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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
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
343 posts
 
Full set of Gold Lion 12ax7's wanted to retest them against the vintage.

Notice more bass vs. RCA. Initial tone was not as good though in first few minutes.

I have sung the praises of the Gold Lions like many others but they were worn out in 3 years 10k Hours. 
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
343 posts
 
Replaced electrolytic's in CD transport. Did not wreck it but did not fix it either so no comment on sound difference.
dorkwad
548 posts
 
My friend swears by the Quicksilver Gold contact enhancer.  He uses it on all the pins of his ICs and on the inside parts that hold the IC onto the female connectors.  He also uses it on tube pins, spade lugs, prongs of PCs, fuse ends, and he would use it on cartridge pins if he had a TT. 

He claims it dries very quickly, and takes about 3 weeks to start the improvement in sound once connected.  After that, the sound improves in all parameters continuously for up to 6-7 weeks.  You can disconnect the wires or tubes a couple times without having to do this all over again.  You will have to wait again to hear the sound difference like the first time.  Be sure of your equipment before you do all the work of using the contact cleaner--wait to dry--apply the enhancer--let dry--connect the piece to the system.

According to my friend and Brian Kyle, IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT in the difference it makes--way more organic, clearer, less mechanical, more real sounding.  The only drawback is the effort needed to do your whole system.  It does the same for your home theater picture, same improvements as the sound.




audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,175 posts
 
I have used Mundorf a lot in the past no more after a lot of research and comparing plastic  is not organic sounding and foil is night and day better then
metal sprayed on paper .2 minuses ,also a natural damping .
my solution to myself and others that know caps put these very close to top Duelund cast for less then 1/2 . The Excellent Jupiter Copper foil bees wax cap 
60-70%,and a Arizona - Blue Aluminum foil  paper Mylar oil cap 30-40%.
if needed to mix with a big cap Clarity CSA Excellent Big cap up to 100uf 
try a minimum of 10%, 25% of big cap ratio for best results. I guarantee 
you a great sound if listen to  p.s take an smaller .47 close to the board as an extra cap to lower  ESR, inductance.  Arizona Cactus come in 3  mixes .
red just paper, not as good on bass great mid- high, green cap higher ratio paper 70-30 paper Mylar , blue 60-40mylar ,paper a bit richer. Very good price and quality  was West Cap back in the 60-70s think old LesPaul guitar 60s deep tone 
bingo Cactus cap ,these are better.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,175 posts
 
Personally  I would not seek old capaciyors they dry out and leak especially speaking of spending hundreds if dollars West cap was huge in the 60s
A Japanese team from 2007 to 2014 improved upon these classic caps to 
Today's standard  the Arizona Red ,Blue ,and latest green  
All 3 are in mineral oil ,and Aluminum foil. The red uses just craft long grain pulp paper.  The Blue paper and Mylar  Mylar is richer  sounding and better bass,
Green has Mylar paper but more paper .Personally I like the Blue with Jupiter
Copper foil Bees wax cap.  This combination up there with best Duelund cast and $60%  less expensive Jupiter letter mids but drier, Duelund more natural in that respect .add 10-20%  cactus cap  noe has the rich body of the Duelunds.            Best small bypass caps, Duelund Silver oil .01uf, $100 a pop, put a few in your electronics Or speakers truly tightens up the detail. 
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