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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
sherod
1,690 posts
 
I got mine from the Tube Store:

http://thetubestore.com/ampohmmylar.html

I found the "see-through" quality to be across the board. Yes, the very highs are more extended, but I don't hear any exaggeration of any parts of the spectrum. Everything seems to be well-balanced. Like I said, I'm going to give these a good thorough break-in before I pass final judgement.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Thanks Sherod

The tube store is only one hour from where I live. I was on looking since my post. I will put in an order for some in the morning.

The only thing is I do not see below .1uf? in that style.

I have always wondered what a new Mylar would sound like? Will it solve the weakness of the vintage ones?
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Just ordered the Ampohm Paper in Oil Copper type.

I tried to get the Mylar but not available in my size. Tony Gee gave the Aluminum a 12- so one can assume the Copper is above that.

Should be in tomorrow or next day.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
My choice of amps right now are a completely vintage EL84 or one channel in a vintage amp (7591) all Jensen Copper Paper Tube and one Duelund VSF. The other channel all Jensen and one vintage cap with one speaker still wired non Duelund.

I can listen to the vintage EL84 amp for a short time and then miss the bottom end. (nice mid range though) My top choice is Duelund wired speaker all Silver except woofer which is copper and all Jensen/Duelund VSF in the amp. I so far have always come back to that and will listen to one speaker every time by the hour not missing the second speaker. Jensen (Copper Paper Tube) has great bottom end!

I am going to see how the Ampohm Copper works out. I can not deny a 1/8 price (over Duelund) (1/3 over Jensen) is enticing. No matter what the Ampohm will go to the FM section of a Fisher if it does not work out. I have not seen a case where a vintage cap could compete with a new "good" cap.

In the end I think it will be a modified EL84. I liked the EL84 much better than the 7591 before mods. I felt no worry moding the 7591 as I did not like it anyway.
sherod
1,690 posts
 
The Ampohm will sound very closed-in and tight sounding for the first 2-3 hours. After that it starts to relax and open up and will continue to improve. I'm at about 65 hours with mine now and they sound better with each hour played.
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