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The one tweak most Focals need ...

From a lot of work done analyzing Focals, if you have one, especially an older one, and want to improve the sound and maybe learn something, try upgrading the tweeter caps.

Usually this is 1 or 2 film caps in series with the tweet. I can recommend Mundorf MKP as well as Clarity CSA as being good improvements.

Of course, you probably wouldn't want to mess with your Utopias, but for the mid to low end, highly recommended.
erik_squires
erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
Hey @auxinput -

Smoother is exactly the word. I find the Solen caps Focal uses to be really pretty harsh sounding. I prefer Mundorf MKP's relatively to those. though not all agree.

Clarity is less dark, but also a lot less harsh than what Focal puts in.

I suggest that experimentation here is your key to learning. Try it and come back and tell me what you found. :)

Best,
Erik
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Well, I ordered some Clarity CSA caps.  They seemed to be the only ones that would fit in those positions.  If I hear any significant difference, I'll report back (in time), but since these are used as surround speakers, I'm not sure that I would be that clinical in listening.
erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
I'm a little surprised! I thought CSA's ran a little larger than Mundorfs.

Do let us know!


Erik
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,106 posts
 
If you going to do Xover caps  a clarity CSA would be minimum 
I have found best bang for a higher end cap the German Audyn 
true Copper Max caps . Parts connecxion just started selling them     I have used them in higher end builds, and recently put them in 
my new Lampizater dac , they are very natural with excellent resolution , very close to the Jupiter copper foil ,at half the cost .
i compared them extensively.
erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
Hey @audioman58

I like Clarity a great deal and the Audyn Copper line a lot also.
However in this particular case, I think you'd be amazed at how much better Mundorf MKP's are to Focal's default.

Still, yeah, Clarity and Audyn is better. Audyn, like all copper caps, are HUGE though.

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