Cap recommendations
05-25-2005, 02:23 PM
#1
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Cap recommendations
I finally put in an Optima Yellow Top and that made a shockingly huge difference to my sound quality, especially the bass. Now, I realize that I still need more power to my subs. Would a capacitor do the trick? How large are you guys running? I'm thinking about a 2 or 5 farad Soundstream cap.
2 Farad cap - $159:
5 Farad cap - $219:
The price difference is small enough that it looks like the 5 farad cap is the way to go. Can the car power that okay? Does it have to charge up everytime you turn on the car?
2 Farad cap - $159:
5 Farad cap - $219:
The price difference is small enough that it looks like the 5 farad cap is the way to go. Can the car power that okay? Does it have to charge up everytime you turn on the car?
05-25-2005, 07:37 PM
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Ok, time to get on the soap box again!
Read this: What Capacitors Do
Wait till the smoke clears.
Then think of it this way, it's not how loud it will play but how much control the amp has over the speaker.
Try this test, listen to your favorite track on a stock car system as loud as it will play but still sound reasonably good and undistorted, now add a Cap and listen to it again.
You will be able to play it louder.
All amps have Caps, even head units, they just don't have very big ones.
I am powering the front speakers off the head unit in my truck and have an amp for the sub, there is a .5 farad cap behind the radio under the dash, and if I disconnect it, the system sounds like ass.
Don't ask whether to buy one, just buy it and use it in some listening tests, if you can't tell the difference then return it.
Read this: What Capacitors Do
Wait till the smoke clears.
Then think of it this way, it's not how loud it will play but how much control the amp has over the speaker.
Try this test, listen to your favorite track on a stock car system as loud as it will play but still sound reasonably good and undistorted, now add a Cap and listen to it again.
You will be able to play it louder.
All amps have Caps, even head units, they just don't have very big ones.
I am powering the front speakers off the head unit in my truck and have an amp for the sub, there is a .5 farad cap behind the radio under the dash, and if I disconnect it, the system sounds like ass.
Don't ask whether to buy one, just buy it and use it in some listening tests, if you can't tell the difference then return it.
05-26-2005, 10:41 AM
#4
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Don't ask whether to buy one, just buy it and use it in some listening tests, if you can't tell the difference then return it.
from the same site he linked... (same page actually, towards the bottom)
This is because there has been some discussion as to whether a capacitor is a help or a hinderence when it comes to keeping the voltage at a higher level than without it. Of course, if you ask someone that's spent more than $100 on a capacitor if it helped, they'll tell you that it has. Why on earth would someone 'fess up' to wasting that much money on 'snake oil'. I've yet to see a capacitor increase the SPL in any system.
how much power are you running to your sub flitcroft? if the answer is less than 1,000 Wrms. my answer is no. if above 1,000 Wrms... we can discuss...
05-26-2005, 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Chadwick,May 25 2005, 08:06 PM
Most of the audio guys on this board will tell you a capacitor is not necessary on most setups. The car has to charge the cap each time the cap discharges, so it won't help problems like dimming (of course, you didn't mention that as a reason for getting a cap).
Can't really get more detailed for you, because I'm afraid I might not be completely informed, but while I'm on the fence on whether a cap is necessary, my audiophile friends and the folks on here will advise you against it.
Can't really get more detailed for you, because I'm afraid I might not be completely informed, but while I'm on the fence on whether a cap is necessary, my audiophile friends and the folks on here will advise you against it.
We put one in my brothers car that had a dimming problem and wouldn't you know it, as soon as we added the cap the dimming stopped
But yeah they don't do anything
right...
05-26-2005, 11:00 AM
#7
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BLING BLING!!!
40Farad!
Honestly, Id recommend you spend 60 bucks on the soundstream powerplant. That will monitor how much effective amps you are drawing. If the number is relatively low (a cap wont do sh!t).....its a good investment, and can save you $$. However, if you see major amp draw spikes, a cap might just be your solution.
Powerplant:
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05-26-2005, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by darkknight1999,May 26 2005, 02:53 PM
Well I'm not going to advise you against it.
We put one in my brothers car that had a dimming problem and wouldn't you know it, as soon as we added the cap the dimming stopped
But yeah they don't do anything right...
We put one in my brothers car that had a dimming problem and wouldn't you know it, as soon as we added the cap the dimming stopped
But yeah they don't do anything
right...And I'd like to recant my statement earlier about it not helping the dimming of lights or that caps don't do anything. I didn't say that they don't do anything, but I did say they wouldn't help a light issue. They help for some, not for others. I apologize.
05-26-2005, 11:20 AM
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yeah... I hope that didn't sound to strong, but to say they don't help dimming just isn't accurate. It will help some setup's more than others.
They're are pro's and con's but in the end it comes right down to the person's setup. Different equipment in different cars will act.. well differently. It depends on many different things.
They're are pro's and con's but in the end it comes right down to the person's setup. Different equipment in different cars will act.. well differently. It depends on many different things.
05-26-2005, 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by darkknight1999,May 26 2005, 03:20 PM
yeah... I hope that didn't sound to strong, but to say they don't help dimming just isn't accurate. It will help some setup's more than others.
They're are pro's and con's but in the end it comes right down to the person's setup. Different equipment in different cars will act.. well differently. It depends on many different things.
They're are pro's and con's but in the end it comes right down to the person's setup. Different equipment in different cars will act.. well differently. It depends on many different things.
