distortion is dominated by the nolinearity of the thin sponaneous film on the unformed electrode in a ploar electrolytic, he measured much lower distortion in bipolar Al electrolytics which have fully formed oxide layers on both electrodes

since I don't know of any bipolar polymer electrolytics I would venture to say that they are expected to have more distortion than bipolar electros with low impedance coventional electrolytes

Ta electrolytics are much more nonlinear than Al of comparable V rating

Conrad Hoffman · 13th March 2008, 03:55 AM

If an example of polymer "solid state" caps is the Oscon, and I think it is, then they're only available in low voltages. They have lower esr than other electrolytics, but the same issues with dielectric absorbtion and distortion. I'd never use one in the signal path.

woody · 13th March 2008, 01:45 PM

KOA what model tweeter did you need?

I assume it was out of a L500? I have one from a L690
the tweeter is makked 206-0116.

Would have prefered to email you but you have that turned off.

rochmndx · 13th March 2008, 03:09 PM

I did a little research, and it seems that these "solid state capacitors" are polymer caps? How do they sound?

10th March 2008, 04:00 PM	#1
rochmndx diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2007	How do Solid State (eg, Polymer) capacitors sound? I've been reading about the new "solid state capacitors" being used in motherboards today, and I'm wondering if their any good for audio/how do they compare to good electrolytic caps?

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13th March 2008, 02:52 AM	#2
KOA diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: seattle	Sorry i cannot offer any advice, but I am curious as well. It would be nice to have a higher quality large value capacitor choice. If I can salvage a solid electrolytic from a computer with high enough voltage tolerance I will give it a shot in my audiosector kit lm4780.

13th March 2008, 03:36 AM	#3
jcx diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: ..	Bateman's "Capacitor Sound" series suggested that polar electrolytic cap nonlinear distortion is dominated by the nolinearity of the thin sponaneous film on the unformed electrode in a ploar electrolytic, he measured much lower distortion in bipolar Al electrolytics which have fully formed oxide layers on both electrodes since I don't know of any bipolar polymer electrolytics I would venture to say that they are expected to have more distortion than bipolar electros with low impedance coventional electrolytes Ta electrolytics are much more nonlinear than Al of comparable V rating

13th March 2008, 03:55 AM	#4
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	If an example of polymer "solid state" caps is the Oscon, and I think it is, then they're only available in low voltages. They have lower esr than other electrolytics, but the same issues with dielectric absorbtion and distortion. I'd never use one in the signal path.

13th March 2008, 01:45 PM	#5
woody diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Tyrone Ga. U.S.A.	KOA what model tweeter did you need? I assume it was out of a L500? I have one from a L690 the tweeter is makked 206-0116. Would have prefered to email you but you have that turned off.

13th March 2008, 03:09 PM	#6
rochmndx diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2007	I did a little research, and it seems that these "solid state capacitors" are polymer caps? How do they sound?

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