Posted by muman [ 12.73.207.47 ] on May 15, 2005 at 19:46:52:
In Reply to: Re: Do whatever you want. posted by manualblock on May 15, 2005 at 07:06:32:
Not much more to say, IMO. Variable caps were made for radio tuners, and worked with relatively low voltage, high frequency signals. They are not used anymore --- good radios use digital tuners instead. They do have all the other capacitor types though, and they don't drift.
The air between plates of tuner capacitors will become ozone and arcing may occur unless voltage remains low. Dust and other particulates can (will) get in between the plates and collect on them. These caps were never meant for audio. It takes a leap of faith to say they will do anything good for audio, and a lot of gumption to say they have a neutral sonic signature. I guess that is one man's opinion, but I don't see any references to support it. No legititmate studies have been done, no manufacturers have come forth with a premium audio capacitor using air as a dielectric.
I could see a premium cap made with a vacuum dielectric. That might be good. I'm skeptical that scavenging old radio tuners is good for audio circuits though. On the other hand, there has been universal acceptance of other types of caps for audio such as polys, papers, etc.
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