Planar Speaker Asylum

Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share your ideas and experiences.

Planar Speaker Asylum

Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one

104.172.19.114

I did my upgrade about ten years ago and could swear that using multiple small caps produces favorable results over a single large cap. This was especially true of Sonic Caps, which I would warn from using. Surely there is a sonic difference, but the cost increases can be quite large unless using cheap caps like Sonic Caps.

Does anybody else see a potential benefit to this approach, or am I wasting time and money?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Humility is the true mark of genius. Just get used to it."
-Anonymous

Follow Ups:

RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one - Satie 13:06:57 03/05/17 (5)
Yes, it can be better with small caps, Don't know why.

Apogee did that in their crossovers. For your project, if you are kicking out the Sonicaps then take a look at constructing a cap board from 0.47uF Dayton foil caps. You will need a ton of them but they are very good, if not quite where a Jensen copper foil cap will take you. Mainly.they are cheap and even vast quantities won't set you back too much. You can also use them as bypasses in combination with other caps (what I do)
- http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-dffc-047-047uf-400 (Open in New Window)
- RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one - pictureguy 13:32:41 03/05/17 (4)
  That'll be about 100 caps per speaker. That's gonna be one HECK of a crossover board.
  
  22ufd for the tweeter
  24ufd for the woofer
  
  Buying 200 of 'em will set you back about 150$ or so. That's for the 5% ers while they also sell a select 1% version.
  
  I think OTHER effects may come into play here, as well, like mutual inductance and that sort of thing.
  
  Too much is never enough
  - RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one - Satie 14:18:16 03/05/17 (3)
    Apogee did that with a bigger value for the cap, but it was not horrid. They put them in rows of point to point ladder constructs and separated them to avoid inductive coupling.. In an external box they can be just stacked. My own solution is to use these for just 20% of the cap value and use a solid film cap for the bulk. Unless the main cap is really total crap it will sound like the smaller caps.
    - RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one - pictureguy 14:32:13 03/05/17 (2)
      I was thinking more along the lines of 'bundles' of caps with each bundle at RIGHT ANGLES to the others, rather like you'd do if you needed multiple inductors.
      
      Certainy not a space saving solution.
      
      Too much is never enough
      - RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one - BDP24 22:15:50 03/05/17 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one posted by pictureguy on March 05, 2017 at 14:32:13
        
        At a certain point, the cost of superior speaker level x/o parts will equal (or even exceed) the cost of an external electronic x/o (the x/o eliminating the need for the parts), while not providing the benefits of bi-amping! Of course, bi-amping requires another amplifier as well.
        
        Edits: 03/05/17
        
        RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one - pictureguy 23:32:13 03/05/17 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Cap upgrade on Maggie 1.6 using multiple small caps instead of a single large one posted by BDP24 on March 05, 2017 at 22:15:50
        
        Exactly where I got off the boat.
        In times past, you could get the Skiing Ninja upgraded crossover for the MG1.6 but when I compared it to going Active? OOOPS!
        
        I doubt they are available new, any more, but they WERE about 600$ (the pair?) You can get a LOT of MiniDSP for that level of cash, go biamp and reap several other benefits.
        
        Too much is never enough
        http://www.tonepublications.com/review/get-more-life-from-yo (Open in New Window)

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable