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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
theaudiotweak
2,801 posts
 
Roger

I use some standard Duelund resistors in my power amps, units you are familar with. They did make for a nice upgrade from the previous Norh Creeks. I recently treated the Duelunds in the amp with Cascade also the transformers and the rest of the small parts with AVM. I did all these treatments at the same time. These are the only noise reduction compounds that actually increase fidelity without the resolution destruction of the so called damping methods.Tom
irish65
170 posts
 
Volleyguy,

Not being evasive at all. This was your question.

"Irish65 is there much difference in the Duelund line? Should one use Silver for the mids and highs or just the highs. Any advice?"

And my answer was.

"This will depend on your listening preference and your drivers. I use it throughout the crossover, internal speaker wiring, and speaker cables for all the drivers".

I cannot answer your question regarding the copper Duelund wire as I never compared it with the Silver. I did try other copper wire and for my taste I preferred the 2.0 silver ribbon.

I can give you many reasons why I chose the 2.0 silver ribbon but that is my opinion. You have tried the Duelund products and know everytime you went up the line the sonics were better. That being the case spend a few hundred bucks and try it for yourself and know with certainty what you like best.

Regarding resonance and your concerns with the 2.0 cable there are high dollar speakers using this cable with no problems.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Here is a link to the manufacturers who use Duelund products. Some use only the capacitors and resistors. Others use both the caps and resistors as well as the wire. I also am curious, for those who use the wire, particularly in internal cross-overs, how they route the wires and what they might use for dampening the wire from the drivers to the cross-overs.

http://www.duelundaudio.com/References.asp

volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Irish

I do not mean it negative on being evasive. You must have some feeling as to what you like/disliked over the other copper wire. Yes I really like Duelund products but also do like the VSF line. It is true though that CAST goes the extra mile on high pressure dampening and then you run a foil wire with no dampening. I mean a case for logic could be made for the solid copper on that basis alone. I am not saying it better is as I have not heard either Silver wire yet.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Irish

You are right at this point what is a couple of hundred more? I am just going to have to find out which wire. Duelund has always been correct so far so likely are on silver.

So far it is a slam dunk no brainer on new wire. It was something I thought about in the future for an amp. The future is going to happen much sooner.
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