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
Gentleman, I am not tring to get off subject here, However, I believe it is best to ask my questions here instead of the digital threads, we are talking caps, parts etc... on this thread, I just bought a brand NEW cd-player, I use to own the same player in 2012, this time the unit only came with RCa out-puts, I talked to Ralph of Atmas-phere, and he can and is willing to put balanced connections on the player for me, I live in Mobile,Alabama, St.Paul, MINN is very far away and the turn around time likly would be to long for an hour job at most!, where and who that is reputible that I can call on the phone that is closer to me and can do a quality job of putting Balanced connections on my payer for me, Ralph quoted $150.00 which is a good price, I just do not want to get my player tied up for over 3 weeks max to do a simple job that I am asking, Thankyou Guys in advance.
This is starting to make sense, inexpensive mass market CD players using very large value but poor quality capacitors. Certainty this partially explains the typically crappy sound heard from these types of players. I'd be genuinely shocked if a Duelund or Jupiter capacitor doesn't provide a significant improvement in the sound quality.
Charles,
Hmmm - some thought provoking information coming out. I knew you wouldn't let me down!

Salectric - power supply filter? I really think you may be right. I believe the Nichicon 470µF caps are NOT the coupling caps.

This player - Meridian 800 VAX V4 - is designed like a PC ie many modular parts all connecting into a motherboard. I have two analogue output cards - one just for my main speakers(left/right) and the other for the surround speakers & subwoofer.

There should be one coupling cap per channel - there are two nichicons 470µF caps on each of the analogue cards. Earlier today I could have sworn there were two on the stereo and three on the surround. I was wrong and I mislead my technician by giving him the information that I had three on the surround card.

Ok - now I have to apologise. I incorrectly observed the facts. Sorry folks.

I think it's time I had this unit on a bench in front of this technician and he made a firm assessment. At this early stage I can say that there are two 100µF caps on the stereo card and three 100µF caps in the same position of the surround card (perhaps indicating they are the output coupling caps?!) but I won't swear to anything being anything until I get some expert advice my end. Sorry again folks!

Grannyring - if I have any doubts about my attempt on this I'll just get this audio technician to do the cap installation. My unit is hand built and not too hard to work on. I am confident with my soldering but the trick with this install will be packing the caps neatly amongst all the hardware. I don't think it's too hard for me but you are 100% correct. I'll take no chances.

I should be able to get this player in front of my technician next Tuesday to determine where things are. I'll keep you guys posted.

Charles - my player (which cost someone, somewhere, around $40,000 retail in Australia new), in its day (around 8 years ago), was reputedly the best DVD and DVD-Audio player in the world. Which is definitely not to say Meridian didn't take short cuts. I only just replaced the switch mode power supply in it with a linear one a few months ago with great results! It does amaze me where a manufacturer will try and save money.

In the case of my output coupling caps, I am thinking that my unit will be old enough that the caps we have all been talking about simply didn't exist when this unit was designed/built and that that's the main reason they will make an improvement now. However, Salectric, I've heard and respect everything you say. Thank you.

You guys are an incredible. Thank you for being out there. One of these days, we should try and organise a "convention" or meet up. I'd love to listen to music and eat and drink for an unreasonable amount of time! lol

Take care, Tas
Don't overlook the possibility that the DAC may have a direct-coupled output in which case you don't need any output caps. You really need a tech to look over the unit to make sure what part is doing what before you start replacing things. On an expensive unit like that, you want to be especially careful that you don't damage the circuit board.
Salectric

I hear you. Thanks!

I am pretty sure - via anecdotal evidence - that this unit does have output coupling caps. I know of similar players that have had them changed.

I'm booked in with a technician (audio modification is his specialty) next Thursday.

Thanks again. Invaluable.

Tas