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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
irish65
170 posts
 
Volleyguy,
I did not take your comment as negative. I didn't realize what you were asking. I decided upon the silver Duelund because it preserved the sonic character of my Duelund crossover. I spent numerous hours and money choosing the Duelunds over others so my main goal was to make sure I did not tilt the sound away from what the Duelunds provided.
You owning the Duelund products no doubt understand the sonic character I refer to. So that was my main reason.
If I were you I would get enough 2.0 wire to make one run to your drivers farthest away from the crossovers. This will allow you to sample the 2.0 wire with each driver to see if you like it. I would start with the bass and work your way up the chain.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Irish great idea. 2.0 you say ouch!
theaudiotweak
2,801 posts
 
My previous post that could be taken as a critiscm of the lack of resonance control built into the Duelund speaker wire was intended to provoke the thought process of how the same material {flattened silver conductor] could be altered by materials added for the final products intended use.

An inductor using a state of the art foil wire will have its own predetermined intended environment {inside of a speaker cabinet]. Knowing this application the designer will select materials to control resonance and too preserve the fidelity and properties of the straight uncoiled conductor they started with.

The same conductor whose known musical magic will be affected differently outside the box uncurled will have to endure a different set of physical inneractions than those inside the box. The effects of static buildup on the conductor itself is of much importance in the Duelund design, or so I understand. If you were to add other materials to the supposed aide of vibration control then you may well alter or degrade certain musical attributes of the original product. The intent here is to build a set of ic's and speaker cables using all the same conductor thru out the process. Even these two devices using the same conductor will be influenced differently by the same application of resonance control materials.

The preservation of the music and the sonic signature of all the conductors involved should all be the same thruout a system. Duelund has this approach starting with their caps, inductors and resistors. Now to take it further with the silver conductor wire. That will probably reguire a whole other materials added list and different mind set. Tom
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Tom

I did not take it as criticism of Duelund. I took it as a very good question of how to control resonance in a foil wire. Assuming I fully understand what you were saying?

On the other side of this my 11yr and 9yr could easily hear the difference from just the woofer and tweeter being wired with Duelund. (plus one cap in the amp) I will often ask a non audiophile person who does not know (what has been done) if they can hear a difference just to make sure it is not me.

In this thread one of things I was hoping to discuss is what mattered for the $$$ and the $40 of Duelund wire made more difference than when I bi-amp my previous system with a second $5,000 (Can$) amp!

I would say the wire has been the biggest bang for the buck improvement.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
I do have one question for Duelund as well. Yes the wire sounds excellent being coated in in silk oil but does oil not dry out in time???

What happens then?

I am literally back to listening to one speaker the difference is so big now. I still have some small sections to replace as well! So will get even better.

I am for sure doing the entire chain in Duelund wire the amp everything.
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