Do stiffening capacitors really help even out the the power output on subs?
 

I bought a 0.5 MicroFarad stiffening cap. I knwo the norm is usally 1.0 MicroFarad for up to 1000 watts but I'm only running 400 watts so 0.5 should do.

Thing is, is it really worth the effort if one usually only plays rock and metal?

Holy CRAP Holy CRAP Holy CRAP

I just installed it.

From flubbery to bone crushing frame bending THUMP!!!

Yes they will help!

it just goes to show how much energy is wasted transmitting the negative voltage across the aluminum frame and the positive volatage across cobber braid.

Caps don't "even" out power.

What CAPS do is store power so that when the amp requires more power than what the battery could provide it'll be there... Think of a CAP is an almost instantly rechargeable battery.

However, .5 is worthless. I highly doubt your amps could exceed what the battery puts out. Get atleast 1 Farad and higher..

I have a 750watt (@2ohm) Fosgate (power series) amp pushing a Kicker L7 12" Solobaric speaker (square one) without a cap. I do however have a second battery (deep cycle) wired up in the car to make sure there is more than enough power flowing.

I forgot to mention people can hear me from blocks away if i decide to push the shit ;)

yea it works. helps with the dimming of the lights also. acts like a little 'mini battery'

That's one of the main reasons I got it. Has not been dark yet today so I don;t know what effect it has on light dimming but by watching the voltage on the battery I would guess no dimming will happen at all. it NEVER drops bellow 11.98 volts now.

NotJoe: 0.5MF is a lot. In fact.. it's enough to kill you should you become it's path. for a 500 watt amp 0.5 is the reccomended. It's a half MF for every 500 watts or so they say and yes, surprisingly, that 500 watt amp pulls enough to wreak havock on the electrical system. Headlights would drop half brightness when pushed to the limit. It doesn't help that I just have the stock factory alternator and voltage regulator either mind you.

Hopefully this will put less stress on the alternator. There is a huge difference in performance from the amp right now. I was immediately shocked at the difference. At 3/4 volume things used to get flubbery. Now it's tight right to full volume. Little distortion mind you but nobody would notice it. Now I just need to replace my sub. It's a 10" Jenson that ahs it's cone cover ripped off. So air shoots out the magnet structure in the front where the vent hole is on it. The cover was vibrating when I first got it ($10 off ebay.. prolly the cover rattle was why) so I ripped it off. I have been looking at the Infinity speakers but wondering if they are as sensitive as the Jenson. They seem to have a LOT less travel to them.

heh, I found a 30 MF digital cap one day through google. who the fuck would need that much juice? You could run it as a car battery for cripe sakes.