0918: HOW DO AUDIOPHILE CAPACITORS SOUND?
📢 Article "The Sound of Capacitors": https://www.sb-lab.eu/il-suono-dei-co...
📜 LTSpice Files and Measurements: https://www.pieraisa.it/opensource/br...
🔥 Kit Catalog for Sale: https://www.pieraisa.it/kit
🎁 Recommended Products: https://www.pieraisa.it/amazon
✴️ Support via Patreon: / pieraisa
🅿️ Paypal Donation: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...
📣 Forum: https://www.pieraisa.it/forum/
🎬 Complete Video List: https://www.pieraisa.it/videolist
📌 Free Download Area: https://www.pieraisa.it/download
📺 Website: https://www.pieraisa.it/
✉ Email: [email protected]
I'll try to answer the thorny question circulating in audio circles: "How do capacitors sound?" In the introduction, I read some comments from specialized audio forums, then show images of capacitors specifically designed for high-end audio applications, offered by manufacturers such as Mundorf, Audin, M-CAP, Miflex, Jantzen, Duelund, and Micamold. To answer the question, I use an approach proposed by Steve Bench and revisited by Stefano Bianchini in "The Sound of Capacitors" (https://www.sb-lab.eu/il-suono-dei-co... https://www.sb-lab.eu/il-suono-dei-co..., which involves measuring the P-E polarization curve of each capacitor using a scheme that measures the voltage and the integral of the current from the capacitor under test. I build a prototype of the circuit on a stripboard and use operational amplifiers to easily manage variations in gain and integration constant. I display the typical voltage and current curves of the capacitors on an oscilloscope with an XY display, and then the P-E bias curves. I apply this measurement method to a dozen capacitors under test, including capacitors for professional audio use and "normal" capacitors with polypropylene dielectrics. Finally, I also perform tests on ceramic and electrolytic capacitors and observe the presence of a saturation effect and hysteresis in the P-E bias curves.
⏰ Index:
0:00 Prologue and Theme
1:14 Introduction
4:25 Comments from the Audio Forum
8:45 AUDIO de LUXE Capacitors
12:25 Article "The Sound of Capacitors"
19:15 Measurement Principle by Steve Bench
22:00 XY Curve of a Capacitor
26:40 LTSpice Simulation: XY Curve of a Capacitor
27:40 Oscilloscope Measurement: XY Curve of a Capacitor
30:45 Calculations for the P-E Bias Curve
33:10 Schematic of the Measurement Circuit with an Opamp
33:50 LTSpice Simulation: Schematic of the Measurement Circuit
34:50 Construction of the Circuit on a Stripboard
36:00 Debugging the First Prototype
37:15 Oscilloscope Measurements: P-E Curve
39:15 Measurement of a WIMA 1uF 250V Capacitor MKP polypropylene
41:05 Measurement of a 2.2uF 250V MKP polypropylene M-CAP capacitor
43:40 Measurement of ESR and capacitance with PEAK instruments
44:00 Measurement of a 100nF 50V X7R ceramic capacitor
45:00 Measurement of a 1uF 50V Nichicon electrolytic capacitor
45:50 Presentation of results and P-E curves for 10 capacitors
51:18 Articles by C. Bateman
#repairs #electronics #amplifiers #lab #tools #oscilloscopes #tutorials #projects #tv #audio #pieraisa #electronics #technicians