Do new capacitors in a crossover need breaking in?
- Thread starter teisco
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"Need" is a strong term, but to my ears, new capacitors do change in sound over the first 100 hours. The most noticeable to me listening to Daytons break in is around hours 20-30. I didn't believe it either until I heard it myself. For lack of a better explanation they get less "harsh" and "smooth" out. I'm not an electrochemical guy so I can't fathom the why on it. There are lots of people who have offered opinions in the past if you do some Googling.
Call the manufacturers, call the large resellers and ask the people that know. I have. The answer is no.
If this phenomenon were true, you'd find scientific papers talking about it and proving it true. But you cannot.
What you hear is your mind making sense of what it's hearing. This will change from when you're listening critically, then moving onto casual listening.
Biggles
If this phenomenon were true, you'd find scientific papers talking about it and proving it true. But you cannot.
What you hear is your mind making sense of what it's hearing. This will change from when you're listening critically, then moving onto casual listening.
Biggles
ferninando
Lunatic Member
right on drbiggles!!
and jlovda
and jlovda
teisco
Well-Known Member
Interesting so far. I recently restored the crossover in my KLH Twenty Plus system with Daytons and am now running my own little experiment.
For years I have had tinnitus (ringing in ears). Some sounds make it temporarily worse and one of those sounds is hard, edgy tweeters. With the KLH set when I first added the Daytons I had an increase in ear ringing while listening. Now, after several hours of play, maybe 20 or so, I can listen a bit longer without that increase in tinnitus ringing. Does this mean that the caps are smoothing out - or does it mean my ears are getting used to the edgy KLH Twenty tweeters?
It will be interesting to see how more hours with the KLH and Daytons affect my tinnitus.
For years I have had tinnitus (ringing in ears). Some sounds make it temporarily worse and one of those sounds is hard, edgy tweeters. With the KLH set when I first added the Daytons I had an increase in ear ringing while listening. Now, after several hours of play, maybe 20 or so, I can listen a bit longer without that increase in tinnitus ringing. Does this mean that the caps are smoothing out - or does it mean my ears are getting used to the edgy KLH Twenty tweeters?
It will be interesting to see how more hours with the KLH and Daytons affect my tinnitus.
Hey Teisco,
The answer to that question would have to be answered by a doctor that specializes in our earbones. You may want to call a local business that tests for hearing loss and see what they say about it.
Poly caps can bring some brightness to our older tweeters, this may or may not be appreciated. You may want to try using electrolytic caps in the next project and see if that helps. But since you say that the tinnitus ringing has lessened after several hours of play, it may be moot.
Biggles
The answer to that question would have to be answered by a doctor that specializes in our earbones. You may want to call a local business that tests for hearing loss and see what they say about it.
Poly caps can bring some brightness to our older tweeters, this may or may not be appreciated. You may want to try using electrolytic caps in the next project and see if that helps. But since you say that the tinnitus ringing has lessened after several hours of play, it may be moot.
Biggles
Studio4435
New Member
All parts breakin it used to be called aging in low tech terms.
Teisco,
I've really enjoyed what Erse brings to the table, but there are others that I'm sure are equally as good or better. Electrolytic caps that are made today are so far ahead of what they were 40 years ago. They're a stellar, affordable solution that will far outlast their dated counterparts. I've used poly versus electrolytic caps in the same model of speakers and found them nearly identical. You have to really sit down with some serious critical listening on A/B testing to find any difference. More and more often I find myself buying and using electrolytics. I've lost so much money over the last 4 or 5 years on polys. And for what? So I can feel better about myself on Buying The Good Stuff? Pah.
Biggles
I've really enjoyed what Erse brings to the table, but there are others that I'm sure are equally as good or better. Electrolytic caps that are made today are so far ahead of what they were 40 years ago. They're a stellar, affordable solution that will far outlast their dated counterparts. I've used poly versus electrolytic caps in the same model of speakers and found them nearly identical. You have to really sit down with some serious critical listening on A/B testing to find any difference. More and more often I find myself buying and using electrolytics. I've lost so much money over the last 4 or 5 years on polys. And for what? So I can feel better about myself on Buying The Good Stuff? Pah.
Biggles
Studio4435
New Member
Think about it, if this was true they would have to pre age a cap (or ha breakin) for hi-end gear. And I assume your talking about passive crossovers. The cap values in passive can have more error from one another than in active. The values also change when current is flowing across them. You could use newer ones which claim to have better accuracy, but NASA uses Radio Shack. Go figure.
Studio4435
New Member
Exactly
Studio4435
New Member
yep and my ears change minute by minute as I listen unless I keep the volume down to 5-15 watts per. As we turn the volume up our ears will compensate. My JBL 4435 don't change, ever.
In Taiwan they use dry cabbage leaves between each layer of foil. Blow one on purpose (a small low voltage, use glasses, protect your eyes) a small metal case with the + lines on the end, that's there for over-pressure relief. when it goes you'll smell the sour kraut.lol
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Studio4435
New Member
I'ved tried to find mil spec component supplier, anyone know of one?
SoundOfSound
Super Member
Oh great, another cap break in thread! 
My vote is on yes because I've heard it before but that does not mean you can't use your equipment till you put some hours on it.
I'm not one of those people that think all caps sound the same. I've done some experiments and found some differences. Some caps sound better than others. Some sound WAAAAAY!!! better. In the end you just have to choose one that makes you happy.
The Audyn MKP Plus cap blows the Daytons and other entry level poly caps out of the water and it's not even at the top end of the golden ears approved list.
There are tons of options out there. You don't want to put $300.00 worth of caps in $50.00 speaker or spend $$$ on a driver that may not get the full benefit.
The most important thing is to take a step forward that improves your sound. Don't worry so much about brands, unless they have a bad reputation, or break in. Just sit back and enjoy the tunes.
My vote is on yes because I've heard it before but that does not mean you can't use your equipment till you put some hours on it.
I'm not one of those people that think all caps sound the same. I've done some experiments and found some differences. Some caps sound better than others. Some sound WAAAAAY!!! better. In the end you just have to choose one that makes you happy.
The Audyn MKP Plus cap blows the Daytons and other entry level poly caps out of the water and it's not even at the top end of the golden ears approved list.
There are tons of options out there. You don't want to put $300.00 worth of caps in $50.00 speaker or spend $$$ on a driver that may not get the full benefit.
The most important thing is to take a step forward that improves your sound. Don't worry so much about brands, unless they have a bad reputation, or break in. Just sit back and enjoy the tunes.
Studio4435
New Member
If your really serious and moneys not a problem get away from passive crossovers. They can rob your ears and power, even change the sound from your amp before it gets to the speaker. It's just a cheap way to power woofers and tweeters with the same amp. Bi-amp or tr-amp eliminates that need of passive crossovers. Last one I had was made by Crown and most made will come from pro type gear. The best passive Iv'e head I mad myself with all new components, but I had a capacitor meter, tester.
BillWojo
Addicted Member
Recapped my Heresy's and couldn't stand to listen to them for the first few hours and than they smoothed out. After a few day's they were awesome. Got some Altec's, started out awesome despite having 40+ year old caps and not much change after recapping. So I say it just depends.
I can say this, if my Heresy's hadn't improved after recapping them I would have reinstalled the old caps, they were just screechy horrible sounding at first.
I was in the camp before that caps needed no break in. This was an eye opener.
BillWojo
I can say this, if my Heresy's hadn't improved after recapping them I would have reinstalled the old caps, they were just screechy horrible sounding at first.
I was in the camp before that caps needed no break in. This was an eye opener.
BillWojo
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