Capacitor Performance ~ High Voltage vs. Low Voltage?

Steve M · 4th October 2010, 07:41 AM

Could someone please advise whether it might be detrimental to sound quality to use a higher than required voltage capacitor in place of a lower voltage one?

I have a nice Philips TDA1541 tube DAC which around the DAC chip has some small 20v 68uF OsCon electrolytic capacitors, and I'm thinking of replacing these with some large 630v 68uF Solen polypropylene types. There is also potential to make this change with caps in the tube output stage.

Someone told me that the Solens could be a backward step due to their large size and high voltage, that there may be issues with lack of saturation or something??

Thanks,

Steve M.

Steve M · 5th October 2010, 01:39 AM

No clues on this matter, so I guess this is either a non-issue or nobody knows?

Regards,

Steve M.

stoc005 · 5th October 2010, 02:30 AM

In general, OsCon caps are some of the more premium electrolytics around for the very low ESR at high frequencies they offer. They excel in SMPS filtering. Used on lots of PCs.
I don't think voltage rating matters much with respect to film non-polar caps. If this was clear cut, the answer would be easier. Try it and get back to us......

Conrad Hoffman · 5th October 2010, 03:38 AM

Oscon caps have excellent high frequency performance, but not as good as films. The voltage is a minor issue. What I'd worry about is that replacing them with films might cause ringing because the films have such low DF at high frequencies that they'll form a resonant circuit with any inductance. The films will also be physically larger, and that's not a good thing for predictable HF performance. This is a case where, unless you have the test equipment to check it, you should leave well enough alone.

abraxalito · 5th October 2010, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve M

Someone told me that the Solens could be a backward step due to their large size and high voltage, that there may be issues with lack of saturation or something??

OsCons are used for decoupling of digital circuits due to excellent ESR and small physical size - small size means low inductance. Your suggestion of large caps is indeed a step backwards owing to large capacitors having significantly higher series inductance. Just as Conrad says, best leave well alone. You might be able to improve on the decoupling performance of OsCons by paralleling some small SMT caps with them, but its a long-shot and a TDA1541 is relatively old technology (read slow digital) so doesn't require super-low ESR and ESL.

Steve M · 5th October 2010, 12:03 PM

Thanks guys, that's helpful ...

Steve.

4th October 2010, 07:41 AM	#1
Steve M diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Capacitor Performance ~ High Voltage vs. Low Voltage? Could someone please advise whether it might be detrimental to sound quality to use a higher than required voltage capacitor in place of a lower voltage one? I have a nice Philips TDA1541 tube DAC which around the DAC chip has some small 20v 68uF OsCon electrolytic capacitors, and I'm thinking of replacing these with some large 630v 68uF Solen polypropylene types. There is also potential to make this change with caps in the tube output stage. Someone told me that the Solens could be a backward step due to their large size and high voltage, that there may be issues with lack of saturation or something?? Thanks, Steve M.

5th October 2010, 03:38 AM	#4
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	Oscon caps have excellent high frequency performance, but not as good as films. The voltage is a minor issue. What I'd worry about is that replacing them with films might cause ringing because the films have such low DF at high frequencies that they'll form a resonant circuit with any inductance. The films will also be physically larger, and that's not a good thing for predictable HF performance. This is a case where, unless you have the test equipment to check it, you should leave well enough alone. __________________ I used to be an audiophool like you but then I took an arrow to the knee.

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5th October 2010, 01:39 AM	#2
Steve M diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Perth, Western Australia	No clues on this matter, so I guess this is either a non-issue or nobody knows? Regards, Steve M.

5th October 2010, 02:30 AM	#3
stoc005 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Midwest in the USA	In general, OsCon caps are some of the more premium electrolytics around for the very low ESR at high frequencies they offer. They excel in SMPS filtering. Used on lots of PCs. I don't think voltage rating matters much with respect to film non-polar caps. If this was clear cut, the answer would be easier. Try it and get back to us......

5th October 2010, 12:03 PM	#6
Steve M diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Perth, Western Australia	Thanks guys, that's helpful ... Steve.

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