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
I have to report on the new Jupiter copper foil caps for speaker crossovers. These are the 100v larger value caps. I purchased two 3.3uf and two 1 uf caps to parallel on my Raal tweeters. They cost me some $594 for all of them. Not cheap, but wait till you read my review here.

I know I am an emotional or passionate type of audio enthusiast. I share with all here when I like something. I have had past moments when an upgrade really floored me and took my music to another level. Those moments were exciting and fun. Yesterday stands alone as the singularly most arresting moment I have had in audio as it relates to the hardware influencing the music. Words are hard to pick and I am not that inclined to strain for the right Aphile word right now.

Perhaps it is the synergy with my system, perhaps the good Lord has miraculously granted me bionic ears during the prior evening's sleep, but these new crossover caps from Jupiter transformed an already stellar system. I could not even imagine reproduced music sounding like this. Luscious waves of never ending beautiful tones enveloping every square inch of space around me. Music with such beauty, texture and naturally resolved tone that my jaw was indeed resting on the floor.

The only other audio moment in my life matching this event was the first time I heard a real fine stereo system in 1976. I listened to Aerosmith on my best friend's older brother's system and at that moment I caught the Aphile virus. Yesterday was every bit as revelatory.

Chris at Jupiter is very soft spoken and modest. He calmly told me before I soldered them in that they are like nothing else I have ever heard. He was right and now I share this reality with the rest of you.
Charles you made the right choice. However much sonic improvement can be squeezed from that part position in your circuit will indeed be realized.
Forgot to mention the burn in process on the new Jupiter copper foil crossover caps. My observations were based on about 6-7 hours of burn in. Yes, only 7 hours for this reaction and I expect further refinement over the next 100-200 hours.

The first couple of hours sounded good for sure. You immediately hear glimpses of the greatness to come. They sound ready to bust-out, but are a little closed in and seem to be holding back if you will.
Charles the caps are marked with a line on one side of the label. This is the outer foil side. Just be sure and tell your tech guy.
Thanks for the tip Bill. I'm ordering the Jupiter caps next week and look forward to hearing what sonic changes they will provide in the Frankenstein. Bill, how many hours of use until they began to"opened up" in your electronics roughly speaking? By the way, it was you who introduced me to the Duelund CAST several years ago and I've always appreciated that. Now I'll discover what the Jupiter Cu foil has to offer with my SET.
Charles,