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Makes no audible difference....

Posted by Thomas Martens on January 11, 2007 at 08:06:14

In Reply to: Caps and bypassing....please indulge a novice... posted by Gordy on January 10, 2007 at 13:48:49:

whatever 90% of the time when bypassing cathode bypass electrolytics,
and bypassing power supply filter caps seldom makes much real difference either. I've tried this MANY times with various circuits.
Yes-yes I know all of the theory/reasoning behind doing this
practice, but frankly I almost always ended up desoldering and
removing most if not all such bypass caps because after extensive
A-B testing between bypassed and unbypassed identical channels. I
usually heard zero difference --and so why waste good parts?

If you want to try this, I strongly suggest you modify one
channel at a time, then put on a good mono recording and
switch back and forth between the modded and unmodded sides.
If your amp has L&R common power supply filter caps, then obviously
you will have to rely on memory when experimenting with bypassing
these filter caps to see if you can discern a difference.

Coupling caps, however, can often sound quite different if you
parallel them with other units. Make sure, however, the difference
is due to the different part itself, and not just by the fact
that you have increased the coupling capacitance. I have tried
this many times: variously combining PIO caps, silver micas,
all sorts of poly film and foil types, etc. I always ended up
with just a single unparalelled cap int the end, however.
The only exception has been when I have bypassed electrolytic
type coupling caps in solid state equipment. This DOES seem to
make a noticable positive difference often.

I'm sure many people will strongly disagree with my above observa-
tions, but --oh well, I'm pretty used to that.

Cheers,

-T.M.

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