2. speakers
  3. 1211428524

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
salectric
748 posts
 
I know this thread is mostly about capacitors in speaker crossovers but there have also been a number of comments about caps in electronics. For the past year I have been using a 1uf Duelund CAST as the output coupler for my phono preamp. Prior to this I had a .47uf CAST for a few months and then before that a 2.0uf V-Cap TFTF. Recently I replaced the 1uf CAST with the 2uf V-Cap, the same one that had been there before, and I was a little surprised to find that overall I prefer the V-Cap.

The V-Cap may not be quite as neutral in tonal balance as the CAST but it more than makes up for this by having a more lively sound with excellent micro-dynamics. They are both very good sounding caps and I can see how other people might reach the opposite conclusion, but to my ears and for my system the V-Cap is better.

For what it's worth, my preamps now use V-Cap TFTF exclusively and my power amps use V-Cap CuTF couplers.
celestial_audio
73 posts
 
I have a question for Charlesdad and other members who have changed the coupling cap in Frankenstein Amplifier. I am inclined to get Duelund Cast-PIO .47uF 630V. I see that Jupiter is what most people have tried. Size of Duelund capacitors is 1-5/16" x 2-7/16". Would this fit inside Frank. Jupiter is 13/16" x 2". Excuse me if this sidetracks the main theme of this thread.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,467 posts
 
Sstalwar, you can spend more for the Duelund, but they will not sound as good or certainly not sound any better than the Jupiter copper foil cap. I have used both in numerous electronics, tube amps etc... This has been my experience.

I find the Jupiters to be a bit more lively, better in micro details, and not as tipped up sounding in the upper mids. This has been my experience with both these caps in tube amps.

It is reasonable to suggest that these caps will perform the same way in your tube amp. Both are very good caps indeed and you can't go wrong with either, but the CAST caps are lots more money.
celestial_audio
73 posts
 
Thanks Grannyring. My system right now is very optimized to be very neutral , resolving and dynamic. Exactly where it should be.

Capacitor upgrade is pretty academic but if anything, I would like to make my system tip towards warmth. Can always use more body to instruments. Better separation of instruments along with width and depth wont hurt either.

Oh, again, not that anything is missing right now, but spending money on capacitors should do more of what I enjoy. Little more warmth and I am happy.

So, which direction should I be going? Thanks.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
The Jupiter has been a very fine addition in my amplifier. I do not believe it is any better than the CAST but it is certainly less costly. Both top level choices. The CAST provided me pure magic in my DAC and speakers, no question. Personally I'd take either over the V cap alternatives. At least for me the CAST is a stunning product. It would be a tight fit in the Frankenstein but would work I believe .
More to discover