Cap, or no cap?

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12-10-2010, 07:05 PM
amsterdamn

Cap, or no cap?

I found a new capacitor like this one for only $25. But the audio system does not require one. Should I install it anyway, or just sell it?
12-10-2010, 08:07 PM
pl4yboy

Sell it. Capacitors are band aids for bigger problems. I ran 3200 watts RMS for 3 years daily with no cap. If your electrical system is up to snuff you will have no issues. Make sure you have a good alternator, the right size wire, and good connections and you're fine. The Big 3 upgrade is the best thing you can do for under 50 bucks on a vehicle.
12-10-2010, 08:56 PM
oleshifty

I run a cap, just for the peace of mind. They are so cheap nowadays, might as well. I've done the big 3, optima, bigger alt, etc. Still seemed like less dimming at idle with system going.n Plus, they look cool
12-10-2010, 09:26 PM
Frenchy

I just live with the gauges dimming. Gotta have the Waylon ear bleeding loud.
12-10-2010, 10:02 PM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by oleshifty

I run a cap, just for the peace of mind. They are so cheap nowadays, might as well. I've done the big 3, optima, bigger alt, etc. Still seemed like less dimming at idle with system going.n Plus, they look cool

The problem with a cap is you don't know when you're clipping. It also puts undue stress on the electrical system that is already inadequate.
12-11-2010, 08:25 AM
lo-lyf

Quote:

Originally Posted by pl4yboy

Sell it. Capacitors are band aids for bigger problems. I ran 3200 watts RMS for 3 years daily with no cap. If your electrical system is up to snuff you will have no issues. Make sure you have a good alternator, the right size wire, and good connections and you're fine. The Big 3 upgrade is the best thing you can do for under 50 bucks on a vehicle.

agreed

Quote:

Originally Posted by pl4yboy

The problem with a cap is you don't know when you're clipping. It also puts undue stress on the electrical system that is already inadequate.

and agreed.

caps are kinda one of those things that companies can put a 100% (or more) mark up on because the average joe will buy a cap before a 250 amp alternator or deep cycle battery or power cell.
12-11-2010, 10:54 AM
amsterdamn

Quote:

Originally Posted by pl4yboy

The problem with a cap is you don't know when you're clipping. It also puts undue stress on the electrical system that is already inadequate.

This is the kind of answer I was looking for. I searched around the web for a while and found many people who recommend a cap. I read only a few who were against caps altogether, but not one explained why. I just got tired of looking around (plus I have more important things to do) and figured I'd get a good answer here. Thanks.
12-11-2010, 11:11 AM
amsterdamn

So... when I have 30 posts, I'll have a nice capacitor for sale. I'll give you a good deal on it! :smile:
12-11-2010, 02:50 PM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by amsterdamn

This is the kind of answer I was looking for. I searched around the web for a while and found many people who recommend a cap. I read only a few who were against caps altogether, but not one explained why. I just got tired of looking around (plus I have more important things to do) and figured I'd get a good answer here. Thanks.

There are very few of us audiophiles around here. As a matter of fact, lo-lyf and I are about the only ones. For the longest time we fought and bickered about everything possible until we came to the realization that we just have different tastes in the same hobby.
12-11-2010, 03:15 PM
Frenchy

Quote:

Originally Posted by amsterdamn

So... when I have 30 posts, I'll have a nice capacitor for sale. I'll give you a good deal on it! :smile:

Congrats, first newb to realize ya need 30. Good on ya
12-14-2010, 11:02 AM
lo-lyf

Quote:

Originally Posted by pl4yboy

There are very few of us audiophiles around here. As a matter of fact, lo-lyf and I are about the only ones. For the longest time we fought and bickered about everything possible until we came to the realization that we just have different tastes in the same hobby.

Yep, and we probably still don't have the same political views but who cares and who does? You know your stuff, so do I. In fact, you probably know more than me in areas. I'm not here for a pissing contest though, just to help where I can.
12-23-2010, 11:39 PM
Sport91

just becomes another load after the initial discharge, great marketing item for manufactures cause people like to buy em....truly no need for or benefit from them.
12-24-2010, 01:25 AM
Maui4x4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sport91

just becomes another load after the initial discharge, great marketing item for manufactures cause people like to buy em....truly no need for or benefit from them.

+1
Either you need:
Bigger wire
Bigger Alternator
Another Battery

Thats the way Id look at the power problem lol.
12-24-2010, 01:40 AM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maui4x4

+1
Either you need:
Bigger wire
Bigger Alternator
Another Battery

Thats the way Id look at the power problem lol.

The Big 3 upgrade will save the majority of the people's issues anyway.
12-28-2010, 01:59 AM
traksta15

Quote:

Originally Posted by pl4yboy

The Big 3 upgrade will save the majority of the people's issues anyway.

x2

I've been meaning to do this to mine for 2 years now lol.
12-30-2010, 03:36 PM
blade7022

One day people will awake to the advantage and use of the cap in car audo. Most just don't truly understand its place and purpose of use.
12-30-2010, 04:28 PM
bangbangskeetskeet

Quote:

Originally Posted by blade7022

One day people will awake to the advantage and use of the cap in car audo. Most just don't truly understand its place and purpose of use.

Blease share what you think it's place and use are?

This is gonna be great.
12-30-2010, 04:41 PM
blade7022

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangbangskeetskeet

Blease share what you think it's place and use are?
This is gonna be great.

Things previously stated are correct. Upgraded electrical is priority number 1. I have no dissagreement and completly agree. But, the view of the cap being a throw away, needless piece of junk is slightly scewed.

The cap has its place in realm of Sound Quality, and is sole purpose is stability. Not stopping light dimming, not acting as another battery, and certainly not being the only upgrade needed. Its only job is to level out and stabilize the incoming voltage signal from the battery(ies).

Any unfiltered electrical signal, wether it be DC from a battery of AC from an outlet, is going to be "dirty" that is the signal will have peakes and vallies. When a cap or other stabilizing device is used, it eliminates those peaks and vallies, giving a more clean signal to the amplifier. This in turn allowes the amp to produce a stronger more level signal to the speakers, lowing distortion and increasing the quality of the sound.

---- One more thing, when a Cap it used, it must be of a proper capacitance. If you put a 1 farad cap on a 2,000 watt amp, that is pointless.
12-30-2010, 07:49 PM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by blade7022

Things previously stated are correct. Upgraded electrical is priority number 1. I have no dissagreement and completly agree. But, the view of the cap being a throw away, needless piece of junk is slightly scewed.

The cap has its place in realm of Sound Quality, and is sole purpose is stability. Not stopping light dimming, not acting as another battery, and certainly not being the only upgrade needed. Its only job is to level out and stabilize the incoming voltage signal from the battery(ies).

Any unfiltered electrical signal, wether it be DC from a battery of AC from an outlet, is going to be "dirty" that is the signal will have peakes and vallies. When a cap or other stabilizing device is used, it eliminates those peaks and vallies, giving a more clean signal to the amplifier. This in turn allowes the amp to produce a stronger more level signal to the speakers, lowing distortion and increasing the quality of the sound.

---- One more thing, when a Cap it used, it must be of a proper capacitance. If you put a 1 farad cap on a 2,000 watt amp, that is pointless.

Like I said. They're useless.
12-30-2010, 09:27 PM
blade7022

Quote:

Originally Posted by pl4yboy

Like I said. They're useless.

Maby in your setup, but not totally useless.
12-30-2010, 09:51 PM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by blade7022

Maby in your setup, but not totally useless.

Useless in 99% of setups makes them useless. Majority wins.

Either way, we have come up with 99 reasons not to use them... vs 1 reason they might be worthwhile.
12-31-2010, 12:58 AM
traksta15

with proper size wiring, big 3 and upgraded alts are being used, you shouldnt need a cap. Spl competitors run multiple batteries, multiple runs of power and ground and run huge alts or multi alt setups. A cap isn't going to help them. Sq competitors don't have serious power consumption needs so a cap would be pointless for them as well. Caps are an electrical band-aid that high school kids use to see their voltage dip when they're showing off to their friends.
12-31-2010, 01:16 AM
blade7022

Quote:

Originally Posted by traksta15

with proper size wiring, big 3 and upgraded alts are being used, you shouldnt need a cap. Spl competitors run multiple batteries, multiple runs of power and ground and run huge alts or multi alt setups. A cap isn't going to help them. Sq competitors don't have serious power consumption needs so a cap would be pointless for them as well. Caps are an electrical band-aid that high school kids use to see their voltage dip when they're showing off to their friends.

Did you even read what I wrote? SQ is the whole point. Its not about power consumption!!!:mad: It is about clean signal, both into and from the amp. But I will bow out here, your not going to listen and don't care. So why even chime in right!!!! So much for trying to educate people even the slightest bit, try not to be so closed minded.:giveup:
12-31-2010, 01:42 AM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by blade7022

Did you even read what I wrote? SQ is the whole point. Its not about power consumption!!!:mad: It is about clean signal, both into and from the amp. But I will bow out here, your not going to listen and don't care. So why even chime in right!!!! So much for trying to educate people even the slightest bit, try not to be so closed minded.:giveup:

Most SQ competitors use very nice amps that have a clean enough signal as is.
12-31-2010, 10:10 AM
traksta15

yep. Thats why you never see audison and zapco amps next to a scosche capacitor.
12-31-2010, 11:13 AM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by traksta15

yep. Thats why you never see audison and zapco amps next to a scosche capacitor.

I'd like a Sundown myself next time around. That, or another Digital Designs.
12-31-2010, 01:30 PM
traksta15

sundown amps are beasts. So are the digital designs. I ran the dd1508 sub about 2 years ago then i went to a sundown sa-8. Theyre both bad ass little subs for sure. Plus digital designs is from oklahoma so it's that much cooler.
12-31-2010, 04:10 PM
pl4yboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by traksta15

sundown amps are beasts. So are the digital designs. I ran the dd1508 sub about 2 years ago then i went to a sundown sa-8. Theyre both bad ass little subs for sure. Plus digital designs is from oklahoma so it's that much cooler.

I ran a 9512f in the 69 I had. KX2500.1. I'm looking at putting two 1508s under the back seat of the 2010. Ported at around 32hz.
12-31-2010, 05:21 PM
traksta15

Damn, that must have beat! Id almost port them a little higher, i had mine ported at 33 and it hit low, but wasn't loud enough for my liking. I've heard the really shine around 37hz and still retain the lows. Theyre great little subs, 2 of them should be badass.