Polypropylene for signal path

[rg12]

After reading alot of bad opinions on polyester in signal path.

Is it ok to use polypropylene film caps in the signal path?
I read that it is used for high frequencies usually.

Im lost, i need 1uf 2.2uf and 3.3uf caps for my signal path that aren't
polyester.

Any good suggestions for something that isn't really hard to get,
im searching for hours!

Thanks alot.

 

[roddyama]

Polypropylene caps will work fine in the signal path. Be sure the voltage rating is sufficient for the application.

There so many sources online you should have no trouble finding them at a relatively wide range of prices (and quality). As for what constitutes quality, you'll have to search some of the hundreds of threads on the forum for various opinions.

Good Luck
Have fun

 

[rg12]

If my corrent caps are rated 10-25v will it be a problem if the new ones will
be 200v?

 

[wrenchone]

Are you sure? If the caps are 10-25V rating, they are most likely electrolytic or tantalum, not polyester (a picture would help). The big problem is that a 200V polypropylene will be loads larger than an electrolytic of similar value. If there's room for the part, ok. If not, you might want to try searching for some 50V or 10V rated polypropylene parts, which should be smaller. Ebay has loads of polypropylene caps for sale, as do Digi-Key and Mouser.

 

[Buckapound]

Capacitor voltage ratings are for maximum, so you can use higher voltage with no problem.

Voltage ratings are a reflection of the thickness, insulating (dielectric) ability and probably some other things I don't know about. Normally the type of polypropylene used in audio are in the 100-300v range, but occasionally you come across smaller voltage values.

There was a pretty good discussion along with some actual testing on one of the Tripath (class D) threads a couple of years ago as I recall.

--Buckapound

 

[rg12]

Im replacing the small tantalum caps to polypropylene.

So you say that 250v wouldn't be a problem if i solve the room on the pcb for it?

Im going to solder them underneath the pcb anyway...

I though about the Mundorf M-CAP MKP Series, but it's metalized polypropylene,
what is the difference between this and the regular polypropylene?

What do you think about those mundorf's from this cheaper series?

 

[umut1001]

Hi.What is the criteria of audio mkp capacitor?Can x2 type mkp works well in audio applications?Thank you

 

[analog_sa]

Hi.What is the criteria of audio mkp capacitor?Can x2 type mkp works well in audio applications?

Some MKP are quite tolerable but i always prefer using non-metalised polyprops.

 

[umut1001]

Yes i have some ero kp1832 capacitors and they sound excellent.My question was x2 type or other types of mkp to be better

 

[AndrewT]

there are metalised film and/or metal foil with film.
They are very different in price and size.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I found that it usually takes some time, 40 hours as a rule of thumb, but it varies a lot, for the capacitors to "settle down". Often, the caps sound "thin" and harsh initially.

As a rough guide in order of usually improved performance: metalized, aluminum foil, tin foil, copper foil. I've used tin foil in a (very few) tweeter paths; as indicated above, price usually increases quite a bit with each step, and size goes up for the foil versions.

Other items matter too; polyprop quality, winding tension, lead attachment, and lead material (copper, non-magnetic!). Unless you want to make it a big, long, tedious project, try to find recommendations that sound sensible, and try those. Humble Homemade Hifi is one source I like.