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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: Seven64 on April 19, 2011, 09:46:00 PM

Title: Capacitor Quality
Post by: Seven64 on April 19, 2011, 09:46:00 PM
I was wondering what everyone's opinions on non-polarized capacitors were.

I use just basic ceramic caps right now, and multilayer ceramics for larger values (1uF)

i have some tantalum ones laying around as well.

I am thinking about ordering the panasonic stack metal film caps from digi key and smallbear.

will i notice the quality difference in the sound?  is it worth the investment for the next set of pedals i decide to build, or should i just stick to the cheap tayda ceramic caps?
Title: Re: Capacitor Quality
Post by: Greenmachine on April 19, 2011, 10:41:01 PM
I used to care about the caps I use.  First they had to be brand name, e.g. Panasonic.  Then they had to be box caps - because they look so dang cool.  After so many builds, I find I just don't care anymore - I'm content with the cheap greenies and ceramics you can get for dirt cheap at Futurlec.  I know some folks swear they can hear a difference between cap types, but I've never been able to.

Box caps are fairly inexpensive if you order from Bitsbox as well.  The British post is fabulous.

If I'm building a guitar amplifier, that's when I find I really care about caps.  Mallory 150's are my favorite.  But truthfully; half the reason I pick them is for the way they look.  I'm not so sure I'd hear the difference between them and some generic film cap.

All the Best