is this true about capacitors????

[prorms]

is this true about capacitors????

Electolytic and tantalum capacitors have very poor audio characteristics and should not be used in the audio signal path


1 been the best for audio



1 polytetrafluorethylene (Teflon) capacitors
2 Polystyrene (styrene, styroflex, or styrol) capacitors
3 polycarbonate capacitors
4 polypropylene capacitors
5 Polyester (Mylar) capacitors

[SY]

It depends on where and how they're used. There have been some VERY highly rated amps that have used electrolytics (usually aluminum, not tantalum) in the input and feedback paths. Since power supply caps are nearly universally electrolytic, the signal passes through them, too.

Tantalum caps are much more problematic- see, for example, John Curl's paper in Audio.

Some designers feel that an aluminum electrolytic ANYWHERE is anathema. Others don't. That's why the discussions get so heated.

[Nordic]

Sometimes electrolytics in signal path is not optional... Sound quality changes in my test were not realy price dependant...

Some of the negative aspects can be improved on by bypassing with a suitable film cap.

[jackinnj]

Polycarbonates are good for sample-and-hold circuits, averaging (integrating) for RMS converters, oscillators, filters but they rank below polypropylene IMHO.

Styrenics are great for filter circuits, decoupling, etc. but are low in terms of popularity because they can't be "reflowed" unless you want a pile of goo on your PCB.

[gtforme00]

Tantalum capacitors have measurably high distortion products in the audio range when used as coupling capacitors.



Here is one source for this information, although they do not include the exotic types you listed.
http://www.electronicscomponentsworl...131512008.html

Regards,
David

[analog_sa]

There is nothing particularly wrong with BG N-type electrolytics in the signal path. Dirt cheap and better than most general purpose films. Of course only for lowish (<50v) voltages.

[whoandcar]

Any body knows something about the new so called solid aluminum capacitors?

Gigabyte uses them in their new motherboards, and call them "Conductive Polymer Aluminum Solid Capacitor"

[Conrad Hoffman]

Polymer caps would be things like the Oscon caps. They have better HF performance and lower esr than regular electrolytics, but aren't available in high voltages that I've seen. They seem to have the same audio problems as other electrolytics, and I avoid either, except in places where large values can't be avoided. They do work very well as the energy storage caps on low voltage signal boards, though you still need small ceramics or films next to the active devices. I wouldn't be too paranoid. If a preamp needed a 2uF coupling cap, I'd absolutely go with polypropylene. OTOH, if you needed 20uF, an electrolytic would be in order.

[peranders]

Originally posted by gtforme00
Tantalum capacitors have measurably high distortion products in the audio range when used as coupling capacitors.



Here is one source for this information, although they do not include the exotic types you listed.
http://www.electronicscomponentsworl...131512008.html

Regards,
David

Can anyone explain how the test setup really looked like? Just inserting a cap and get 1% distortion? I have read the pdf but somehow I have missed this information.

[CBS240]

Hi

I just found this interesting paper. It's kind of technical, but so far, most of it makes sense to me, haven't finished it yet. This paper has better visual references and is easier to understand. Somewhere I saw a paper with DA values for different electrolyte materials but now I don't remember where. Maybe it was Mr. Curl's paper.
IMHO, polystyrene is the best but I haven't seen any in values above 10nf. Next on my list is polypropylene. I have a couple of 20uf polypropylene caps around here somewhere. They are axial at about 1"D X 3"L, and a cost of about $15 each. I use 1uf polypropylene for my input caps. Third on my list of options is Teflon. COG chip caps aren't too bad either but exist only in small values, pf's. I like these for compensation. I try not to even fool with the others for signal purposes.