Better to have one capacitor or many for running a mini-dac from an SLA battery ?

[Spiug31]

I am thinking of getting a battery power supply made up so I can run my mini-dac from it. I have read that adding a capacitor to the cable between battery and device has a beneficial effect (provides a fast response time when power demand rapidly increases).

I would like to know in the particular case of a mini-dac whether using just one capacitor in line or using a bank of them is likely to yeild the greatest benefit.


The mini-dac requires 6-14V, 5W, 1.25A and I am planning to run it off this 12V 12AH SLA battery.
http://www.ultracell.co.uk/UL%2012-12.pdf


---edit---
Is using caps the prefered way to achieve this or is there a better sounding alternative ?

 

[kipman725]

IF the DAC already has filter capacitors internaly then there will be no point to that capacitor, if the DAC has all the filtering and rectification taking place in the wall power supply then its recomended. As for two or one... whichever has the larger total capacity.

 

[ericj]

The only real argument for more than one is speed.

A 1uf tantalum is a bunch faster than a 470uf electrolytic, even though it doesn't have much to offer.

 

[mono]

A small cap may help reduce cable noise pickup some, but given the current of this DAC (seems high at 1.25A?) you might put a couple thousands uF cap(s) on it, but it's going to be a case of diminshing return past the first few hundred uF, and it would be better to put them closer to DAC than battery.

 

[HIPPOhifi]

More capacitors totalling the same capacitance as a single capacitor, of a similar quality is much better. Becuase the capacitors would be in parellel, the rate of charge is incrased significantly. FTake a look at the folllowing link: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/capacit.htm

The problem is usually that board space accomodates better using a single capacitor.

We use this design as an option in our upgraded Bloat and the sonic differences are noticeable.

cheers,
Brent

 

[Spiug31]

Thankyou for your replies, I found them most helpful.
I have asked HippoHifi to put a cable together for me with 10 parallel mounted 100uF Blackgate 16 or 25 volt FK/100's .