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Capacitor log Mundorf Silver in Oil

I wished I could find a log with information on caps. I have found many saying tremendous improvement etc. but not a detailed account of what the changes have been. I have had the same speakers for many years so am very familiar with them. (25+ years) The speakers are a set of Klipsch Lascala's. They have Alnico magnets in the mids and ceramic woofers and tweeters. The front end is Linn LP12 and Linn pre amp and amp. The speaker wire is 12 gauge and new wire.

I LOVE these speakers around 1 year ago they started to sound like garbage. As many have said they are VERY sensitive to the components before them. They are also showing what I think is the effect of worn out caps.

There are many out here on these boards I know of that are using the Klipsch (heritage) with cheaper Japanese electronics because the speakers are cheap! (for what they can do) One thing I would recommend is give these speakers the best quality musical sources you can afford. There is a LOT to get out of these speakers. My other speakers are Linn speakers at around 4k new with Linn tri-wire (I think about 1k for that) and the Klipsch DESTROY them in my mind. If you like "live feel" there is nothing like them. In fact it shocks me how little speakers have improved in 30 years (or 60 years in the Khorns instance)

In fact I question Linn's theory (that they have proved many times) that the source is the most important in the Hi-Fi chain. Linn's theory is top notch source with lessor rest of gear including speakers trumps expensive speakers with lessor source. I think is right if all things are equal but Klipsch heritage are NOT equal! They make a sound and feel that most either LOVE or hate. (I am in the LOVE camp and other speakers are boring to me)

So here goes and I hope this helps guys looking at caps in the future. Keep in mind Klipsch (heritage Khorns Belle's and Lascala's especially) are likely to show the effects of crossover changes more then most.

1 The caps are 30 years old and
2 the speakers being horn driven make changes 10x times more apparent.

Someone once told me find speakers and components you like THEN start to tweak if needed. Don't tweak something you not in love with. Makes sense to me.

So sound
Record is Let it Be (Beatles)
The voices are hard almost sounds like a worn out stylus.
Treble is very hard. I Me Mine has hard sounding guitars. Symbals sound awful. Everything has a digital vs. analog comparison x50! Paul's voice not as bad as John's and George's. Voices will crack.

different lp
Trumpets sound awful. Tambourine terrible. Bass is not great seems shy (compared to normal) but the bad caps draw soooooo much attention to the broken up mid range and hard highs that are not bright if anything it seems the highs are not working up to snuff. I have went many times to speaker to make sure tweeters are even working.

All in all they sound like crap except these Klipsch have such fantastic dynamics that even when not right they are exciting!

Makes me wonder about the people who do not like them if they are hearing worn out caps and cheap electronics? Then I can see why they do not like them! If I did not know better from 25+ years of ownership that would make sense.

For the new crossover I have chosen Mundorf Silver in Oil from what I have read and can afford. I want a warm not overly detailed sound as Klipsch already has lots of detail and does not need to be "livened up" they need lush smooth sounding caps. Hope I have made the right choice?

When the crossover is in I will do a initial impression on same lp's. Right now it goes from really bad (on what may be worn vinyl) to not as bad but NOT great on great vinyl. (I know the quality of the vinyl because tested on other speakers Linn)

The new caps are Mundorf Silver in Oil and new copper foil inductors are coming. I will at the same time be rewiring the speakers to 12 guage from the lamp cord that PWK put in. PWK was a master at getting very good sound often with crap by today's standards components.

The choice of speakers would be a toss up now depending on what I am listening to. Klipsch vastly more dynamic but if the breaking up of the sound becomes to much to effect enjoyment the Linn would be a better choice on that Lp. If I could I would switch a button back and forth between speakers depending on song and how bad the break-up sound was bothering me.

volleyguy
danmyers
135 posts
 
Volley, as I said earlier, I do not listen to LPs anymore. But here are my observations on CDs as a source.

First, you need a good player for standard (redbook) CD playback. There are many out there, but it does make a difference. As a direct example, I have a cheap Sony CD/SACD player for SACD and I also have a Musical Fidelity 3DCD for redbook. When I first bought the Sony, redbook sounded flat and lifeless. It was not enjoyable to listen to any CDs. SACD sounded liquid and engaging - analog like if you will. Something was clearly wrong so I sent the Sony off for audiophile upgrades. When it came back, SACD still sounded great, but the biggest change was redbook now sounded almost as good as my MF 3D CDP. Right there, was a world of difference between CDP players that no change in source CDs could negate. So first you have to find a good/great disc player. There are lots out there, but I don't recall Linn being one of them.

Next, as we've just discussed, there are differences in source material. Buy some CD and SACDs that you know are good and use them as your reference source material. Now you can compare the sound of CD/SACD to LP.

One word of caution is that SACD is pretty much dying. Still lots of Jazz and Classical material available. So I while it clearly sounds better, I wouldn't spend to much more for it and focus on the redbook sound. My experience may not be universal, but it's harder to find a great sounding redbook than SACD CDP.
danmyers
135 posts
 
Volley, as I said earlier, I do not listen to LPs anymore. But here are my observations on CDs as a source.

First, you need a good player for standard (redbook) CD playback. There are many out there, but it does make a difference. As a direct example, I have a cheap Sony CD/SACD player for SACD and I also have a Musical Fidelity 3DCD for redbook. When I first bought the Sony, redbook sounded flat and lifeless. It was not enjoyable to listen to any CDs. SACD sounded liquid and engaging - analog like if you will. Something was clearly wrong so I sent the Sony off for audiophile upgrades. When it came back, SACD still sounded great, but the biggest change was redbook now sounded almost as good as my MF 3D CDP. Right there, was a world of difference between CDP players that no change in source CDs could negate. So first you have to find a good/great disc player. There are lots out there, but I don't recall Linn being one of them.

Next, as we've just discussed, there are differences in source material. Buy some CD and SACDs that you know are good and use them as your reference source material. Now you can compare the sound of CD/SACD to LP.

One word of caution is that SACD is pretty much dying. Still lots of Jazz and Classical material available. So I while it clearly sounds better, I wouldn't spend to much more for it and focus on the redbook sound. My experience may not be universal, but it's harder to find a great sounding redbook than SACD CDP.
danmyers
135 posts
 
Looks like your guy Aurthor S. recommends the Krell Standard SACD Player which can be found for about $2K used.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Sorry Dan slow reply.

Thanks I have gained some appreciation for digital. It's long lasting and how these caps have revealed so much of my vinyl to be in poor shape. (wayyy more than I could imagine)

The local used record store was thrilled when I brought the vinyl in. They are asking $50 for many of the pieces yet there was clearly wear there. Many of those pieces looked almost new.

Digital is in huge supply and very cheap. (redbook)

Before I did this crossover rebuild I did not like digital at all. (at least mine?)

After a few months with the Duelund's I do not know if one could go back? Before I wire them in for final I am going to put the originals in just hear. I already know I am going to think how could I have listen to that!
stormen
30 posts
 
Humblehomemadehifi tested the CAST:

http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html
Sound: The CAST capacitor has all the same characteristics as the VSF but with added top-end clarity and together with that, more spatiality. They are (like the VSF) super natural, smooth, clear and open. The tonal balance is extremely neutral, especially audible with good recordings of acoustic instruments and the human voice, so maily with classical music. Like the VSF the separation of the individual instruments is very good and in an orchestra, the string section is a group of individuals rather than just a group. Soprano's have clarity without becoming hard to the ear, wind instruments (especailly the copper section) have that nice "metal" edge without becoming rough. Where in the past you had to choose between a Mundorf Silver/Gold/Oil (very good depth and imaging) or a Duelund VSF (very neutral presentation) you can now have the best of both worlds in the form of the Duelund CAST-Cu. I did find they needed a couple of weeks use to fully come to bloom, so give a chance to burn-in. My current reference!
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