what does a capacitor do in car audio?

danb

Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
101
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Depends upon the size and location of the capacitor.

On the power input to the radio, large uf capacitors filter out annoying noise and power spikes that can work its way into the amplifier. Upper end radios don't have that much of a problem as they have better filtering.

In the olden days of vacuum tube amplifiers, across speaker terminals, small uf capacitors boost the bass by shunting some of the high frequencies around the speaker. Don't do it in today's amplifiers. You could cause ultrasonic oscillations in the output stages of the amplifer - destroying the amp.
 
Stores power..when there is lots of heavy bass, without a capacitor your amplifier will be robbed of power by parts like your lights, engine, and air conditioning
 
Back
Top