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Bypassing big electrolytic de-coupling caps

Is the practice of bypassing big electrolytic caps (de-couplers) a waste of time, or does it have a legitimate benefit? I recently read a post on another board (and I quote) that bypassing big electrolytic caps with small film caps are as useful as “tits on a bull”.

I have 30 (yes thirty) big electrolytic caps in my phono stage. I am thinking of bypassing them all with small(ish) film caps.

Also I am wondering that if bypassing big electrolytics is beneficial, would using inexpensive polypropylenes give close to the same benefit as more expensive film caps?

Lastly, can somebody recommend an inexpensive and physically small cap. I would like to place the bypass under the circuit board to retail a neat appearance. There is about a ¼ inch gap between the circuit board and the bottom plate.

Thanks
Paul
pauly

Showing 2 responses by rwwear

rwwear
2,847 posts
 
An improvement in sound would depend on the application of the capacitor. If the electrolytics are for the power supply there would not really be a need for bypassing them.
rwwear
2,847 posts
 
While it may be true that power supply capacitors are continually charged and discharged there is no audio going through them. Their ability to hold a large charge is much more important than their sound quality. A crossover is very different in this regard as the audio signal runs through them. Electrolytics are the best type of capacitor for power supply applications.
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