voltage question

[Jana]

Have I tried it? Yes, and I liked it. Everybody had different goals and tastes so what will work well for one may not be the optimum for someone else. It's difficult to find the words to describe what I hear but here goes: Clarity, definition in the notes (especially with complex chord shapes), a feeling of connectedness with the guitar. Yes, a lot of other things go into achieving that but I do believe that this 100:1 poly "trick" contributes (maybe only in a small way, but I hear it).

Don't confuse my descriptions with sterile or hifi. My amps are anything but sterile or hifi. As for taking up extra space, well, a .022 uf poly paralleled onto a cap can is insignificant for space. If it fails, more than likely, given the voltage across it and the current available, it is going to fail open and if so, what is lost? Nothing, the amp still works. Observe proper voltage ratings and there is no reason that it should be any more prone to failure than any other part. It will certainly last longer than an electro.

As for the large value Solen caps for the filter caps? I never used them, I have no idea if a smaller poly across them would make any difference.

[iknowjohnny]

I don't know which are poly, but at 100:1 i would need a 1uf. And how do you determine poly...those ones that are usually square or rectangular and look like they're dipped? Also, how important is it that it be 100:1....will say a 2.2uf work as well?

[rp]

I don't know which are poly, but at 100:1 i would need a 1uf. And how do you determine poly...those ones that are usually square or rectangular and look like they're dipped? Also, how important is it that it be 100:1....will say a 2.2uf work as well?

From what I gathered it's just a matter of not using another electrolytic as the bypass, any type of molded, rolled, foil, film, oil, etc should do especially for tinkering. But I would note that the hifi guys put importance on the quality of cap for bypass - you always hear about them recommending a rel-cap, wondercap, mit and that stuff. Can't say why though. Go with a 715 OD if you got it. And yeh, 1mf/630V will be big, one reason I always avoided this.

Report back with what you hear.

[iknowjohnny]

i had to series/parallel 4 caps to get 500 volts and 1uf across my 100uf first reservoir. i think you're right on about the clarity thing Jana, tho it's hard to say w/o a quick A/B test. when i first tried it i thought i noticed something a bit different but i wasn't sure. So i removed it and fired it up again and it seemed muddy by comparison. So i put the caps back in and it does seem clearer. But still i can't swear it's not placebo effect. In any case it seems to be good so i'm going to hunt down a 1uf non electro at 500v and use that.