K

Keith1964

Audioholic Intern
Does capacitor size have much to do with amp power? I have a 2008 Sony STR-DA5400ES AV receiver, it's main power caps are only 6,800mf each, and the AV receiver is rated at 120 watts. I also own a 2004 Pioneer Elite VSX-55txi AV receiver, it's main power caps are 22,000mf each, and it's transformer is about 25% bigger than the Sony's, the Pioneer is rated at 100 watts and does sound way more powerful than the Sony.
 
S

stalag2005

Full Audioholic
Caps need to be rated for the voltage and current they will see. Usually uprating components requires significant other changes to make the circuit survive.
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
Does capacitor size have much to do with amp power? I have a 2008 Sony STR-DA5400ES AV receiver, it's main power caps are only 6,800mf each, and the AV receiver is rated at 120 watts. I also own a 2004 Pioneer Elite VSX-55txi AV receiver, it's main power caps are 22,000mf each, and it's transformer is about 25% bigger than the Sony's, the Pioneer is rated at 100 watts and does sound way more powerful than the Sony.
The limiting factor for power output will be the amp power supply voltage rails. You can't generate more power output than input.

The caps are simply there to Filter the AC ripple after the AC is rectified to (non-perfect) DC, and provide some power storage. This is why the power supply caps are often called Filter Caps.

In general, the rule of thumb for a DIY amp builder is to have 10,000uF of capacitance for every 100W continuous power. And, 10,000uF/100W can be considered as a generous amount of capacitance.
 
slipperybidness

slipperybidness

Audioholic Warlord
Does capacitor size have much to do with amp power? I have a 2008 Sony STR-DA5400ES AV receiver, it's main power caps are only 6,800mf each, and the AV receiver is rated at 120 watts. I also own a 2004 Pioneer Elite VSX-55txi AV receiver, it's main power caps are 22,000mf each, and it's transformer is about 25% bigger than the Sony's, the Pioneer is rated at 100 watts and does sound way more powerful than the Sony.
By the way, I highly doubt your caps are mF (milli-Farad), almost certainly uF (micro Farad)
 
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