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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
2,796 posts
 
Duelund Gents,

Will the natural Q factor of a inductor be reduced with doping such as the material you apply to your product? Is the mechanical Q the resonant energy curve of the device and would doping serve to flatten and broaden this curve? Asking about the use of inductors in a loudspeaker not a rf device. Thanks Tom
face
516 posts
 
Just because it's a parallel circuit does not mean it's out of the signal path.
duelund_coherent_audio
110 posts
 
Audiotweak,

It's an interesting question. Steen's ideas were based upon the assumption that mechanical control would result in electrical ditto - which would lead to assume that the Q factor would be influenced. I have been unable to find clear conclusions towards this in his written work that I have access to.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Face

I agree but have been led to believe it is not as important. (why I did not change the inductor before) Does that mean can not hear it or just not as critical?

I guess I will find out.

I have to admit I am very curious.

I have some friends just laughing at the idea of Silver wire coated in Silk wrapped in cotton(which I am excited about) and being able to hear the difference big time. They just laugh! Oddly enough the same friend after hearing my system said "it does not even sound like a stereo" spent many a nights up to 2-4am looking (and bought) (I would get the 4am e-mails) the same gear. He drove up 10 hours each way to the U.S. to get it as well. I told him not the gear but the parts.

I do not think he fully can wrap his head around that though that it is the parts. He really struggles with the idea that 2k (used for sure) for the speakers and 4k for parts after.
reynolds853
385 posts
 
Gentlemen,

For my crossover one of the required capacitor values is 15micF, which is an available value in a single Clarity MR.

However, I came across a website (reference and excerpt below) in which the author said that for values above 10micF it is better to use several smaller value capacitors rather than a single large value capacitor.

I was wondering if you would please comment on this?

As always, thanks for your help,

John

Reference: http://audio.calsci.com/X-Overs2b.html

10th & 11th paragraphs:

"Whenever you need a capacitor over about 10µF, it's best to build up the capacitor from several smaller capacitors...

"The reason for adding up many small capacitors is that the capacitors have inductance and lead resistance, which make the capacitor less useful. When you place resistors and inductors in parallel, their effect shrinks, but the capacitor's effects add. So, building up large capacitors by placing several small capacitors in parallel makes our capacitors act more like perfect capacitors. This is a good thing."
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