Best Crossover Capacitors (2024)

I know this post likely has no answer and has been extensively debated before, but what are some of the best capacitor brands for the entry level metalized polypropylene caps?

I have used Audyn and Jantzen a lot from parts express and have liked the sound of the Audyns best. I am preparing to order caps for some KLH Model 5's and was thinking of trying the Mundorf MKP's from Parts Connexion but they cost $50 or more than the Audyns and just not sure if it is worth it? Is there any way to know what caps would be best to choose or is it just based on a best guess when choosing which to buy?

I'd suggest reading the Humble Homemade HiFi Cap Test. Author Tony Gee does a good job of describing the audible differences between various brands of capacitors. In my personal experience, the test results are spot-on with what I've also heard.

I try and base cap purchases on the value of the speakers, balanced with what I'm hoping the new caps will contribute to the quality of the speakers. Of the brands I've tried, I like Mundorf. Their EVO Oil caps are very good to me.

Brad1234 said:

I know this post likely has no answer and has been extensively debated before

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If you already understand this^^^…..?

But…..best? Look into copper foil. Such as Audyn True Copper. You won’t find them in high uf values, so you will have to parallel multiples to get the higher values, which is ok.

i don't do high end capacitors myself. no doubt they make a difference but i've used solen,audyn,jantzen,and dayton in my designs. my worn out ears can't really tell a difference. i don't go for bottom of the barrel but i don't go nuts.

inductors are expensive enough and there's no getting around that cost so i will save what i can in caps.

painttoad said:

i don't do high end capacitors myself. no doubt they make a difference but i've used solen,audyn,jantzen,and dayton in my designs. my worn out ears can't really tell a difference. i don't go for bottom of the barrel but i don't go nuts.

inductors are expensive enough and there's no getting around that cost so i will save what i can in caps.

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If your ears can tell the difference between bottom of the barrel and Dayton poly caps, then they ought to be able to tell the difference between Dayton poly and copper foil or some other exotic cap. Right?

z-adamson said:

If your ears can tell the difference between bottom of the barrel and Dayton poly caps, then they ought to be able to tell the difference between Dayton poly and copper foil or some other exotic cap. Right?

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StimpyWan said:

I'd suggest reading the Humble Homemade HiFi Cap Test. Author Tony Gee does a good job of describing the audible differences between various brands of capacitors. In my personal experience, the test results are spot-on with what I've also heard.

I try and base cap purchases on the value of the speakers, balanced with what I'm hoping the new caps will contribute to the quality of the speakers. Of the brands I've tried, I like Mundorf. Their EVO Oil caps are very good to me.

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Thanks Stampywan, I have seen that cap comparison site referenced before but hadn't read thru it yet. Surprisingly, the site actually makes a direct comparison between the 2 caps I am trying to decide between! Audyns vs Mundorfs.

z-adamson said:

If you already understand this^^^…..?

But…..best? Look into copper foil. Such as Audyn True Copper. You won’t find them in high uf values, so you will have to parallel multiples to get the higher values, which is ok.

Click to expand...

I shouldn't have used the word "best" since I am only looking at the entry level metal PP caps, they go up exponentially in cost for the better caps and I can't afford to spend $500-$1000 on just caps.

Twinsig said:

FWIW Brad i installed some mundorf evo oil caps in pair of wharfedale w-45s. Cost was about $50/speaker due to having to parallel 2 to meet exact spec.
View attachment 2737581
They previously had Jantzen, the black ones, and although I had to fight some observational bias the mundorfs were a noticeable improvement. But the W-45s are also speakers I'll never sell so I didn't worry about the ROI. I was already in-the-hole anyway due needing both mid drivers.

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Thanks Twinsig! The KLH Model 5's have an extremely complicated crossover with 6 different capacitors needed, with stacking values in parallel to reach the right uF's for each, any Mundorf cap higher than the MKP will be a fortune to get all of the caps I would need. The Mundorf MKP's will be about 50-100 more than the Audyns I used in my last Model 5 recap(see pic), and they sound pretty awesome, but was just considering a different brand with this second pair just to see if there is a noticeable difference, and I hear a lot about the Mundorfs being some of the best caps.

Brad1234 said:

I shouldn't have used the word "best" since I am only looking at the entry level metal PP caps, they go up exponentially in cost for the better caps and I can't afford to spend $500-$1000 on just caps.

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If you are looking at Janzen cross cap, dayton, audyn q4 Munforf mkp and the like, then you are a LONG ways from the best.

The best you can do without spending big is, in my opinion the "Cornell Dubilier SF Polypropylene in Oil 370VAC - 10% tolerance".

The guy on humble homemade hifi talks about them.

I use them, and here is a thread on them...My new favorite crossover caps. Best bang-for-buck! | Audiokarma Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

Young46 said:

Hmmm. I wonder if a Dayton cap was wrapped in one of the “best” caps jacket could one hear the difference. Just wondering.

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Hear the difference between what and what?

A dayton cap wrapped up as an Audyn true copper and a real Audyn True Copper?

z-adamson said:

Hear the difference between what and what?

A dayton cap wrapped up as an Audyn true copper and a real Audyn True Copper?

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Yeah

Young46 said:

Yeah

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Depends on the speaker. The more resolving the speaker, the greater the difference in sound.

z-adamson said:

Depends on the speaker. The more resolving the speaker, the greater the difference in sound.

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I know it would never happen but I would like to see it proven. Me, I think expensive capacitors are just that. Expensive. I don’t believe for the majority that a $500.00 cap is going to sound better than a $4.00 (they may be more now) Dayton.

Young46 said:

I know it would never happen but I would like to see it proven. Me, I think expensive capacitors are just that. Expensive. I don’t believe for the majority that a $500.00 cap is going to sound better than a $4.00 (they may be more now) Dayton.

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I also think the type of music and how it was recorded makes a difference.

A live string quartet recorded with only two mic's vs. my old Led Zeppelin II CD for example.

I also agree that better equipment, including speakers, has more potential for revealing differences.

Young46 said:

Hmmm. I wonder if a Dayton cap was wrapped in one of the “best” caps jacket could one hear the difference. Just wondering.

Click to expand...

Young46 said:

I know it would never happen but I would like to see it proven. Me, I think expensive capacitors are just that. Expensive. I don’t believe for the majority that a $500.00 cap is going to sound better than a $4.00 (they may be more now) Dayton.

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I A/B compare all of my recapped speakers, to the other stock speaker, prior to it's recap. As such, I've proven to my own satisfaction that capacitor brands and types can and do sound different to one another. For me, that's enough. Other's have to draw their own conclusions, by testing the speakers they own against one another. If they hear a difference, great. If not, that's also acceptable. Their experiences, are there's, the same as mine, are my own. I'm not going to refute another's experiences, as less valid, as that's simply untrue.