Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => Quickie => Topic started by: Cary on November 12, 2012, 02:28:22 PM

Title: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Cary on November 12, 2012, 02:28:22 PM
I am thinking of replacing the stock 2.2uf cap on my Quickie with the Dayton 1% metallized poly cap of the same value. Will there be a difference in sound quality?
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: earwaxxer on November 12, 2012, 02:35:36 PM
There may be an improvement. You have to try it and see. I would go higher up the totem pole on that cap IMO. It doesnt hurt to try though! I'm not sure where Dayton gets their caps. You tend to get what you pay for in caps. Let us know what you think!
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Doc B. on November 12, 2012, 03:00:03 PM
Here's what I would try:

https://www.solen.ca/pub/index.php?catalog=description&nodiapo&id=1342&recherche=&numRows=&manufacturiers=&niveau1=1&niveau2=3&niveau3=27&s1=1&s2=&s3=&s4= (https://www.solen.ca/pub/index.php?catalog=description&nodiapo&id=1342&recherche=&numRows=&manufacturiers=&niveau1=1&niveau2=3&niveau3=27&s1=1&s2=&s3=&s4=)
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: corndog71 on November 12, 2012, 04:29:45 PM
For a more neutral sound I recommend these:
http://www.soniccraft.com/sonicaps.htm (http://www.soniccraft.com/sonicaps.htm)

For a warmer yet still detailed sound try these:
http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/esa-cap-630vdc/claritycap-2.2-mfd-esa-range-polypropylene-caps/

For jaw-dropping dynamics and clarity try these:
http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/mr-cap-630vdc/claritycap-2.2-mfd-mr-range-polypropylene-caps/

I didn't like the Daytons or Jantzens I've tried but go ahead and try them.  Relatively speaking caps are cheap and easy to swap.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: STURMJ on November 12, 2012, 06:20:09 PM
I have 100uf datyons in one of my cracks, and i have bee very impressed with them.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: corndog71 on November 13, 2012, 10:44:46 AM
I have 100uf datyons in one of my cracks, and i have bee very impressed with them.
Are you using them in the power supply or as output caps?
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: the dude on November 14, 2012, 04:49:44 AM
Not a hijack but a contribution
Is Elna Silmic considered foul language here?
Its what I have been using there.
I have wanted to try a polystyrene or other . . .
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: earwaxxer on November 14, 2012, 05:29:51 AM
I like the elna silmic. Its electrolytic though. Films tend to be better sounding.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: the dude on November 15, 2012, 04:43:20 AM
I have russian 200nf/500nf polystyrenes and could parallel to get the 'z'. Would that be too many to fit and too many to sonically be worth it anyone think?
A 2.2 uf polystyrene cap is hard to come by, I have heard good things about solen and ceramic type caps...
Don't have those on-hand tho...
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: earwaxxer on November 21, 2012, 05:46:35 PM
Its hard to know with using small value bypass caps. They could help, or be worse. If I were to use bypass caps I think I would go with teflons.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: bmwr75 on November 24, 2012, 11:28:06 AM
Here's what I would try:

https://www.solen.ca/pub/index.php?catalog=description&nodiapo&id=1342&recherche=&numRows=&manufacturiers=&niveau1=1&niveau2=3&niveau3=27&s1=1&s2=&s3=&s4= (https://www.solen.ca/pub/index.php?catalog=description&nodiapo&id=1342&recherche=&numRows=&manufacturiers=&niveau1=1&niveau2=3&niveau3=27&s1=1&s2=&s3=&s4=)

I assume the 2.7 uF Solen caps are the ones on the outputs (my Quickie shipped this week I think).  What size are the two blue electrolytic caps?
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Paul Birkeland on November 25, 2012, 08:15:19 AM
If you got 2.7uF Solen caps, are they white by chance?

If so, you got an unintentional upgrade, those are outstanding caps, better in my opinion than any metalized cap I have tried...

The caps that I would consider possible upgrades from there would be the film/foil V-caps, the Audio Cap PCU, and the Jensen options.

-PB
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: bmwr75 on November 25, 2012, 08:54:04 AM
Yes, I ordered white 2.7uF caps from Quebec.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Paul Birkeland on November 25, 2012, 09:17:13 AM
Ah, awesome choice!

The electrolytics are 1000uF/35V, but anything above about 50uF/5V will be OK.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Jim R. on November 26, 2012, 04:07:51 PM
Just curious, what's the usable range for the output coupling caps?  Assume going into a stereomour or s.e.x. with a 1 meter or less interconnect.

Thanks,

Jim
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Paul Joppa on November 26, 2012, 04:18:13 PM
See this thread:

http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,3538.0.html

:^)
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Jim R. on November 26, 2012, 04:58:57 PM
Thanks, didn't see that.  I also didn't realize the Zo was 4k with pjccs.

Thanks,

Jim
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Lee Hankins on December 13, 2012, 01:49:25 PM
Dan,

Why did you recommended the Solen SB270 (2.7uf 150v) caps for the quickie instead of the "normal" SY220 (2.2uf 250v) Solen caps, only $1 difference.

Cordially,
Lee Hankins
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: earwaxxer on December 13, 2012, 02:35:05 PM
Hi Lee - Cap choice is a big topic. Here is a link that many refer to when choosing caps.

http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html

cheers - Eric
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Doc B. on December 13, 2012, 02:44:07 PM
Dan,

Why did you recommended the Solen SB270 (2.7uf 150v) caps for the quickie instead of the "normal" SY220 (2.2uf 250v) Solen caps, only $1 difference.

Cordially,
Lee Hankins

Just because they have a bit more capacitance for about the same price and you certainly don't need the higher voltage rating. The 2.2 250V was the original value spec'd just because it is a part we already stocked for Foreplay III. Though I haven't done the comparison myself, some say that the thinner dielectric in the cap with the lower voltage rating sounds a little bit better.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: boulos on January 12, 2014, 07:23:43 AM
Would the SB270 Solen caps be a good choice for the Quickie 1.1 also?
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Paul Birkeland on January 12, 2014, 08:47:05 AM
Sure, those are a great choice for the coupling caps.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Moot on January 26, 2014, 11:35:29 PM
If I want to try various output caps, do I want to stay with lower ratings (35v) or higher ratings (1000v)? Let's assume price isn't a consideration.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Grainger49 on January 27, 2014, 02:37:41 AM
The Quickie power supply is 36V coming from the batteries.  The output capacitor will not see all of that for more than a second or 5 seconds.  Nothing higher is necessary.

But, the better film caps start around 200V.  Some are only available with a 600V rating. 

Just be aware how much larger film will be and use the lead length to your advantage.
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Moot on January 27, 2014, 06:49:58 AM
Thanks, Grainger49! So I was guessing that the lower the voltage rating the thinner the dielectric, and the thinner the dielectric the better it sounds. It's good to know I can try out some of the fancy caps!
Title: Re: Quickie Capacitor Question
Post by: Grainger49 on January 27, 2014, 06:53:55 AM
I don't know that thin makes for better sound.  The only thing I know you lose with higher voltage ratings is money and space.

In general film caps (usually thicker dielectric) will sound better than electrolytic caps (stock with thin dielectric) when in the audio path.