MYLAR capacitors and FILM Capacitors..

[melody_guitar]

I wanna ask if there's a lot of big difference in using MYLAR capacitors instead of those film capacitors?? I'm using those Green MYLAR Capacitors instead of those RED/ORANGE FILM capacitors that many botique pedal manufacturers use (Wampler, Lovepedal, etc).. Here in our country in Philippines, most electronics store only have that green MYLAR capacitors.. anyone can help?.. thanks

[jkokura]

Mylar is a type of film capacitor in fact. There are many different types of film caps, including polyester, polystyrene, mylar, and more. The Box film caps you're meaning are either the Metal film type or perhaps a poly type.

The audible difference between capacitors is a much argued debate. It's really hard to say if it would actually provide a difference that you will hear. Some people say they can, some people can't.

One major difference that you can know about for sure is that some film caps have a small tolerance than others. That means that they will be more accurate in their actual value compared to their listed value. Using Box capacitors can also be very helpful if you're working on many of the layouts that we use because they fit well in the spaces on the PCBs.

If you can get the Green Mylars, they will be perfectly fine for your use. Don't bat an eye using them. In fact, there are many 'boutique' builders who regularly use them, as well as many, many, many DIYers around the world.

Jacob

[melody_guitar]

Thanks Jacob for answering my question. Now I know that a Green Mylar Capacitor is a kind of a film capacitor. I'm making circuit prototypes in breadboard by using those green mylar capacitors. I'm satisfied with the results when the circuit runs.

But I wonder if I can improve the sound if i'll replace those green mylar capacitors that are commonly sold through electronics store here in our country by, lets say, boxed metal film capacitors, which are rare in kind here and a lot more expensive. I'm just wondering if I can Improve the sound by replacing those green mylar capacitors with much more expensive boxed metal film capacitors?

Talking about accuracy of those Green mylar capacitors which are common here, common tolerances are K (plus-minus 10%) or J (plus-minus 5%). those are the most common tolerance ranges of those green mylar capacitors here, being "J" the best range.

[jkokura]

I know what you're asking, and all I can tell you is maybe.

It might make a difference. It might not make a difference. Some people can't hear the difference. Some people say they can't.

I would say that you could try it, but you might not hear anything, you might.

Jacob

[TNblueshawk]

Melody, I'm not schooled enough to give you what my opinion is as I'm still figuring it out myself but what I can tell you is the ton of stuff I've read. Are there people with "golden ears"? Most folks I've read say it is a bunch of bunk. Most humans simply can't tell the difference in these cap changes. Then some other cats will come along and call BS on that saying they in fact can hear a difference.

What I can tell is my hearing is so shot from listening to loud music, attending concerts and turning up my Fender HRD in a 10 by 10 room  that I know for a fact I couldn't freakin tell the difference. That much I do know. The tolerance thing is a legit issue though I believe. Also, my thought on expensive is just because it cost more doesn't mean it is better and I think this might apply with some caps. I do understand what you are trying to do though and you might as well experiment for yourself by socketing some things and A/B'ing them to see what you think.

One thing I've always wondered about is doesn't the style of music you are playing affect what you can and can't hear? Smooth jazz runs vs. thrash metal for example? Dunno. 

Just my 2pf's. Good luck though.

[jkokura]

Just my 2pf's

Love it. Love.

Jacob

[melody_guitar]

that's a very good point of view mr blueshawk. maybe its true that in capacitors issue, a more expensive one doesn't give that kind of a lot of differences in the performance/ sound.. im just in a question where some pedal manufacturers mostly botique one's sometimes/always said that their pedals are made from high quality components..( talking only bout capacitors and resistors) and claiming that using them in their builds can improve the sound of the pedal compared to the commercial manufacturers which uses components of a lower quality due to mass production..

another thing is silver mica vs ceramic capacitors??.. some said that to achieve hi fi sounds, try to replace ceramic caps with equivalent film capacitors in value or silver mica caps..

i generally play standard rock guitar but also i pay variety of music styles..

so do we therefore conclude here that not all times that film capacitors sound better than those mylar capacitors??.. you know im not an EE or ECE, im a Mechanical Engineer who has a passion in playing music and become active in electronics hobbying in making guitar pedals..

[TNblueshawk]

I truly think there is not a right or wrong answer. I could easily be swayed into the notion that it might be circuit dependent. A guy I know was building a Mag Mod and was getting a ton of noise. He made one change from a one film cap to a silver mica...noise gone. Was it the silver mica or was the film he had just bad or way off on its tolerance ?

If I was a booteek builder I'd have to market my product in some way and in such a way as to be attractive. I'd do the same as those guys too whether it actually made a difference or not.

I don't claim to be right here, but in terms of quality I'm thinking once you reach a certain quality for these pedal caps, anything beyond that is suspect in terms of really mattering.

I should really do this more but I don't as I'm always working on the next thing...which is socket the crap out of this stuff and see for myself.

Antother thing is the rig you run. The myraid of things, Pups, speaker, amp, guitar wood, other pedals in the chain and on and on...comes into play at some point in terms of does it matter at the end of the day.

I guess that is part of the fun....or frustration  

[jkokura]

im just in a question where some pedal manufacturers mostly botique one's sometimes/always said that their pedals are made from high quality components..( talking only bout capacitors and resistors) and claiming that using them in their builds can improve the sound of the pedal compared to the commercial manufacturers which uses components of a lower quality due to mass production..

another thing is silver mica vs ceramic capacitors??.. some said that to achieve hi fi sounds, try to replace ceramic caps with equivalent film capacitors in value or silver mica caps..

One thing to be mentioned here might be that ceramic caps and low quality caps can produce noise. It's a documented fact that if you built a Tubescreamer with Ceramic caps, then replaced all the ceramic with film and/or mica caps, you'd get a lower noise floor with your pedal. That's for certain.

However, when we are comparing Myler versus Poly film caps... there's really not much difference between the two. It's possible that you might have a slightly lower amount of noise using one cap over another, but really - this is Rock and Roll! Noise is ok sometimes.

But I don't want noise in my tremolo or delay pedal, so I use film and not ceramic. And metal film resistors too.

jacob