PDA

View Full Version : Clarity Cap - the difference is proven...



Marco
16-09-2009, 15:33
Guys,

I found this video, which some of you may find interesting:

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2008/05/27/aes08-if-the-cap-fits-it-must-sound-better/

It outlines the difference tackling resonance makes in the windings of capacitors (this detailed research is what attracted me to the CC caps in the first place), and the MR Range, shown here:

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/claritycap_mr.html

...is what I used in the crossovers for my Tannoy 15" Monitor Golds. For me, the MRs sound stunning, as the improvement these gave over the caps inside the original Tannoy crossovers was quite incredible.

Has anyone else here used them in their projects - if so, what did you think?

For those who haven't tried them and are on the look out for the best sounding caps out there that are still relatively affordable, I would thoroughly recommend the Clarity Cap MR range. The ESA range is also superb and offers a big chunk of the magic of the MRs at a more cost effective price.

Anyway, I just thought that I'd pass this on - enjoy the video! :)

Marco.

Covenant
16-09-2009, 15:37
The video wont open for me Marco

Marco
16-09-2009, 15:39
Try that now, Jerry :)

Marco.

DSJR
16-09-2009, 16:19
have you measured the original and new crossovers to see what differences there are? Changing to better caps usually means less resistance amongst other things and this could change the crossover characteristics, as well as increasing the efficiency a little, making them sound "louder" and "clearer..."

Covenant
16-09-2009, 16:25
That works now thanks Marco. Where have you used them?

Marco
16-09-2009, 16:59
Hi Jerry,

As I wrote earlier:


...is what I used in the crossovers for my Tannoy 15" Monitor Golds. For me, the MRs sound stunning, as the improvement these gave over the caps inside the original Tannoy crossovers was quite incredible.


;)

Dave,


have you measured the original and new crossovers to see what differences there are? Changing to better caps usually means less resistance amongst other things and this could change the crossover characteristics, as well as increasing the efficiency a little, making them sound "louder" and "clearer..."


The answer to your first question is no. I simply did the research, came to the decision that they should be excellent, selected the right values, and two mates who are dab hands with soldering irons came round and fitted them for me :)

I suspect that there probably is less resistance, as I've heard this effect before, and subjectively that seems to be the case. The crossovers were rebuilt from scratch to compliment the new caps and of course the drivers themselves, so there were no crossover "characteristics" to change.

I don't perceive any increase in efficiency, or loudness, but there was certainly a massive improvement in clarity and reduction of 'noise', hence the now 'blacker' backgrounds, significantly improved detail retrieval, and in turn much greater insight into all types of music.

Tonally, bass is tighter and has greater impact, the midrange more cohesive and expressive, and the top-end has greater extension and 'sparkle' - in short, a fundamental no-brainer upgrade at relatively low cost. As such, I would recommend these capacitors to all D.I.Y-ers who can facilitate them in their intended application.

My next project will be to use some from the ESA range (unfortunately those in the MR range with the appropriate capacitance values are too big) inside my Croft preamp to upgrade the existing Ducati polypropylene smoothing caps. I will review the difference this makes in due course.

I'm confident though that the people at Clarity Cap are onto something significant by tackling resonance in this way. It's a genuine and valuable breakthrough, I feel.

Marco.

Cotlake
16-09-2009, 18:46
It's worth noting that the Soniqs range of caps sold by World Designs are manufactured by Clarity and are highly regarded.

http://wduk.worldomain.net/acatalog/Capacitors.html

Clive
16-09-2009, 21:14
I've used Clarity caps in several pre and power amps (all caps manufactured specially for me with my name on!). I've been very impressed by them.

Mr. C
17-09-2009, 08:12
The clarity caps are a good solid brand, nice performance and a fair price too.

Marco
17-09-2009, 08:52
Satisfied users all-round, it seems! :)

Greg makes a good point about the range of SONIQS caps also being part of the Clarity Cap products made by ICW in Wrexham, and sold by World Designs.

Has anyone carried out a direct comparison between, say, the SONIQS SAX and Clarity Cap ESA or MR range, as shown here:

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/claritycap_mr.html

SONIQS SAX shown here: http://wduk.worldomain.net/acatalog/SONIQS_SAX_Polypropylene_Capacitors.html

It would be interesting to know what differences there are, if any. What I'm unsure about is if the technology (in reference to the elimination/reduction of resonance), as utilised in the Clarity Cap MR range, has been applied in the design of the SONIQS range of capacitors. If not, I suspect that there could be significant performance differences.

Any thoughts or information on this would be appreciated. Meanwhile, he's a direct link to the Clarity Cap website, where more information on their designs can be obtained: http://www.claritycap.co.uk/

Marco.

twelvebears
17-09-2009, 13:08
Has anyone else here used them in their projects - if so, what did you think?

I've not used these particular ones, but the improvement when I rebuilt my crossovers using Hovland MusiCaps was pretty spectacular, and they were already made with modern components.

goraman
05-03-2010, 02:24
I used the upgraded SA range made of very thick film for long life before the
M caps or ESR caps came out and they are a sonic blessing. I may chanhe them out to the ESR upgrade but the M caps are just to pricey.
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=356_5_351_353&products_id=8146

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=356_5_351_352&products_id=8121
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/prhttp://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=356_5_351_353&products_id=8146oduct_info.php?manufacturers_id=17 0&products_id=8370
http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=170&products_id=8629http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=170&products_id=8370

I linked all there caps from ceapest to OMG thats crazy!

DSJR
05-03-2010, 08:21
ARC use Clarity Caps almost exclusively I think (they used to use Wonder Caps). I wonder if their designs would be as good as Glenns products if they used standard ones????????

Marco
05-03-2010, 08:35
Well, the Clarity Cap ESAs in my Croft Charisma-X don't seem to be doing it any harm, Dave... It's all about implementation, my boy! ;)

As an aside, here's an interesting article on capacitor comparisons:

http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html

Marco.

Rare Bird
05-03-2010, 18:17
Well, the Clarity Cap ESAs in my Croft Charisma-X don't seem to be doing it any harm, Dave... It's all about implementation, my boy! ;)



Thats correct i've tried some of the most desired caps in certain things which have sounded crap, but the same caps situated in a different area glorious.

goraman
07-03-2010, 19:24
I don't know if they have been proven better after all his highest rated cap is the Duelund copper.
I am happy with the Clarity Cap SA they did take some time to break in for the topend to open up but they use the thickist film on the market in there construction and I wont have to replace them in my lifetime.
They where known to have a low ESR when I bought them and in there price range nothing comes even close.

You must give them time to break in I left the speakers on at a low volume all night and while I was at work for over 2 months!

Bass got noticably tighter,the sound stage opened up as well as the top end but I have seen this before with Blackgates.
Black gates are odd when first installed they don't sound like much till around 400 hours then WOW!

Ali Tait
07-03-2010, 21:18
ESA?

goraman
07-03-2010, 22:02
Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR)messured in ohms or in Clarity Caps miliohms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalent_series_resistance

Dave Hewitt
07-03-2010, 22:07
Hi
Dont know where the sonics blue caps come in the equation but, fitted some into the midrange crossovers on my goodmans horns ,they were utter crap,sounded grainy and distorted ,far worse than the out of spec 40 year olds they replaced .Fitted some cheap same value bennics ,far better.Cant come up with a suitable reason for this,but I persevered with these sonics in other cicuits tried them as coupling caps in a preamp with the same results, utter crap.In my opinion of course.
Dave.

Ali Tait
07-03-2010, 22:19
Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR)messured in ohms or in Clarity Caps miliohms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivalent_series_resistance

Ah ok,see you've edited your post.I know what ESR is,thought ESA was something I didn't know about!

goraman
07-03-2010, 22:20
Hi
Dont know where the sonics blue caps come in the equation but, fitted some into the midrange crossovers on my goodmans horns ,they were utter crap,sounded grainy and distorted ,far worse than the out of spec 40 year olds they replaced .Fitted some cheap same value bennics ,far better.Cant come up with a suitable reason for this,but I persevered with these sonics in other cicuits tried them as coupling caps in a preamp with the same results, utter crap.In my opinion of course.
Dave.

Run them in for some time and se if they smooth out,if they don't try something else.

Dave Hewitt
07-03-2010, 22:24
Hi Jeff
Dont think I have that much time left to waste on caps ,so they have been despatched to the storeroom in the sky.[dust bin] [trash can]
Cheers Dave.

goraman
07-03-2010, 23:02
Well, some never do sound much better with power and time so if they where that awful from the go mabey you are better off.

Are you going to try something differant?
I don't know your price range but if you have break in time I would try the clarity cap ESR in the silver wrapper.There priced well, but will take some break in time like all other caps to be at there best.

After a couple of months of constaint play time they really open up and relese the music in a wonderful way!

Dave Hewitt
07-03-2010, 23:08
Hi jeff
Marco was kind enough to supply me with acouple of those,currently residing in my impulse crossovers,seem to do the job fine.

Regards Dave. ps Hows the weather with you.

goraman
07-03-2010, 23:16
Sunny but only 62 degrees as we live in northern California.
2 hours from wine contry,2 hours from the ocean and 2 hours from the snow. Everything is 2 hours away.

Dave Hewitt
07-03-2010, 23:32
Hi jeff,
Dont know where Tulsa is but you must be at least 24 hours from there.
Dave.

goraman
07-03-2010, 23:52
Hi jeff,
Dont know where Tulsa is but you must be at least 24 hours from there.
Dave.

Tulsa is in Oklahoma,Thats in the soulth I am out West,3 days in a fast cruzer with unlimited coffiee and a case of Rock Star energy drinks.
And a gallon jug to pee in.
I once went coast to coast in 5 days average speed was just over 80 mph.
Only a few stops for naps after the coffiee and dounutz buzz brings you to a crash like stewpper.

Themis
07-03-2010, 23:58
I once went coast to coast in 5 days average speed was just over 80 mph.
Unbelievable ! :eek:

goraman
08-03-2010, 00:08
Unbelievable ! :eek:

I was very young then,just out of high school and there was little traffic on I70 in 1985 as I80 was the better freeway.No radar guns or planes and not so menny police then.And I had all my hair and not much sence.

goraman
29-03-2010, 05:42
this on clearity cap.http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/claritycap_e.html

more on high end caps.
http://www.vhaudio.com/21capacitorshootout.pdf


If you go to page 2 post #12 you will see them in my crossovers.
Next to the stock AL CAPs, The Clairity Cap SA's take a very very very long time to open up and break in,400 hours over 6 months and things where far more open and atherial and the bass was much tighter and faster.

Ian Walker
29-03-2010, 07:25
Hi jeff,
Dont know where Tulsa is but you must be at least 24 hours from there.
Dave.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Rare Bird
29-03-2010, 10:18
you lot should really stop reading rags

Ian Walker
29-03-2010, 13:43
Hi jeff,
Dont know where Tulsa is but you must be at least 24 hours from there.
Dave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIjUaxP7PPE

:lol::lol::lol:

Nounours18200
03-09-2011, 13:55
I have a set of Clarity Caps MR capacitors (2.2µF 630V, Ref: MR2u2H360Vdc).

Does one of you know if "outer foil" is the LEFT or the RIGHT pin of the cap when reading the "Clarity Caps brand logo" on the blue external envelope of the cap ?

This will help me to correctly position the caps on the printed circuit !

Thanks very much,

Marco
03-09-2011, 13:59
Hi mate,

Before you go any further, could you please pop into the Welcome area and introduce yourself to our community, telling us your real first name, basic geographical location, system details and music tastes? :)

This is the required procedure for all new members joining our community - cheers! :cool:

Marco.

Welder
03-09-2011, 14:33
Dunno really what this guys opinion is worth but one cant say he isn't taking it all very seriously.

http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html

Worth a trip around the site just to look at some of the speaker builds.

sq225917
03-09-2011, 17:05
He's taking it partly serious, were he dead serious he'd test them blind.

Nounours18200
04-09-2011, 13:15
Before you go any further, could you please pop into the Welcome area and introduce yourself to our community, telling us your real first name, basic geographical location, system details and music tastes?

Done !


Dunno really what this guys opinion is worth but one cant say he isn't taking it all very seriously.

http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html

True: this is really a good article...

goraman
18-09-2011, 17:40
I have used SA grade long before MR grade existed, the only problem with Clarity Caps is they can be a little dark in the upper ranges,If you have a bright tweeter it will tame it down some. A good choice for the Mission 762i with the 1 inch Vifa soft dome.
I found a better cap for tweeters,they have less roll off in the upper end. http://www.parts-express.com/wizards/searchResults.cfm?srchExt=MFG&srchMfg=261