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
Just to clarify, the cable is "baked" for several days.

It's not "oily" when the customer receives it.
I used the 14ga to wire the woofers when I rebuilt the crossovers on my Meadowlark Kestrels.

It is massive, very stiff stuff that reminds me of the old time copper wire people used to wire houses with back in the days of glass fuses. Not at all easy to snake into tight places.

But it sure sounds good - bass is nice, taut and crisp.
Ait do you really think Duelund (or anyone) could sell a wire that had oil dripping out of it??? Sounds kind of dangerous!

Frederik what is "baked" and what does it mean from an audio point of view?

Frederik you did not say on the which metal for wire? or which metal where?

You have been very modest all along. I remember Burt telling me that the difference from VSF to CAST would not be a great as vintage to VSF. Letting me know of law of diminishing returns from an already great cap. It is refreshing in this business!

To be honest it was someone on this site who recommended your VSF caps and I thought I would try one thinking I was throwing my money away. I was shocked!

Then again to be honest the CAST I expected to not even hear the difference. (from VSF or what scared me be not as good) Shocked again!

Wire? If I hear a differnce of crossover wire short amounts really I'll say it again, I'll be shocked!

Sherod I have offered Arthur from highend audio to come hear these speakers. I said to him if Klipschorns are Class C upper (just down from Class B) these are no comparison! I said I would let him decide how far up the ranking they would go. Arthur is from Canada about an hour from where I live but lives in the Florida now. I am not saying they are the best for everyone but if one likes Klipsch (for what they can do) like Arthur does these are clearly a massive improvement.
Ckorody I assume you mean Duelund wire? That seems to be Duelund's forte basically a vintage idea done to modern specs and of course no plastic.

I am very glad to hear the wire sounds (assuming you mean Duelund) good though. I do not have tight spaces to worry about.

It is amazing to hear how many people are rebuilding crossovers. Didn't we used to just buy new speakers? Is this a growing trend on the importantce and cost effectiveness of crossover rebuilds?

Big market for you Duelund as there are a ton of well built speakers with crappy internal parts!
Volleyguy,

Baked means that the oil impregnation happens under heat, so the cable is dry to the touch.