Can the right capacitors improve audio quality in passive crossovers?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of capacitors in passive crossovers for audio systems, specifically regarding their ability to influence audio quality. Participants emphasize the importance of selecting the right capacitance, tolerance, voltage rating, and type of capacitor, with a focus on Metalized Polypropylene Capacitors as a preferred choice. The conversation also touches on the common use of electrolytic capacitors and the potential for distortion if incorrect specifications are used. Ultimately, the consensus is that while capacitors can affect audio quality, the right specifications are crucial to minimize distortion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of passive crossover design principles
  • Knowledge of capacitor types and their characteristics
  • Familiarity with audio frequency response and distortion concepts
  • Basic electrical engineering concepts related to capacitance and inductance
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the specifications of Metalized Polypropylene Capacitors for audio applications
  • Learn about the effects of capacitor quality on audio fidelity
  • Explore the differences between electrolytic and tantalum capacitors in audio circuits
  • Investigate methods to measure distortion in audio systems
USEFUL FOR

Electrical engineering students, audio engineers, hobbyists building speaker systems, and anyone interested in optimizing audio quality through passive crossover design.

Tesladude
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Hey I am training to be an electrical engineer and am working with some audio passive crossovers just to for instance cut out the low frequencies going to a mid-range speaker.
I want some good "hi-fi" stuff!

So I know how to calculate the henerys and farads for the caps and inductors but I was wondering...


The inductors are just copper wire so they shouldn't do much but can capacitors add any kind of distortion to the audio? I know that if I don't have the right capacitance some times it can but if I use the right capacitance for my crossover can there be any distortion? Similarly to using resistors in series with your audio lines, slight fuz or change in audio quality.

Is there a specific type or brand that will work better?
I always see people use electrolyic caps so I assume that's what I want and not like tantalum caps or something.
Or is it just a matter of having the right capacitance, good tolerance, voltage, and bipolarness?
 
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Quality Metalized Polypropylene Capacitors are what I used when building my last speaker crossover project. PartsExpress has a wide selection of values.
http://www.parts-express.com/cat/metalized-polypropylene-capacitors/294

What's best in audio is usually coated with snake-oil. :smile:
 

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