Power Supply Caps - Standard vs Audio

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#41
lsheng said:
The circuit should be able to handle even an ideal cap with the same capacitance, if a real resistance is needed for stability, a real resistor should be used in such design. Simply replacing a component with better spec causes problem, then I think the circuit needs revision.
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I disagree. In mass-production, the extra resistor adds cost that can be avoided by the right choice of capacitor in the first place.

Now, a resistor costs next to nothing, but it's not just the cost of the resistor itself. In mass production, every cent or even fraction of a cent counts and adds up to a large amount in the long run.

An extra component means: longer bill of materials (if that component isn't already used in another part of the design) and hence more time to purchase the materials, more complex pcb (as the complexity rises, so does manufacturing cost of the pcb), more space required on a pcb, extra placement to be carried out (even if it's SMD, it takes time to pick up, inspect and insert a component), extra components to be checked and tested. Last but not least: a higher component count means more things to go wrong.

So, in really refined and thought through designs, I would actually expect (e.g.) an LDO with a somewhat higher ESR cap on its output to keep it stable rather than a low ESR type with a resistor in series with the LDO. This saves all the above costs and the (standard) cap is likely cheaper too...

Johnny2Bad said:
Parasound is, after all, a company that generally offers high value products; you don't get there without lots of effort at reducing manufacturing cost in the Bill of Materials (BoM) once the schematic is approved.
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Indeed.
 
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#44
Cap Replacement

While you are replacing the main power supply caps, try to engineer installing a much lower capacitance but much higher voltage (much lower ESR) bypass. This preferably can be installed further downstream close to the transistors.

I installed 50 uf 300 volt blackgate capacitors as bypasses to the power supply caps in my Hafler amps, and the improvement in the midbass dynamics was a nice improvement to the amps.

Retsel
 
#45
guys I have tried many caps name it. At last I say the best tonally correct cap is Mundorf Mlytic AG and for clear and crispier sound use nichicon. Smoother sound use Elna. Super crisp use cerafine. Flat sound use panasonic FC , Nichicon Muse. Sprage overall standard balance but not very resolving.
 
#46
upgrading bypass caps is an excellent suggestion.
bypassing flattens the ESR across the mid to upper band, which can easily improve the sounds on some amps!
In electro's The higher the voltage the higher the ESR, all else being equal, higher ESR is not an upgrade.
Blackgates are a boutique brand, no data sheets or other standards and mostably just a retagged industrial type priced >10x. I didn't say sucker bait but some may think otherwise
 
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#47
subjective evaluations one is not measuring the right parameter all in time domain which standard frequency sweeps cant speak about it.

But one thing I can say they do all make difference so why does it makes? all material science just mathematics wont help in.

Harmonic structure and its decay over time which will be in the order of micro secs or nanos but the difference is there.

The best interconnect I have used so far : VDH First Ultimates.

yes calculating the Resistance inductance and capacitance will show up but its alot more than that...

Use spectrograms use waterfall plots whatever it takes but not to say just inductance is increased or reduced or capacitance etc.

audiophiles are clearly perceiving the difference or else there wouldnt be any manufacturers who manufacturers it.

Measurements regarding the VDH first Ultimates: carbon interconnects..

yes its Nano technology and the cable can actually transmit as much as 2pA of current.

I have nothing else to say. I have seen significant difference in sound no more debate on it.
 
#52
rhythmsandy said:
sorry I dont have a great wallet but the sound quality made me to invest in it. I never thought of spending 700USD for an interconnect. So im spending such high price for interconnect so it means its doing something much better? isnt it...
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Every time I see an interlink that's been priced waaaaay toooo much, I think: "and what about those tiny 35 um thin tracks on the PCBs inside our devices?". How's an expensive interlink going to make the end-result better without improving the weakest link inside a chain??
 
#55
jitter said:
Every time I see an interlink that's been priced waaaaay toooo much, I think: "and what about those tiny 35 um thin tracks on the PCBs inside our devices?". How's an expensive interlink going to make the end-result better without improving the weakest link inside a chain??
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That is why Gigabyte motherboards have double the thickness!

tech_080924_ud3_ultracool-01_b.jpg


(In before audiophile brands start marketing products with quad thickness... should i have kept my mouth shut?)
 
#57
jacco vermeulen said:
Jocko posted measurement results at his place a number of years ago, they're actually not half bad.
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Homo Jocko?
more testo-monies

edit> was that his job to find the other half😀

I just started playing with 18650 batteries, I find so many choices to pick from, some really terrible some "half" good. I noticed there is some brands that rewrap the good ones with their name and sell them at a decent mark-up. I reckon 'Black gate' is similar, separating the wheat from chaff for folks that cant.
 
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