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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
santodx5
21 posts
 
I will experiment with the clarity MR and Mundorf SIO combo this time and next time I may go with Jupiter route.

I am not sure how good my speaker is but my friend who is a sound engineering and work in the audio industry, actually bought the lesser model JR149 after he listen to the mod version.

Thanks
santodx5
21 posts
 
Halo again,

When mixing caps in parallel to get the value wanted, are they any rules?

Here are some of my thoughts, based on the store's stock I only be able to get these combination:

12 UF:
CLARITY 4.7uf    x 1   :4.7
CLARITY 3µF      x 1  :3
CLARITY 2.2µF   x 1  :2.2
MUNDOR  2.2µF x1  :2.2 = 12.1

50:
CLARITY- 20µF     x 2 :40
CLARITY 5.6µF     x 1 :5.6
MUNDORF 3.9µF  x 1 :3.9
MUNDORF 0.47µF x 1 :0.47 =49.97

20.2:
CLARITY    15µF / 400VDC x 1
CLARITY     3.3µF / 400VDC x 1
MUNDORF  1.5µF / 1000V x 1
MUNDORF  0.47µF/ 1000V x 1

Are these okay? or do i need to use equal value?

Can someone comment?

Thanks


erik_squires
16,237 posts
 
Mundorf is sold more ore less by the uF:

uF x y = $$

but Clarity is

(uF * x) + 30 = $$

That is, for the MR line there is a $30 upcharge every time you add a Clarity cap.  I don't see exactly which line of Clarity and voltage. Same for Mundorf.

Usually I try to keep a bypass cap to 1-2% or less to avoid things getting really wonky. With this combination it's especially important as Clarity that I've mentioned tend to have higher ESR than Mundorfs.

However, using multiple Clarity caps will greatly reduce the ESR, so the need to bypass them goes down a lot.

Best,


Erik
santodx5
21 posts
 
I am using the 90%/10% combo that a few people report it works well including Tony Gee, not bypassing.

The combi are clarity MR and Mundorf SIO.

Thanks
erik_squires
16,237 posts
 
That's a lot of bypass for an MR.

Considering the costs, have you actually heard them ??

Personally, I'd bypass Clarity MR with copper foil caps and be very happy. I find the Mundorf SIO's to add a Disney like sheen or scintilation to the top end. Magico loves them.  Me? Meh.

If you want the Mundorf SIO sound, just get Mundorf SIO's.  If you are trying to be budget conscious, use something else as your base cap.

That's just my advice though, I"m tired and sick and none of it is coming out friendly like, sorry. :)

I really do think you should listen before you spend a lot of money and make up your own tastes.
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