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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
undertow
1,033 posts
 
For those interested in the comparisons.. I have now been able to try out Duelunds and the Clarity MR's in pure speaker applications head to head.

On Face's recommendation as stated in some threads the Claritys are probably a better cap, mixed however with the Duelund is probably the ultimate solution as they really do something special hand in hand on a crossover. He stated having more dynamics and a little clearer with the Claritys, but a little more texture from a Duelund, and ultimately using both for the application definitely shows a lot of the smooth natural sound of the Duelund, with some enhanced definition and dynamics of the Clarity MR's.

Cost wise this also seems to be the most effective, minus going completley Cast caps which just ups the pricing in most cases 3 times more.

As for performance value, definitely the Clarity MR wins. They are far better in the mixes or on there own over the mundorfs in the applications I have used now. Claritys are perfect in electronics, and seem to be mostly just as good in crossover networks being isolated to limited frequency response. Clarity MR for full range applications still for the price nothing matches in my opinion.
face
516 posts
 
CAST are the real deal, more to come later. ;)
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
As the thread moves into the rarefied air of CAST, it would helpful for Duelund Coherant Audio to share some specific models of commercial loudspeakers that use CAST. This would give more DIYers and audiophiles the opportunity to hear these caps and to rationalize their cost.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
Reference 3a has both the VSF copper and Cast in stock. I'm not sure, but I'm going to assume that the Cast is offered as an option for upgrade. I recently upgraded my Dulcet and the president gave me three options:
1. Mundorf Silver/gold
2. Duelund VSF copper
3. Duelund Cast Copper
I opted for the VSF since it was just marginally less expensive than the Mundorfs.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Face looking forward to what you have to say. I find the VSF is getting lost here. It is after all Tony Gee's #2 cap in the world. I am finding out that (to me) resonance is much more of a factor than I ever imagined.

Sherod VSF was LESS money than Mundorf? I have not heard the Silver/Gold/Oil but can say that VSF is money well spent over Silver/Oil.

I am just waiting on coupling caps and inductor. Excited about both and am looking at CAST for critical areas as coupling caps like the phono stage. I just need to know what Duelund can do in a amp before spending that kind of money. I am starting with low voltage VSF before blowing the wad on CAST. My feeling is a lot of Duelund (either one) is better than a few CAST caps. (of course that is just a feeling)
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