Capacitor Comparison Conundrum

[bereanbill]

I have been buying dribs and drabs of various poly/film caps in order to do comparisons and am at a bit of an impasse. Among those I have tried are RIFA, Ero, Sprague 716, Mallory 150, and some blue ones whose brand name eludes me at this moment. To be quite honest, I don't hear much if any difference tonally...noise level is the only major distinction I can see (hear?). Is it the medium I am using...I am a guitarist so guitar amps are my main area of interest. Maybe "higher quality" caps with 5% and 10% tolerances are lost on the guitar's comparatively narrow frequency response range. Not a total loss though...it's a lot of fun ....
As always...thanks for coddling this toob-noob....

[Johan Potgieter]

Originally posted by bereanbill
To be quite honest, I don't hear much if any difference tonally...

My very good friend,

Glad that your hearing is still normal! There have been quite a few articles on this either way, but notably a very well researched series of tests on all kinds of capacitors, by Cyril Bateman in 'Electronics World' August 2002 - about Dec. 2002.

I am constantly reminded of these very wise words by a Scottish expert on oils, when as a young engineer I asked a rather academic question: "Laddie, ya shouldna listen to all the old wives' tales ya hear." (Apologies for implied Scottish accent, which I just love!)

In audio, for normal coupling/bypass/filter duty one can do no better than polyester/polycarbonate items made by any renowned firm. Forget about boutique (exotic) types - unless you mount them up there, sufficiently lit for all to see the brand!

[bereanbill]

Thanks for the reaffirmation...after 35+ years of music and 27 years of construction noise, sometimes I wonder about my hearing. It seems like a lot of people build their opinion on that of "experts"...my friend Matt calls it "Massaging each other's pre-suppositions" (he gave me permission to use that BTW)
I must say that , in a recent SE build (mutated Fender Champ) I used some of those blue caps I mentioned in the early stages. I later changed them out for Mallory 150s and it seemed like the amp began to breath so to speak.
Thanks again...how about someone else chiming in ???

[SY]

Massaging each other's pre-suppositions

Excellent turn of phrase. I will no doubt steal it.

There's just as much sociology (maybe more) as technology in high end audio. I've run across differences in coupling caps, but only when there was a pathology (e.g., a microphonic capacitor because of poor winding technique).

[Wavebourn]

Hypnosis is rather a practical psychology than a sociology.

[bereanbill]

massaging each other's pre-suppositions...it was originally used in a theological context, but it works in countless situations !!!

BTW: How do you do that quote thing??

[Johan Potgieter]

Originally posted by bereanbill
massaging each other's pre-suppositions...

Originally posted by Wavebourn
Hypnosis is rather a practical psychology than a sociology.

Gee - now I can go to bed with a smile on my face!!!

[aardvarkash10]

BTW: How do you do that quote thing?? [/B]

By clicking the "Quote" tickbox on hte right hand bottom corner of the post you are quoting...

[m6tt]

Find two random people, keep them isolated.

Take a product, say a candybar. Remove label, etc. Tell person A that it cost you $500 and was designed in a CAD program for astronauts. French chefs and Swiss candymakers worked together to maximize the flavor.

Tell person B you found it under the couch, or in the candy machine down the hall.

I'd bet at least $1.75 that person A likes it better

[bereanbill]

Hey..I think I've had candybar A...not only did it taste better, but it was extremely transparent and had a great sounstage too !!!GREAT analogy..another example of "massaging each other's pre-suppositions, eh?"