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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
tasouli
39 posts
 
Hi folks

well, I have two points to make after today. Firstly, after seeing my HiFi technician, it appears my CD/DVD player has got direct couple outputs. (Well predicted Salectric!) No cap upgrades to make - in that area anyway. The important information I got from him was to concentrate on improving the power supply in the player - something I already have strong plans for.

.....and, secondly, something that I think is very important indeed, my wife has started listening to music with me lately and has been commenting on the fact that my system sounds so listenable. 'So easy and natural to hear.' Folks, she NEVER normally listens with me. Now she does and she hasn't even ask me to turn it down. Do you understand how much of a step this is? She doesn't just hear - she really listens & she's impressed! For crying out loud she has requests!!!!....lol I can sit here and give you people opinions about improvements, changes...whatever, but this event says much more than anything I could come up with. The "bystanders" in my place are coming closer to the music because it's good and they want to hear more. That's a powerful change in events here. My speakers are no longer boxes! They are now revealing so much more.

My music is transformed and getting better. Often I find myself doing tell tale things like tapping my feet or my hands, laughing or even just drifting off because I'm feeling or hearing stuff that makes the music "make sense". Lots of good ol' fashioned positive emotion in this house at the moment and it continues to improve. Singers are singing to me, bass players stand out in a performance and even change their intensity at times. Keyboard players appear where there was just sound. Strings contribute to the emotion of a performance instead of just making a pitch. Frank Sinatra sang really low notes in a song I listened to earlier instead of just singing words - I didn't know until now how low he could sing!!

The point is I'm now completely re-appreciating my music and it's exhilarating.

Thanks for listening and THANK YOU to all those who have participated in this thread. Your enthusiasm, knowledge, advice, efforts etc have been a major factor in this powerful change. I'm smiling as I'm typing and I love it.

Thanks again, Tas
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi Tas,
What you've described is a profound occurrence. Your wife (and you) is responding spontaneously to the "natural" character of the sound and this is a major step! I long ago rejected the notion of audiophile hifi criteria and its so called accurate and hyped detailed sound.

Perhaps all the years hanging out in jazz clubs and live instruments in my home but for me the right pursuit is towards the natural and organic. When your priorities shift to that direction, emotion, communication and involvement come along for the ride. The last thing you're interested in is
un involving analytical assessment. Music is meant to be listened to and
enjoyed (deeply). Just think, you've made your wife happier.
Tas I really felt you'd appreciate the Duelund effect/improvement in your speakers and resultant system overall influence.
Charles,
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,467 posts
 
Tas, great yo hear you are very happy with your work!
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
343 posts
 
Tas my feeling on this is women do not care about HiFi... They do however love music.

Another one that struck me a long time ago was my teenage daughter would say I am literally afraid (for real) to go into the basement and turn the corner. I know it is a stereo but I am still afraid there are people there. She has had her teenage friends over and even my wife was saying the teenage girls could not get over the sound... Kept going on about it.

I am not sure if I could tell the difference from liver either from around the corner.

In Frederik's defence yes for sure even the later CAST caps without the smell do have oil inside as mine just went back today to partsconnexion.
I can assure beyond a doubt they have oil or I should say mine did but it leaked out... All this talk made me want to cut it open.
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
343 posts
 
Bill for sure did not want you to think you were being picked on.

Frederik I think there is a natural skepticism people have to a company establishing a quality name and product and then claiming lower prices for the same product. (been done so many times)

Is it wise to even put out a special order CAST cap with different materials with the CAST name? Is this what Bill has seen? I know my CAST cap did leak oil but did not have the natural smell of the old CAST caps and why?

If the reason was to save money is that not against what Steen stood for? (no compromises)

Yes the CAST cap sounded very good even with the different paper outside. I did not have the other one though to compare.

I suspect the reason some think the crossover caps sound better is just the comparison to what was already there.

Irish65 was one to claim that CAST made more difference in electronics over VSF.
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