1 cap...or many caps...

If you must use multiple caps, use 2, 3, 4, etc... of the same value. Don't use different values, IME, it has a negative effect on spatial cues.

Face answered your question, "If you must use multiple caps....", which means use one cap if at all possible.

It is a good question and, for speakers, you are better off with one cap. If you can't find the precise value, you can go with something within 5% and still be good; perhaps 10%. As said above, if you must use multiple caps, try to keep them to equal values. For example, if you need 16uF, don't use a 15uf and a 1uF in parallel. Use two 8uF in parallel instead or just go with the 15uF. I know the math works but it just does not sound right. I have tried it.

Now I seem to remember reading that there may be a performance advantage of multiple caps in power supplies vs fewer large caps.

Stan

11tsteve wrote: »

it is also possible to have Sonic Craft make custom values if you have problems finding a certain cap. I am not sure as to how high a value they will make.

Soniccraft doesn't actually make custom values. Like many manufacturers, they do a production run. The bulk of the run will fall within the 5% tolerance (hopefully). A small portion will be above and below, and those are binned separately, also know as salvage parts. When you ask for a custom value, they hand pick from those binned parts, measure and match them as close as possible. There's a slight premium for them.
The largest custom value I've received is 34uf.

BKphoto wrote: »

thanks, My question was just me wondering about this....I just thought I read somewhere where there was a performance advantage to multiple smaller (same value of course) vs one large...

Depends on the application BK. In a Crossover, best practice is using a single cap of the correct value. That's not always possible, so using 2 or more equal value caps is the next best choice. Using a smaller and a larger cap to make up the desired value is the last thing you want to do, as Face pointed out. The smaller cap will react faster than the larger cap, and can result in some odd artifacts in the signal. Power supplies are a different matter all together. I'm not that versed in the benefits or trade-offs of larger caps vs multiple smaller caps.

11tsteve wrote: »

thaks for the clarification. I was passing along info I was given which was obviously incomete.

You're welcome. I just didn't want anyone calling them thinking they can order any value they want.

StantonZ wrote: »

I bought a couple of these when I re-built my 10B XO's. Found Sonic Craft to be very friendly and efficient (just not "cheap").

As with many things, you get what you pay for. They're one of a very few, that will measure for custom values, and match them.