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Hey gang:
I know many people have varied opinions on which caps are best, but I just wanted to get a sample of opinions anyways.
I plan to mod my Behrigner DCX 2496 to a passive output, cap coupled, straight off the DAC (which is a voltage output DAC) with only a 2nd order filter.
I have heard that polypropylene+foil is good, foil+oil is the bomb, mylar can be okay (PET), and metallized polypropylene is not bad either. Although I might spring for auricaps or dynamicaps ($30/cap) I don't want to spend more than that. $800 teflons are not in the budget.
I was thinking Solen PA/PB metallized (cheap) or Solen SB/SA film+foil (about $30). I could get Auricaps for $34/each. I need six total, which affects my budget somewhat.
I need 6.8uF. I can use 4.7+2.2, or even a straight 7 might work.
Any ideas? Thanks!
Follow Ups:
Whatever you choose, I would strongly recommend a .1uF bypass with a cap that large (unless you go with a VCap Teflon & Oil). There are inexpensive Russian teflon caps for sale on e-bay that work wonderfully as bypasses.
Try it, they are only about $10 each, which is very cheap for teflons.
Enjoy,
Bob
A gentleman is best defined as someone who knows how to play the accordion ... and doesn't.
Hey Bob.
Thanks for chiming in.
The simple circuit is an RC network ahead of the coupling cap. (1K resistor in series, 3.3pf cap in parallel, then 6.8uF coupling in series).
Does the 3.3pf in the RC filter also function as a bypass in this case? Or is it too small?
Thanks for any input you can provide! :o)
Cheers,
Presto
Is the 3.3pF cap in parallel to the resistor, or to the larger cap? Or is it a shunt to ground perhaps?
I would need to see a diagram or have a better explaination on placement to make any guesses/observations. Sorry.
Bob
A gentleman is best defined as someone who knows how to play the accordion ... and doesn't.
nt
The Duelund caps are supposed to be absolute top notch and unlike any other cap out there, especially in terms of construction. Maybe check them out. Try Mike at Electrum Audio (info@electrumaudio.com). I use them a lot.
After all that, I think I am leaning towards AuriCaps or Mundorf ZNs. Remember I am modding a 6-channel prosound piece worth $450 and not a 1st rate piece of gear to start with (that's why $4800 for six caps just wasn't in the cards!) Neds comments make me want to choose AuriCaps over Dynamicaps, but who's to say. Others have found the Dynamicaps to better the AuriCaps... could be an application thing.
One thing for sure - whatever I put in there will be better than the slurry of op-amps and other components that are in there now...
Thanks for the input - much obliged!
Cheers,
Presto
Just remember, a large cap at 6.8uf most likely will need to be bypassed.
The mod is shown in the link. I thought the extra cap was part of a low pass filter network... is this functioning as a bypass then since it's connected to ground? The value for that one to ground is 3.3nf and the one in series with the output (coupling cap) is the 6.8u. The rectangle is a resistor, 1kohm, 'metal layer' he calls it. (Metal Oxide?)
Anyways, click next and you can follow along as he explains the whole mod process if you're interested.
Oh, and thanks for mentioning the bypass cap...
Cheers,
Presto
...I selected Jantzen 6.8µF 800V Z-Superior Capacitors priced at $25.47 each ($23.68 ea @ 4 +) for a loudspeaker 1st-order passive x-over project out of sheer intrigue based on its “mystery”, Scandinavian origin (speaker heaven) and its price point. I must say I'm very pleased and plan to use Jantzen Z-Superior caps in future projects. The Z-Superior's solid core pure copper unplated leads with removable insulation (either FEP or PE, I dunno) are most impressive. To my ear the cap sounds quite neutral & musical.
Since Parts Express seems to be Jantzen's sole NA dealer, it’s not as prolific in the marketplace as it should/could be. Also, as Jantzen claims, IME it’s not a burn-in intensive cap.
at 6.8uf, most you could probably swing is polprop+ tin foil.
I did my own coupling cap shootout, which you can read at the link.
I do have more caps coming, including Mundorf ZN (Tin Foil), which many pro modders really love and are much cheaper than the usual top caps I like including Mundor silver/oil, Mundorf silver/gold, VCap teflon.
If the ZN turns out to be as good as people say, it may be a lower-cost alternative to the giants.
I've tried both Dynamicaps & Auricaps in my tube mono blocks and
the auricaps won hands down and remain in them today.
Ned
You might find this capacitor shootout interesting:
Its only purpose is peddling a lot of ultra-expensive junk. The guy who did the test had no clue what he was doing, but aplomb in his conclusions is simply amazing.
SSer2:
Relax man. The exponential cost of all things audio has to do with rich audiophiles fearing they don't have the very best.
In the middle somewhere are good sounding components that are reasoably priced. There is often little REAL proof that the top dog components are worth the exponential price increase.
But, on the other hand, if we accept a $50 cap is indeed better than a $5 cap, who is to say the $500 cap is not better than the $50? But how MUCH better? Does the law of diminishing returns apply? Or is there a direct correlation between price and performance that the wealthy so strongly believe in?
Trust me. I've heard it from business people. If you ask too little, people will scoff at the quality level! This is psychology man. DOn't be mad about it. Study it. Learn it. Use it!
The rich people did. That's how they got rich!
CHeers,
PResto
"High end" capacitors are re-labelled run-of-the-mill at best or unreliable/untested garage-made at worst. Once you pay 500 or 5,000 bucks apiece, you will sure like how it sounds, if you are lucky it does not blow your amp.
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