JL Stealthbox - Wow!! and side question, do I need a cap?
#11
07-16-2009, 10:31 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wyoming
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Cap use depends very heavily on type of music being listened to. If you do 30hz tones all day long, it won't matter you'll burn your alternator anyway 
Larger vehicles, i.e. our trucks, have larger alternators thus needing less "support" power. When I did SPL comp vehicles, small cars always needed caps if you didn't upgrade the alternator. I don't care how good the amps are, they can't hold caps big enough to be used for heavy SPL use.
I've always had at least 1000+ rms sub amps running dual 12" L7's or quad 12" Comps, they need a 1farad cap no questions asked. Funny thing, my jazz uses the cap more heavily than the very little rap/r&b I listen to.
If you have a single 10 or even most 12's you probably won't need one. The best way to make an amp work better is to use larger wire. If the amp says to use 8, use 4, if it says to use 4 use 2, etc. That can have a better impact than a cap for smaller systems.
Also due to the more consistant power delivery, caps can improve SQ when you really crank it. If an amp is starved for power it will snap, crackle, and pop! So use them on your whole system, not just the sub amp, if you listen loud!
Larger vehicles, i.e. our trucks, have larger alternators thus needing less "support" power. When I did SPL comp vehicles, small cars always needed caps if you didn't upgrade the alternator. I don't care how good the amps are, they can't hold caps big enough to be used for heavy SPL use.
I've always had at least 1000+ rms sub amps running dual 12" L7's or quad 12" Comps, they need a 1farad cap no questions asked. Funny thing, my jazz uses the cap more heavily than the very little rap/r&b I listen to.
If you have a single 10 or even most 12's you probably won't need one. The best way to make an amp work better is to use larger wire. If the amp says to use 8, use 4, if it says to use 4 use 2, etc. That can have a better impact than a cap for smaller systems.
Also due to the more consistant power delivery, caps can improve SQ when you really crank it. If an amp is starved for power it will snap, crackle, and pop! So use them on your whole system, not just the sub amp, if you listen loud!
