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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
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Also I have a in series inductor of .245mh in the tweeter circuit.

I know I hear you guys talk about Duelund resistors being a big bang for the buck improvement.

What about a in series inductor? Why would Klipsch use an inductor for the tweeter? Any help? Would it affect sound quality much?

Also Duelund has lowered their prices! and our Can $ is on the rise this is getting much better.
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
Hi David,
I bought the Vampire wire from John at the Cable Company. Not the most expensive as I recall but lots of copper!
I have separate runs from the speaker terminals to:-
The woofer
The Mid Duelund Capacitor and then the Mid/Woofer
The Tweeter Duelund Capacitor and then the Tweeter
Why not try the Kimber you have on hand as a start or talk to John at the Cable Company. He is very knowledgeable and generally prefers a Litz-type wire but this requires a solder bath which is expensive.
Good luck.
face
516 posts
 
For inductors, check out Alpha Core/Goertz.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
We need some guys who have tried plastic free. Dgarretson can you come in comment?

If you believe the Duelund story it is the oil impregnated cotton wrapped wire one wants. I have said it before (and taken a ribbing) I think getting the plastic out to be big.

Getting the static off the wire makes sense to me and cotton does not get a static build up like plastic.

I am getting Duelund wire for sure just Copper or Silver and I think copper.
davidpritchard's avatar
davidpritchard
866 posts
 
Dear Volleyguy and Friends,
Concerning the inductor question. At Audio Karma in tne Klipsch Forum there is a great thread about upgrading the Klipsch crossovers started by SET-12. In the Klipsch Forte, he tried both the Alpha Core and the North Creek inductors. He preferred the North Creek 8 guage. He found it to be a major improvement in bass manage ment. He did think the tweeter is improved in the Forte in upgrading that inductor to a North Creek 8 guage.
I have the North Creek inductors inhand-custom wound but delivered in 10 days. I am still waiting for Duelund to send the caps for the midrange and tweeter, and the tweeter resistor.
Yes the most practible approach for me is to use the Kimber PR for my hook up wire-but. I do wish I could hear someone who has tried the Duelund 0.5 silver wire against other wires. I have had 3 Audiogonners E-mail me to tell me they had used Duelund wire and were happy-but no comparison reports. It was mentioned that great care has to be taken to get the impregnating oil off the wire when sodering the wire.
I will try to see if Partsconnexion can give me some ideas on hook up wire. They were very helpful in my Duelund order. Maybe Duelund for the mid and tweeter and ordinary wire for the bass.
Lastly I am thinking that silver may be better long term than copper as when silver oxidizes it does not degrade the sound- so I am told.
David Pritchard
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