Can my 914 run on a 14v battery?, Will it tolerate it? Options

[Rod]

I'm into my hi end car audio and I have a 14v agm battery - would I be able to use this in the 914?

[Mike Bellis]

The theory behind the "stiffening Cap" is not about added power or voltage. It works because the Capacitor can charge and discharge faster than the car battery. A car battery is made to discharge a massive amount of current to start a car. This massive current is actually slow compared to an amplifier power supply. The electron speed (coulombs) from a car battery is slower than an amplifier consumes current just before clipping. The Stiffening Capacitor can charge and discharge at the same rate as the amplifier power supply. Most people and systems will never see the benefit of the capacitor as most systems are not played contiouously at clipping levels. Although when alternators do not have enough capacity or when power cables are long distance from the battery, they can have some noticeable effect. If your amplifier has a superior power supply the Capacitor willl also have less noticeable effect.

I am a former IASCA judge (International Auto Sound Challenge Association). It has been my experience that most Americans are not true Audiophiles. Most of us want loud bass so that our neighbors a mile away can hear it. boom boom boom. The equipment Rod is running is far superior to what most people use (and more expensive)

I agree with Rod about noise. If it installed correctly the first time you will not have noise. You also need to use quality equipment from a major brand. However, most mid to high quality equipment can benefit from a stiffening cap since most do not have superior internal power supplies.