Why remove capacitor 'wrapping' ?

[Keyoke]

I'm still new at this so y'all will have to forgive me. I know that there is no such thing as a dumb question, just consider me an inquistive idiot. 🙂

I've seen a number of chipamps that have the large-value caps w/o their clothing. Is there a reason to remove the wrapping aside from asthetic ones?

 

[runebivrin]

Technically, there shoud be no difference.

But as always with things like these, those who remove the wrapping do so because they feel it improves the sound in some subtle way. And to a degree, that's probably true. In their ears, it does sound better.

Rune

 

[Nuuk]

The plastic jacket is insulation so don't remove it unless you know what you are doing!

 

[cpemma]

The jacket also shows the polarity so make alternative arrangements when removing. 😉

 

[pinkmouse]

It also allows cheaper caps to be substituted for more expensive ones. 😱

 

[Nuuk]

You cynic Al! 😀

So it was TV that did for poor Alexander Litvinenko! 😱

 

[halo0925]

capacitor wrapping

Voodoo and black magic😉

 

[MarkRehorst]

Is there a reason to remove the wrapping aside from asthetic ones?

It is a sort of magic, like prayer, that is supposed to improve the performance of the amplifier. Children and many adults who are unable to discriminate between an advertisement and factual information often believe this sort of nonsense, hence we have the "tweak" segment of the high-end audio industry that preys on their weakness.

The fact that you are asking about it indicates that you have the potential to rise above the stupidity of magic audio. It is obvious that you don't blindly believe every bit of nonsense you read on the internet. I applaud your inquisitiveness and hope you will continue on your quest for truth.

I_F

 

[Peter Daniel]

If you install Black Gates in some sort of supporting blocks, see pic here: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=879147&stamp=1143477205 and use standard size Forestner bit to make the holes, you need to remove capacitor's 'wrapping', otherwise the cap won't fit (sizes 7/8 and 5/8 dia).

 

[Nordic]

also makes it a little harder to reverse engineer simply by looking at it...

 

[Keyoke]

Re: Re: Why remove capacitor 'wrapping' ?

Yep, that's what I thought. It's sorta like the little marbles I saw at some audio fleamarket. You are supposed to put a basket of them in a bowl on the floor behind the speaker to "enhance the dynamic range of your loudspeakers". I think they were about $160 per bowl or something silly like that. 🙂

 

[elementx]

Re: Re: Re: Why remove capacitor 'wrapping' ?

Yep, that's what I thought. It's sorta like the little marbles I saw at some audio fleamarket. You are supposed to put a basket of them in a bowl on the floor behind the speaker to "enhance the dynamic range of your loudspeakers". I think they were about $160 per bowl or something silly like that. 🙂

rest assured someone here will post about the $320 they spent on a set "oh the freshness of the sound..."

its like putting grey poupon on your big mac... it makes no sense....

 

[CarlosT]

So going nekkid with caps is diyaudio BLING? 😀

 

[lineup]

Capacitor wrapping trick - blindtesti!

Technically, there shoud be no difference.
But as always with things like these, those who remove the wrapping do so because they feel it improves the sound in some subtle way. And to a degree, that's probably true. In their ears, it does sound better.

Originally posted by lineup :

I have thought about this way we can do some 'real life' testing.


Say you have a friend that is very happy, because he has installed some new 'audiograde' caps in his amplifier. He says it sounds so much better now. Definitively an improvement!

You buy some 'no-name' normal quality caps with same size,
some caps of the audiograde brand and exchange the plastic wrapping with label on.
Now you have 'no-name' caps with 'audiophile' and identical look.

Say you know someone in his family and are allowed to get in to his amplifier.
You exchange his caps in amplifier when he is at work.

Now just wait.
Maybe he starts posting here his amplifier does not sound as good.
And needs advice about what is the matter with his amplifier.

Maybe he doesn't notice a thing.
After a couple of years, you can reveal the truth about his audiograde caps.

I have my own opinion of the probability he would notice anything.
🙂
------------------------
above posted by lineup
22nd December 2005
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=796426#post796426



lineup
2nd December 2006

 

[falcott]

If you install Black Gates in some sort of supporting blocks, see pic here: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=879147&stamp=1143477205 and use standard size Forestner bit to make the holes, you need to remove capacitor's 'wrapping', otherwise the cap won't fit (sizes 7/8 and 5/8 dia).

AHA! So they're Black Gates are they? 😀

 

[Nuuk]

Have any of you actually measured what happens when you skin a cap?

If you have, and have seen no difference then claims of 'voodoo' and 'magic' are justified. If you haven't....... you are just as guilty of spreading false information as the people you are talking about!

I haven't measured it so I am not stupid enough to come down on one side of the fence or the other!

 

[AuroraB]

Have any of you actually measured what happens when you skin a cap?

Oh, Nuuk...haven't you got it yet???

If we can measure it we have PROOF! Little or no debate.
But since we cannot measure it, these B/S claims can go on forever.....and all the snake oil salesmen can continue to take the sweets from all the many gullibles....
A lot of strange things can go on in ones minds, you know..😉

 

[Nordic]

I say once again, it is mostly to invalidate reverse engineering.
Even if you measure the value of the cap, you still have no idea as to what type it is.

I would concede to to the example you mentioned where the skins had to be removed for mechanical reasons, i.e. to fit in a hole... In fact that just gave me an idea.. I tried something similar with a top panel of a case, and couldn't get a nice fit, - because of the skins...

 

[Nuuk]

But since we cannot measure it,

When you say 'we' are you talking for everybody else? Please tell us how you tried to measure it? 😉

 

[zBuff]

I thought some people skin caps to stop electrostatic charge buildup, I know it seems to be quite popular in Japanese DIY circles.

I've done it on a pair of speaker caps before I swear it made a difference, but it could have been just psychoacoustic(or the wine 😀), really should do an A-B sometime.