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Need a good source for film capacitors.

M

Mopardave

Member
Banned
My plan is to mod an original ALK universal xover to use in my KLH30+ project. Received help from some members here on components and now shopping for capacitors. What im finding is the values needed are very hard to find. Looking at Audyn, Jantzen and Solen. I need 5.0uf,28uf and a 60uf. I can not find the white Solen caps that DeanG uses on his xovers. Was hoping to use Solen 5.0uf on the mid and Jantzen superior 28uf as the cross over to the mid and Audyn 60uf in the woofer circuit as instructed. I am now thinking maybe just by all Audyn since they are all available in the values i need and can purchase all in the same place making it easy. Need opinions on these Audyn caps compared to the Jantzen. How do they compare in sound quality? Thanks
 
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The Audyn Q4 have excellent sq and as far as I'm concerned, are the mama bear of capacitors in terms of sound quality and price. I've used them in both crossovers and coupling capacitors in my amps. I usually buy from Parts Express, as they make it easier from every angle, have great customer support and return policies
 
Remember, these are calculated cap values and the closet value will more than likely be adequate. Also. keep in mind, if you could do acoustic measurements this would help tremendously or you will have to rely on your ears to ensure the complete loudspeaker sounds good to you.

@Mopardave, the 60uF (could use 56uF or 68uF) can be a good non-polar electrolytic, no need for a film cap here. The 5uF can be a 4.7uF and the 28uF can be a 27uF.

The Audyn Q4 caps are good. I have a mix of NOS Erse yellow mylars that I use along with the Dayton DMPC (5%, but usually measure better), Audyn and brown generic mylars and my crossover always sound great (my opinion).

The crossover example I posted in #9 integrates all the drivers very well and sounds great. Your variable will be the woofer section. The 2.5mH inductor by itself will give you a crossover frequency around 600Hz. Adding the 60uF cap will decrease the crossover to around 400Hz.

You can vary the size of this cap to fine-tune the integration of the woofer in the speaker system. I would get caps from 47uF to 80uF for tuning purposes.
 
The Q4 series are all non-polar film caps, but they are HUGE. You can use a non-polar electrolytic and the cap will be much smaller and manageable to use/place.
 
@THD+N , will you entertain a basic (and perhaps foolish) question?

THD+N said:
The Q4 series are all non-polar film caps, but they are HUGE. You can use a non-polar electrolytic and the cap will be much smaller and manageable to use/place.
Click to expand...

Because the signal being sent is AC, I would have thought that all of the capacitors would have to be non-polarized so that they would function when the signal flowed back and forth. Under what circumstances can a non-polarized capacitor be used?
 
A lot of times, a non-polar(ized) cap can be used for most circuits whether it is a power supply or (signal) coupling use.

A polarized cap should only be used in a power supply or other circuit that has distinct positive and negative voltage references. In a power supply, the polarized cap will shunt AC ripple to ground and act as a filter. Basically like a speaker crossover, but it passes the signal to ground, not the load (speaker).

All capacitors work on the same general principle, but polarized caps have a distinct anode & cathode that must be observed in circuit or they will fail (leak, explode, etc).
 
solen.ca

Solen Film/Foil Polypropylene Caps

The Solen Film and Foil capacitors are perfect upgrade/replacement for old dried up oil filled capacitors. They offer high precision and smootheness. GENERAL INFORMATIONType : Tin Foil / Polypropylene Film Capacitor.Dielectric : Bi-axially Oriented Polypropylene Film.Construction : Round...
solen.ca solen.ca

solen.ca

Solen Silver Caps 700v Polypropylene

FAST CAPACITORS ™ CONCEPT All of our metallized film capacitors use the maximum lowest possible resistivity metallized layer for a given film thickness which is vacuum deposited on a biaxially oriented polypropylene film. The FAST CAPACITOR ™ concept is mainly obtained by decreasing the film...
solen.ca solen.ca
 
Deang said:
solen.ca

Solen Film/Foil Polypropylene Caps

The Solen Film and Foil capacitors are perfect upgrade/replacement for old dried up oil filled capacitors. They offer high precision and smootheness. GENERAL INFORMATIONType : Tin Foil / Polypropylene Film Capacitor.Dielectric : Bi-axially Oriented Polypropylene Film.Construction : Round...
solen.ca solen.ca

solen.ca

Solen Silver Caps 700v Polypropylene

FAST CAPACITORS ™ CONCEPT All of our metallized film capacitors use the maximum lowest possible resistivity metallized layer for a given film thickness which is vacuum deposited on a biaxially oriented polypropylene film. The FAST CAPACITOR ™ concept is mainly obtained by decreasing the film...
solen.ca solen.ca
Click to expand...
Should be Solen AYE? Canada company.
 
Deang said:
solen.ca

Solen Film/Foil Polypropylene Caps

The Solen Film and Foil capacitors are perfect upgrade/replacement for old dried up oil filled capacitors. They offer high precision and smootheness. GENERAL INFORMATIONType : Tin Foil / Polypropylene Film Capacitor.Dielectric : Bi-axially Oriented Polypropylene Film.Construction : Round...
solen.ca solen.ca

solen.ca

Solen Silver Caps 700v Polypropylene

FAST CAPACITORS ™ CONCEPT All of our metallized film capacitors use the maximum lowest possible resistivity metallized layer for a given film thickness which is vacuum deposited on a biaxially oriented polypropylene film. The FAST CAPACITOR ™ concept is mainly obtained by decreasing the film...
solen.ca solen.ca
Click to expand...
I clicked that link and my wallet hopped out of my pocket and hit me upside of my head.
 
cecaa850 said:
I clicked that link and my wallet hopped out of my pocket and hit me upside of my head.
Click to expand...
The conversion from loonies to greenbacks isn’t terrible. They’re right in line with what any other entry top tier capacitor costs, like Jantzen Mundorf or Audyn. If you want to be shocked, look up the Audyn True Copper. :yikes:
 
Gigantic said:
The conversion from loonies to greenbacks isn’t terrible. They’re right in line with what any other entry top tier capacitor costs, like Jantzen Mundorf or Audyn. If you want to be shocked, look up the Audyn True Copper. :yikes:
Click to expand...
That's why I used Audyn Plus.
 
Dave MacKay said:
Come on Claude! It’s “eh?”.

You must have been north of the border (in Detroit) too long. :)
Click to expand...
I was spelling it phonetically (from the sound), French Canadians don't say EH, or Aye (only the English ones do, ventres jaunes, that they are).
 
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THD+N said:
Aye? Take off hoser!

jacobin.com

A People’s History of the Hoser, Canada’s Blue-Collar Icon

From Bob and Doug McKenzie to the Trailer Park Boys, the Canadian hoser is an integral part of the country’s cultural landscape. The hoser is also a working-class emblem, whose uncertain fortune in the face of economic downturns reflects the wider experience of Canadian workers.
jacobin.com jacobin.com
Click to expand...
All this HOSER stuff is all from English Canadians, adopted by Americans who love the lowest common denominator of societies.
French Canadians, mostly from Quebec, are thinly spread out all over Canada.
There are approximately/only 6 million of us in the world, which makes us a minority. In the new millenium, there are very few who speak only French, as all need to speak English to get by, except in remote areas, of which there are many, since Canada is bigger, land-wise, than the USA with roughly to population of California. Almost all "Francophones" are bi-lingual for obvious reasons.
The major "Trans-Canadian Highway" runs East and West along the USA border.
It's not because we love Americans and want to be closer, it's just Frikkin' Cold up there. LOL. All my relative go to Florida on Vacation!
We lost the battle on the Plains of Abraham in 1759, so the French became the peasants and farmers while the English became the Aristocrats.
We have been clawing our way back ever since. LOL.
A few of us moved to Michigan as electricians, mechanics, and engineers. We all own Klipsch speakers and two of us have built our own designs. One based on Klipsch Horns and one not, but he did own Klipschorns until he sold them to me and I sold my original pair of KC-br's to a friend before I discovered MCM's, Jubilees, HORNS and Drivers of all kinds, and did Mods. to the many dozens of Klipsch speakers I owned in the last half century. I shall continue.
 
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To the OP, I have yet to find proof that overpriced film capacitors SOUND any better than cheap ones that have the same Parameters MEASURED. Almost like wires (gasp).
I designed many circuit boards in my career and helped many people do the same, around the world with over 100 published articles.
I'm a self titled "Copper Slinger."
I have a great stock of those aforementioned film capacitors, and my friend has even more than I do.
So I never worry about capacitors or inductors.
Especially since I only believe in First Order Passives and 4th Order Active in Crossovers.
Minimum phase via first order and aligned voice coils sound best to me, unless one happens to be Tom Danley and can design Synergy Horns that rule them ALL.
 
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No, that original 47uF is a Solen Silver series. I’ve only ever used the Jantzen Silver-Z in my SuperX builds. BTW, Jantzen only makes that part up to 22uF.

The Solen Silver is a good part. Pin hole free polypropylene sprayed with silver.

The white caps are film and foil. That difference has always been easy for me to hear.

I’m done going down the capacitor rabbit holes. It’s become an old tired topic for me. All I can tell you is that when I build for myself, I buy the best I can afford.

Audionervosa is a terrible disease.
 
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ClaudeJ1 said:
All this HOSER stuff is all from English Canadians, adopted by Americans who love the lowest common denominator of societies.
French Canadians, mostly from Quebec, are thinly spread out all over Canada.
There are approximately/only 6 million of us in the world, which makes us a minority. In the new millenium, there are very few who speak only French, as all need to speak English to get by, except in remote areas, of which there are many, since Canada is bigger, land-wise, than the USA with roughly to population of California. Almost all "Francophones" are bi-lingual for obvious reasons.
The major "Trans-Canadian Highway" runs East and West along the USA border.
It's not because we love Americans and want to be closer, it's just Frikkin' Cold up there. LOL. All my relative go to Florida on Vacation!
We lost the battle on the Plains of Abraham in 1759, so the French became the peasants and farmers while the English became the Aristocrats.
We have been clawing our way back ever since. LOL.
A few of us moved to Michigan as electricians, mechanics, and engineers. We all own Klipsch speakers and two of us have built our own designs. One based on Klipsch Horns and one not, but he did own Klipschorns until he sold them to me and I sold my original pair of KC-br's to a friend before I discovered MCM's, Jubilees, HORNS and Drivers of all kinds, and did Mods. to the many dozens of Klipsch speakers I owned in the last half century. I shall continue.
Click to expand...
The USA is actually slightly bigger land wise than Canada.
It’s the lake area that makes Canada slightly bigger.
 
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