[sdiy] Walt Jung and Richard Marsh's Capacitors article

[harry]

Hi Dave (et al)

My opinions:

(I agree with Walt Jung...)

For pure audio... the polystyrene or polypropylene.  If I was desperate I might
use a polyester (mylar) but I would feel slimey after that !

Bassy-ness.  That would depend a lot on if the circuit was shunting highs to
ground... or passing highs.  I'd still opt for the polystyrene or polypropylene
and use them differently.  For series pass (high pass) the electrolytic would
likely have poorer high frequency response... but that would not be a controlled
parameter. Another cap or brand would sound very different.

Distortion:  Tantalum caps suck for audio. They are rabidly polar and probably
would distort nicely before they blow up.  Tried them years ago in a speaker
crossover
- used two back to back, with the diodes as discussed.  KABOOM.  Have not been
back since.

If I WANT distortion I prefer non-linear stages like back to back diodes, LEDs,
and shottky diodes. They are a lot like germanium in clipping level.  Transistor
stages
(ok Eric... TUBE stages too   ;^)  can give distortion if properly / improperly
designed!

Louder...  I think they are all equally loud...   ???

H^) harry

Dave Krooshof wrote:

> >Besides the distortion of the ceramic cap (which MAY not be so bad considering
> >that it is voltage dependant... and many apps are very low signal voltage)
> >there is
> >the often terrible value change with temperature...
> >
> >OTOH if it is a guitar fuzzbox who cares ???
>
> >> Yep, Think your right and polyxxx are cheap enough to use everywhere where
> >> audio is.
> >>
> >> About the right cap in the right place.
> >> Did anybody try "bad" ceramic caps in a VCF,
> >> or is the distortion: not interesting / not audible enough / too damn ugly,
> >> for this application.
>
> Yes, that is something I'd like to know too.
> What would be nice for pure audio?
> Which ones are good when you seek bassyness?
> Which ones distort nicely?
> Which ones are louder then wich others? (I noticed old tropical fish are
> louder)
>
> Greets,
>
> Dave
> (happy tagger)
>
> --------------------------------------------
> Dave Krooshof http://www.xs4all.nl/~krooshof
> geluidstechnicus @ http://www.ahk.nl/the/theatertechniek_ov.html
> webmaster: http://www.popronde.nl
> -------------------------------------------