Capacitors have many different types depending on the dielectric used, such as electrolytic capacitors, paper capacitors, film capacitor, ceramic capacitors, mica capacitors, air capacitors, etc. However, the most commonly used in audio equipment are electrolytic capacitors and capacitor films. Electrolytic capacitors are mostly used in places where a large capacitance is required, such as filtering capacitors in the main power supply section, which not only filters but also stores energy. Capacitor film, on the other hand, are widely used in analog signal interconnection, bypassing (anti-interconnection) of power supply noise, and other places.
Classification of capacitor films
Capacitor films are capacitors with a construction that uses a metal foil as an electrode, which is overlapped with plastic films such as polyester, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polycarbonate and then wound into a cylindrical shape. Depending on the type of plastic film used, they are respectively called polyester capacitors (also known as Mylar capacitors), polypropylene capacitors (also known as PP capacitors), polystyrene capacitors (also known as PS capacitors), and polycarbonate capacitors.
Basic characteristics of capacitor films
Due to many excellent characteristics, capacitor films are considered to be capacitors with outstanding performance. Their main characteristics are as follows: non-polarized, high insulation impedance, excellent frequency response (broad frequency response), and very low dielectric loss. Based on these advantages, capacitor films are widely used in analog circuits. Especially in signal interconnection parts, capacitors with good frequency characteristics and extremely low dielectric loss must be used to ensure that the signal is transmitted without significant distortion.
The structure of capacitor films is the same as that of paper capacitors, with the dielectric being polyester or polystyrene. Polyester capacitor films have a higher dielectric constant, smaller size, larger capacitance, and better stability, making them suitable for bypass capacitors. Polystyrene capacitor films have low dielectric losses and high insulation resistance, but they have a large temperature coefficient and are suitable for high-frequency circuits.
As an experienced capacitor film manufacturer, SAIFU provides high quality capacitor films. Among all plastic capacitor films, polypropylene (PP) capacitors and polystyrene (PS) capacitors have the most significant characteristics, and of course, the prices of these two capacitors are relatively high. However, in recent years, in order to improve the sound quality, audio equipment manufacturers have been using higher-grade components, and price is not the most important consideration factor. Therefore, the use of PP capacitors and PS capacitors in audio equipment has also increased. It is common to see certain brands of equipment that claim to use a certain brand of PP capacitors or PS capacitors as an endorsement of their sound quality. This is the reason why.