2. speakers
  3. 1211428524

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
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,510 posts
 
I emailed Chris at PC today and he will confirm that the 630 VDC CAST now being made/sold by Duelund is in fact the same. He sure thinks so and is getting confirmation from Duelund.

PC simply made a VERY large purchase instead of Duelund running a couple at a time etc...

They have sold out of the first batch and are placing a second big order based on the success of the first. Here is what Chris emailed to me.

"We've already sold out of the 0.47uf, and are in back-order on it.....and
should have the 0.22uf's sold out later this week.

Due to the success of this first launch, we are re-ording those values,
and expanding the range to 5 or 6 more values too."

This is very good news indeed!
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
343 posts
 
I remember reading in Steen's papers that the capacitors that he designed could only be handmade at this time.

Look forward to hearing from Frederik. Is it just volume of handmade or something else?
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,510 posts
 
I just finished placing four Duelund CAST .22 uf caps in my hybrid Aesthetix Atlas amp. I replaced some fair REL caps. All I can say is why? I mean why don't these builders use Duelund on their top end gear? This was a huge improvement - not subtle at all.

With the CAST in my pre and now amp my music sounds like it is coming from upgraded speakers. Easily the best upgrade I have experienced including all other modifications, gear upgrades, wire upgrade etc...

These caps are very special indeed. The .47 uf caps in my pre have about 60 hours on them and my amp only 2 hours. I know things will get even better over the next 100 or so hours.

I wish I could afford these in my speakers!
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
343 posts
 
Grannyring
Steen Duelund would say 50% of the system $ should be in the speakers and 50% of that should be in the crossovers. That crossover is a big deal! Also for most a HUGE weak link. A nice finish sells crossover parts?

I have been pushing Duelund to use these parts in the recording studio!

My Linn speakers had less than $20 in the crossover parts would be my guess. If a speaker company did not show me the crossover I would not buy the speakers.
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
343 posts
 
Oppo BDP 95 sounding somewhat better and is running 24/7 for breakin. Still unsure about the Oppo? I wish it sounded like a $10k digital front end played movies and every format. It does a lot but I do not think one is going to replace an expensive digital front end. My guess is the Oppo sounds like about a $1k CD player?

Looking forward to hearing/seeing it on Bluray and other high res which I could never play.

It does not sound anywhere near as good as my CD DAC but does seem well built and obviously does so much more. Today TV and furniture come in and project is now done!

Only one mistake I bought too short of Duelund Silver wire to run both speakers. The credensa my wife wanted if not amp centered and at $50 a foot for Duelund (double needed) I did not get extra feet of wire!

I am getting used to the wood subfloor and it does affect the sound. When the basement was some carpet some cement you would get a hard ringing sound. That is gone partly with all the insulation I put in key areas and no doubt the wood subfloor.

The book I read from an audio/video installer says the ROOM is THE most important aspect in any system and best bang for the buck.

I have less than $2k in sub floor and insulation and he may be right. I can not hear any ringing, echo or drone. A VAST improvement in sound throughout the room with no bad spots.
More to discover