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
Trying the Mundorfs on a poor recording. It used to sound rough and not near as rough with the Mundorfs. So they are good even on poor recordings. They have smoothed out quite a bit in even less than 3 hours. The hard highs are almost gone!

Tomorrow the Duelund's are going in.
Duelund's not yet in but I am not feeling a need to rush to them. The Mundorf's are very good!

Beatles Love CD (heard in at least 100x)
What am I hearing now that I could not hear on the Klipsch before or the Linn gear?

I can tell again who is singing which was a problem on the Klipsch.

On Elanor Rigby. Wow! That is at least two violins. I always thought so but now I can hear it. The Mundorfs are sorting out all the stringed instruements. It is making the hairs stand up on my arms!

I am the Walrus.
I did not know it was John saying "choking" smokers. I never clearly heard "choking" and was not sure if it was joking smokers. I heard all kinds of subtle nuances in that song I never hear.

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.
Cymbals sound amazing! The end of the song my wife would always turn down in the car. (my fav part) Paul's bass is dubbed in from I want You. Still not perfect on the Mundorfs but much better.

Yesterday (Beatles)
I believe that is a 4 piece strings. Bass Cello Violin and maybe Viola. Better it was just strings.

Before with old caps the Klipsch were dynamic but you could not listen in any critical fashion because they were a mess.

Strawberry Fields
I could pick out one instrument after another that I did not know was there.

Within You Without You
Still a little rough sounding.

Lucy in the Sky
Cymbals good but not great.

Well time for Duelund's. I am almost afraid after reading Tony Gee's review. Afraid that I am going to like them that much and feel compelled to blow a bunch of dough. He rated Supremes 9 Silver in Oil 10 and Duelunds 12.5!

No matter Mundorfs are as good as I hoped for and WELL worth the money to me!

Running the Duelund and one Mundorf Silver in Oil. For sure some change just not yet sure what it is??
Duelund with the Silver in Oil seems to tilt even more upward and so far takes the bass off a notch.
VG, your comments have been quite enjoyable and educational to read!

We distribute the Manger loudspeakers including the 109-AG Ultimate Monitor that uses Mundorf Silver-In-Oil caps. I agree with your comments re: the SIO and would only add the tonality is much more liquid and vivid as in real life esp compared to others - very special indeed though I have not tried the Silver-Gold caps.

The speed is also very, very good which is important since the Manger driver is faster than even ribbon drivers.

Enjoy your experiements!

Jim Ricketts/tmh audio