2wq filters: what do you recommend?

Forget the X-2. In a word they "suck". DIY X-2 clones using a very high quality cap are vastly better. I like the DynamiCap. The only problem with the DynamiCap is that the .01uf cap is really more like .013uf. That can throw off the high pass point by quite a margin if you need, say two of them, for a .02uf filter for an 80Hz high pass into 100K.You now have a .026uf filter which will give you a high pass point of 61Hz into that same 100K. You might look into the Cardas caps or many others that sound very good.

The M5 is a great way to go but somewhat costly. The M5 is swithable for impedance like the WX-2 and uses much higher quality InfiniCaps which have a bias current placed on them via a 12v battery. I have never listened to them in my own system. Someone that I trust seems to think that this is the way to go if you want the very best sound with Vandy subs.

I have to say that the DynamiCap filter I am using is very hard to detect.

Very interesting. I have a pair of 2wq's and am currently using a pair of X-2's - 50khz. Could you explain to me how to make a better pair?? What caps would I need??

thanks,
harry

Harry,

Get your hands on the best sounding .04uf caps(The caps need to be matched and as close to that exact value as they can for a 79.5Hz filter. You might want to measure the value of the X-2's you have and try to duplicate that value, it should be .04uf but all of the X-2's I have measured were way out of spec. This way is won't change the bass balance.) Get some M&F RCA's. Solder the caps on the hot side and a wire for ground. Sit back and prepare to enjoy a pair of filters that will put a grin on your face.

After word your X-2's will be for sale.

In my post above I said 50khz....I meant 50kohm which is the input impedence of my Innersound monoblocks. My current filters are 50k.

I'm not too fine with electronics...although I can solder ok. How do I test the value of my current X-2s. Also, what are the "best sounding" 0.4uf caps. any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated!!!

Harry

Harry,

If you have a multi meter, many of them have a setting for measuring capacitance.

You will have to add values to get as close to the "ideal" value of .03975uf, which @50K=80Hz. .039uf is 81.54Hz @ 50K.

I like the DynamiCap best of what I have tried so far, which has been the AuriCap(which everyone loves but I find somewhat dry and subtractive sounding but KILL the crap in the X-2! AuriCaps do come in some odd small values from Pearcy but not from Parts Connexion) and also the InfiniCap which has been replaced by the DynamiCap.

Teflon caps like the RelCap TFT Exotica or Chris VenHaus's V Cap

http://www.v-cap.com/

are said to be wonderful but the cost is way out there! You would need a total of eight .01uf caps for a total of $223.92 even at the 5-24 peice discount rate! I would love to try them, but. I would also like to try the Cardas caps.

DynamiCaps are very fragile! Do not get them too hot when soldering. You can take advantage of the fact that the .01uf is really more like a .013uf(I have confirmed this and Michael Percy lists them on his site as .013's)and add three together for each side to get as close to a .04uf value as you can with the likelyhood of them being fractions over .039 when three are added up(get them matched and tell them that they are for a filter when you buy them so they understand that the value is critical, you don't want to be 20% off like the X-2 can be, that's why I suggest you find out what they really measure at.) They don't have to look pretty if you can't do that they just have to sound good and not short out. You need to reinforce them if you have real heavy IC's that will pull on them.