By using the GreenForce™ power supply, Backert Labs eliminates aluminum electrolytic capacitors – those black and grey cans that stand up on many circuit boards – from the audio-producing power supply.
Why does this matter?
- Electrolytic capacitors don’t sound especially good: when used in audio power supplies they produce compressed, overly warm sound that lacks dynamics
- All electrolytics gradually fail, losing their capacitance over time, so that after 10 years (often longer) it can be desirable to “recap” units that use them in the audio power supply.
The film capacitors that we use in our GreenForce power supply do not have these problems.
What are the benefits of eliminating the troublesome electrolytic capacitor?
- Serious clarity. No more of the congestion, bass bloat, or “damped down” sound that electrolytic capacitors are known for.
- Improved linearity / accuracy.
- More accurate dynamics.
- Improved timing.
- A more environmentally-friendly audio component.
- A more reliable and longer-lasting audio component.
Electrolytic capacitors are cheap. A typical one costs less than $3. Higher quality ones can be $5. Because they are cheap and provide tons of capacitance in a small size, electrolytic caps are used by nearly all manufacturers of active components. But Backert Labs preamps use film capacitors in every position that handles the music signal. In most of our proucts, this means the power supply is powered only by polypropylene caps. In the Rhythm preamp, we go further and use fluoropolymer capacitors for the power supply (the material that is used in no-stick saucepans).