rt55 crossover cap replacement help please

splatee

Hello,

I am new user to the forums but have been on here getting good info for a bit now and just joined

I have 2 pairs of rt55 that i picked up used locally for cheap a few years back for the home theater. I am now getting bit by the upgrade/mod bug and would like to redo the crossover caps. From the reading i have done and looking at the schematic i can find all the cap values except for the 16.5uf. I was going to replace them with ClarityCaps. I was thinking about taking a 15.0uf and 1.5uf and parallel them but have read that it may change the sound because the smaller cap would charge and discharge at a faster rate. I was also going to do the same with the 3.0uf cap and just use two 1.5uf in parallel since Clarity Caps do not have a 3.0uf. Now the other option would be just going with a 16.0uf Clarity Cap and then a 3.0uf Solen cap. IS there a real noticeable difference between a 16.5 and 16.0 ? I did find some Dayton Caps that measure 8.2uf so two of those in parallel would be 16.4 but since being the same value would match up better. Would putting a Solen 3.0uf cap in the High-pass circuit be ok? I have read that the Solens are not a good choice for the high-pass? I can not seem to find a diffident answer regarding this. Sorry for all the questions, i was planning on ordering parts in the next day. For now i was going to just do the front pair and then the rears a later time. Will this be an issue?

Thank you

westmassguy

You don't specify which Clarity Line, PX, or ESA, so not sure what your budget is. I would not use a Solen in the Hi-Pass.
Sonicraft will give you all three sizes in the Sonicap Gen I. The 16.5ufs will be from the custom bin, and a bit more than a regular 16uf.

splatee

Today, 09:09 AMwestmassguy
You don't specify which Clarity Line, PX, or ESA, so not sure what your budget is. I would not use a Solen in the Hi-Pass.
Sonicraft will give you all three sizes in the Sonicap Gen I. The 16.5ufs will be from the custom bin, and a bit more than a regular 16uf.
Today, 08:44 AMsplatee
rt55 crossover cap replacement help please

Hello,

I am new user to the forums but have been on here getting good info for a bit now and just joined

I have 2 pairs of rt55 that i picked up used locally for cheap a few years back for the home theater. I am now getting bit by the upgrade/mod bug and would like to redo the crossover caps. From the reading i have done and looking at the schematic i can find all the cap values except for the 16.5uf. I was going to replace them with ClarityCaps. I was thinking about taking a 15.0uf and 1.5uf and parallel them but have read that it may change the sound because the smaller cap would charge and discharge at a faster rate. I was also going to do the same with the 3.0uf cap and just use two 1.5uf in parallel since Clarity Caps do not have a 3.0uf. Now the other option would be just going with a 16.0uf Clarity Cap and then a 3.0uf Solen cap. IS there a real noticeable difference between a 16.5 and 16.0 ? I did find some Dayton Caps that measure 8.2uf so two of those in parallel would be 16.4 but since being the same value would match up better. Would putting a Solen 3.0uf cap in the High-pass circuit be ok? I have read that the Solens are not a good choice for the high-pass? I can not seem to find a diffident answer regarding this. Sorry for all the questions, i was planning on ordering parts in the next day. For now i was going to just do the front pair and then the rears a later time. Will this be an issue?

Thank you

splatee

westmassguy wrote: »

You don't specify which Clarity Line, PX, or ESA, so not sure what your budget is. I would not use a Solen in the Hi-Pass.
Sonicraft will give you all three sizes in the Sonicap Gen I. The 16.5ufs will be from the custom bin, and a bit more than a regular 16uf.

Thanks for the reply....

I was going to go with the PX line. I looked at Sonicap and they are pricey lol. I was trying to avoid them price wise but if they have a 16.5 then I may have too. What about using Dayton Caps from Parts Express? They have two versions, the regular and then a "precision audio" with lower tolerances. I was thinking about going with all those for the the cap redo. But I am still wondering if it is ok to drop down to the 16.0uf instead of the 16.5uf? The other being to run two 8.2uf in parallel and be close at 16.4uf. Is that not having .5 within tolerance?

Thank you

westmassguy

The Daytons, whether 1% or 5% are budget caps, and sound the same. They're made by Bennic. Clarity PXs are also budget caps as are the Solens. Two 8.2 in parallel will get you there, but the 16uf will do fine, it's only 3% off.

blehmbo

Keep in mind Soniccraft has a 20% off sale going. Their prices are pretty reasonable for the quality in my opinion.

F1nut

blehmbo wrote: »

Keep in mind Soniccraft has a 20% off sale going. Their prices are pretty reasonable for the quality in my opinion.

^This^ and they are much better than Dayton, Solen and Clarity PX.

splatee

F1nut wrote: »

^This^ and they are much better than Dayton, Solen and Clarity PX.

Ok thanks for the heads up. I will take a look. Oh and is it really necessary to replace the resistors? They are a 2 and 3 ohm. And for now I was just going to do the fronts for now and leave the rears for now alone until later.

Thank you

F1nut

Yes, Mills 12 watt are only $4 a piece.

splatee

Alright i have narrowed it down to two capacitor replacement options. This is mainly due to budget and i am wanting to replace the capacitors in both pairs at the same time.

Option #1
High-Pass Circuit
Bennic XPP 0.47 ( 4 each ) http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/xxp-poly-cap-250vdc/bennic-poly-0.47-mfd/
or this ...ClarityCap 0.47 mfd PX Range Polypropylene Caps ( 4 each ) http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/px-cap-250vdc/claritycap-0.47-mfd-px-range-polypropylene-caps/
ClarityCap 9.0 mfd PX ( 4 each) http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/px-cap-250vdc/claritycap-9.0-mfd-px-range-polypropylene-caps/
Dayton Audio PMPC-3.0 3.0uF 250V Precision Audio Capacitor ( 4 each ) http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-pmpc-30-30uf-250v-precision-audio-capacitor--027-220

Low-Pass
Dayton Audio DMPC-8.2 8.2uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor ( Total of 16 each. Two wired in paralell to reach 16.4uf since original is 16.5uf) http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-dmpc-82-82uf-250v-polypropylene-capacitor--027-426

Resistors
Mills 2 Ohm 12W Non-Inductive Resistor ( 4 each ) http://www.parts-express.com/mills-2-ohm-12w-non-inductive-resistor--005-2
Mills 3 Ohm 12W Non-Inductive Resistor ( 4 each ) http://www.parts-express.com/mills-3-ohm-12w-non-inductive-resistor--005-3

Option #2 is the same as option #1 but swapping the Low-Pass original 16.5uf with 16.0uf. Should not be a big difference from all the info....

Bennic XPP 16.0 mfd Non-Polar Metalized Polypropylene Film Capacitor 250V ( 4 each ) http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/xxp-poly-cap-250vdc/bennic-poly-16-mfd/
or
Solen 16uF 400V Polypropylene Capacitor ( 4 each ) http://www.parts-express.com/solen-16uf-400v-polypropylene-capacitor--027-578

So basically the options are pretty close. Going with the suggestion of the Sonicaps is just to pricey at this time. I am still also trying to decide if doing the rear speakers is really necessary and to save a bit on parts if they are not needed?

Thank you

westmassguy

If it were me, I'd stick with one brand. Of the brands you've listed, Clarity PX would be the best IMHO. Not my personal favorites, but the best of the bunch.
For the Hi-Pass, you'll need two 1.5uf in parallel for the 3uf, and two 4.7uf in parallel for the 9.47uf. Lo-pass, two 8.2uf in parallel. The problem with Clarity, is they're larger than comparable brands of the same value. You may have to get creative in your mounting procedures.
For the resistors, Mills MRA-12s from Sonicraft. They have all the values you'll need.

pitdogg2

If it keeps coming to Bennic, Dayton and Solen just save your money. Sonicaps or higher up the Clarity line, but then you may run into size issues with the Clarity caps.

splatee

westmassguy wrote: »

If it were me, I'd stick with one brand. Of the brands you've listed, Clarity PX would be the best IMHO. Not my personal favorites, but the best of the bunch.
For the Hi-Pass, you'll need two 1.5uf in parallel for the 3uf, and two 4.7uf in parallel for the 9.47uf. Lo-pass, two 8.2uf in parallel. The problem with Clarity, is they're larger than comparable brands of the same value. You may have to get creative in your mounting procedures.
For the resistors, Mills MRA-12s from Sonicraft. They have all the values you'll need.

Well i can go all Clarity. Madisound has a 3uf but it is In their ESA line ..... http://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/claritycap-esa-capacitor-250vdc/claritycap-3.0-mfd-esa-range-polypropylene-capacitor-250v/

The rt55 has 9uf not 9.5uf. So I can match all the High-pass values with Clarity.

I can do this...

Do the High-pass with Clarity and the the Low pass with Clarity also but would have to parallel two 8.2uf.

Is there an issue mixing a ESA in with PSX in the high-pass circuit?

If I go this route I will just do the fronts for now and then the rears at a later time. And are those the Mills resistors that I would need?

Thank you

westmassguy

The schematic I was reading, shows a 9uf and .47uf in parallel. If your actual crossovers have just the 9uf, you're good to go.
I would not mix PX and ESA in the Hi-Pass. Spend the money on the Hi-Pass, and do all ESAs, and PX in the Lo-Pass. The ESAs come in 3uf and 9.1 uf...easy peasy

splatee

westmassguy wrote: »

The schematic I was reading, shows a 9uf and .47uf in parallel. If your actual crossovers have just the 9uf, you're good to go.
I would not mix PX and ESA in the Hi-Pass. Spend the money on the Hi-Pass, and do all ESAs, and PX in the Lo-Pass. The ESAs come in 3uf and 9.1 uf...easy peasy

So you are saying to leave out the .47uf cap all together and put a 9.1 and 3.0 for the High-pass circuit? The schematics show a 9.0uf so taking out the .47uf I would have to raise the value of the 9.0uf to 9.1. Is it really necessary since the caps are of higher quality?

Thank you

westmassguy

The .47 cap is a shunt, and is really doing nothing. Put a 9 or 9.1 in there, you'll be fine

splatee

Update time....

I think i have it nailed down now on which direction to go.

I will go with the following on High-pass.
ClarityCap 9.0 mfd PX
ClarityCap 1.5 mfd PX ( 2 each parallel to = 3.0uf)
and leave out the .47uf cap out of the circuit. Just a bit worried that it may cause a sound issue?

Low-Pass
Either of the following
Dayton Audio DMPC-8.2 ( 2 each parallel to = 16.4 to be close to the 16.5uf)
or
Bennic XPP 16.0 mfd ( since it is not that big of difference and to keep it less cluttered )

Thank you for all the help/info, i just want to make sure because i plan on putting an order in hopefully soon

westmassguy

Go with the Bennic, they make the Daytons, so there really won't be any difference.

splatee

westmassguy wrote: »

Go with the Bennic, they make the Daytons, so there really won't be any difference.

Ok, will do.

Thank you

splatee

Still on the fence on what to use for the high-pass circuit. I am deffinetly going with Clarity Caps but debating if to go with the PX or ESA series. I have been reading a lot of posts about how good the ESA sound. My concern is that I am powering these with an Onkyo tx-nr 709 and will I notice a big improvement since I am not using separate amplifiers? I am leaning towards the PX and keeping it more in the budget but don't want to have that "what if" in the back of my head LOL.

Thank you

westmassguy

Only you can make that decision. A good compromise, is ESAs for the Hi-Pass, with PX in the Lo-Pass.