Sonicap High, Dayton Low -- Why?

Zaigrith

What is the reasoning behind buying a sonicap capacitor at about 5x the price over the dayton and only using it on highs.
Do the lower frequencies have less distortion and therefore need less quality?

ben62670

The signal travels directly through the high caps. This is where I tell people to spend the extra money. I use the Dayton's on the lows in the shunt positions where it is less critical.

Face

Budget, space constraints, etc... Generally, shunt caps don't have as significant of an effect on SQ, but it's not always the case.

JimAckley

Also, Dayton has higher-value caps available, whereas I'm pretty sure Sonicap doesn't offer any. Ben, Vr3m, and Face would know that fact better than me though.

ben62670

Don't bother with the 1% caps from Dayton. They are the same as the 5% which are usualy within 2%. The stock ones are 10-20%. SoniCap's only go up to about 40uf.

F1nut

What is the reasoning behind buying a sonicap capacitor at about 5x the price over the dayton and only using it on highs.

People trying to save a buck. However, Sonicap is a superior shunt cap and I think they are well worth the extra money.

SoniCap's only go up to about 40uf.

33uF is the highest listed.

ben62670

So Jesse how many XO's have you heard with Dayton's in the shunt position? I am not arguing about using good caps in the shunt position, but the gains are not as prominent as in the series positions. Also the amount of room the SonicCaps take up is much more than the SonicCaps. The Dayton's are an excellent cap for a lot of the crossovers. The Dayton's are mostly the right length and are thinner than most caps. It cost $135 more for the caps in the shunt positions to use SonicCap's over Dayton's in the typical SDA's with 40 and 20uf caps in the shunt positions. I certainly wouldn't talk anyone out of using the SonicCaps if they wanted them, but I do present the options.

F1nut

So Jesse how many XO's have you heard with Dayton's in the shunt position?

A few. B&W uses Bennic, which are the same as Dayton. Horrid sound.

I am not arguing about using good caps in the shunt position, but the gains are not as prominent as in the series positions.

I agree that it is not as critical. However, I am not alone my opinion that Sonicap is a better choice.

ben62670

SonicCaps couldn't help the B&W sound IMHO, and that is not a fair comparison. Two different speakers.

VR3

I have used Clarity PX a few times and I like them way better than Dayton.

I have used Dayton a few times previously and was not overly impressed - when used in the high frequencies they hardly bested the stock components.

YMMV

ben62670

Just a curiosity question. Did you use Dayton's and another brand in the shunt position in the same speaker? I also don't care for them too much in the high position. Better than stock for sure, but not as good as SonicCap's.

Face

I have, I liked MR's much better.

ben62670

HeHe. Some of the larger value MR's cost more for a set of XO's than most of the gear I have!

george daniel

not to sidetrack--but,,anyone have any experience with the capacitor for the Sacnspeak Revelator Tweeter,,, the other forums/cap comparasions say that the synergy between the revelator and hovland caps are good,,which is what I have,,but I'm thinking sonicaps and maybe a MR on the tweet(Tyler 7u's)

Face

I haven't spent much time with anything from the Revelator line, but MR's work well with Illuminators.

VR3

Hey George,
My current mod uses the Revelator

I am throwing a Clarity Cap MR on it

I will let you know my results