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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
regismc
112 posts
 
So, order in 4 the Dueland 'Alex's, .22 for my Mig monos. They will replace a pr.
of Aeon coupling caps. I'm a bit 'nervous' as I've yet to see any detailed
description on these as everyone seems to focus on the upper models. As
noted, oil in tube amps, may portend reliability issues vs teflon or 'poly'. I can
always swap out for the MRs if I end up w/too much added 'color', or pay up for
the likes of cutf vcaps. My only prior experience w/'oils' is a pr. of Mundorf s/o/g in a pre that long gone. So its MR's in the pre, & 'Alex's in the amps for a
spin. I've replaced all the small signal 12at7 tubes in the migs, which were originally mullards w/psvanes as that was a bit too much 'rounded' or old fashioned of a tube signature, did I just put myself back in the same boat?
I like textures & tonal colors w/layering & spaciousness. All of my power
cords & interconnect/spkr wire are Audio Magic clairvoyant liquids, made of
polymers, the most natural sounding cables I've heard. They don't carry rf,
r dead quiet, & super natural sounding. More than the various copper, silver, & golds I've tried. Many of the discussions here on capacitors, could be at
least partially transcribed onto my experience w/cables w/the liquid polymers
being the best, most natural & tonally correct. The 'metals' bring a coloration,
a signature of sorts w/various 'emphasis'. Jerry of Audio Magic says they 'ring' as a way to describe the difference. Anyways, I'm in for the experience
& having some fun, as always in audio & life, the education continues....
michaelvv
52 posts
 
Hi Regismc

Glad you tried the Alexander from Duelund , we're missing a review upon these caps. I and a couple of friends did a listening session with the guy who had build my amps. He was in total chock over what a different a 250+ hours V-CAP CuFT does to his amps.
Currently he 'is using Mundorf s/g/o but he will immediately swift to Jensen PIO types. V-CAP he think would make his amps to pricey.
And my lesson is , NEVER JUDGE a CAP before the ending of the break-in time , NEVER.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Oh Micheal 250 hours. That is so long!
michaelvv
52 posts
 
Volleyguy , yes indeed this is a awful long time.
My friends pre-amp should be about 330-350 hours by now. Hopefully next weekend we'll be able to check at 400 hours.

My pre-amp is now at 220 hours , the 250+ hours set i was
listening at was not mine..

The best thing is that still at 200+ hours it still is getting better..

What was the break-in time for your Duelunds ??
crossfire
13 posts
 
Could someone please recommend a cap (or a combo) for the Audiotechnolodgy middriver in a crossover? I plan to use the Duelund copper VSF for the RAAL tweeter. AT is a little bit on a warm side warm and Duelunds for them are too expensive for me.
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