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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
ait
480 posts
 
So the oil polymerizes? Like a drying oil (e.g. linseed)? Or is it more like a wax that solidifies on cooling?

How is the soldering performance? Does the cotton jacket burn at all from the heat?

No intention of dissing the Duelund wire, just curious.
ckorody
643 posts
 
Volley - yes I mean Duelund wire.

I cut some cover back to solder - frays a bit - drop of silicon conformal coating would probably fix it right up but it would be nice if Mr Duelund could advise us as the wire is very different from anything else out there except some very light gauge cotton dielectric stuff
irish65
170 posts
 
I"ve had no problems with the Duelund 2.0 silver wire. I used a razor and cut around the outside silk jacket. Once this is done I pulled it off which reveals the silver annealed wire. The silver will have an orange look to it from the oil which must be cleaned before you solder. I use a Dremel tool with a brass brush on it. This gets the oil residue off and polishes the wire at the same time.
I cut a piece cotton to put over the bare wire and keep this in place with a non static shrink wrap. Remember no plastic.
This has worked great for me.
When using the Duelund components throughout the crossover the Duelund wire makes more sense.
I've used their VSF Cu caps, Cast CU caps, Cast Ag caps, Cast inductors, and the Duelund resistors and like the Duelund wire mated with them. Of course this is my opinion but if the wire is made in the same fashion as the crossover components then why not use it?
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Irish65

You are just the guy I need to talk too!

Is it copper wire with copper capacitors. I just can not see the need for a short bit of Silver wire? I have many other areas that need $ in my system, I would think before Silver wire.

Now since I will never likely hear a Silver CAST capacitor can you describe it to us?

Thanks
irish65
170 posts
 
Volleyguy,

I use the 2.0 silver wire. Some silver wire that I have used the bass seems to go south for the winter. With the Duelund wire (silver) I did not have this problem. The best way to describe it is to say everything just sounded right.
Meaning it has an organic and naturalness to it that is additive.
If the cost is an issue then I would suggest you start at the frequencies that your ears are most sensitive. My are the higher frequencies so if cost were a concern I would use the Duelund wire on the tweeter first. Other it may be the midrange.
I agree with your assessment of the VSf compared to the Cast. It really is a big difference but at double the price. The silver Cast is significantly more but to me it is worth it. The clarity is like nothing I ever heard before. It seems to put flesh on the images if that makes sense to you.
My advice is do not listen to them if you do not plan to spend that kind of money. You will no doubt get bit and the only anti venom is to pony up the cash and purchase them.
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