upgrading speaker crossovers

I've not looked at the PSB Stratus Gold i's crossovers directly. I have looked at their design several years ago, seems I recall they were 4th order tweeter mid. The most dramatic change will be with any cap that is in the positive line in the tweeter or mid. Even though they are metalized polyprop, A polystyrene or Teflon in the tweeter/mid would make a larger difference than changing electrolytics out that are in compensation circuitry. It is not a bad move to replace the electrolytics, but depending on where they are, you might or might not notice much difference. Upgrading to better resistors is normally a good move also, but I have to disagree with changing inductor coils. Many coils have the resistance measured into the circuit and are part of the design. If you change a coil without properly compensating for the resistance, you could easily cause a more harm than good, many times alignment is thrown off and you get a smear in imaging and placement. This is all accurage information, I hope it helps, Tim

It makes an enormous difference. There is a very good range of Scottish speakers called Art. In their better ranges they offer each speaker in 3 grades of crossover, useing high grade capacitors and silver wire etc. You are quite literally, listening to a different speaker. The cost difference is enormous too. The Deco 10 goes from £10000 to £20000 with the upgrades. I queried the cost with a dealer, who said there is 40pounds weight of high grade silver alone in the crossovers.

Lou over at Daedalus Audio, is offering upgraded crossovers on his speakers. I have'nt compared them side to side, but those that have say there is a big difference. A word of warning, I dont think it is a matter of slinging any higher grade cap into the crossover. I am sure Lou spent months trying different capacitors by ear, before he made the change.

Why would it not be just a matter of slinging a higher grade cap into the crossover. if the values are the same, shouldnt they electrically do the same thing and then its just a matter of the better cap doing the same thing better?

Well a lot of good feedback. I ordered Mundorf Supreme caps to replace the two film caps on each crossover. Basically the same value but I am sure better quality. I am counting on smoother highs and a little more bloom in the midrange. These caps look like they are in line with the mids and tweets. I can now say that after upgrading my equipment I know what better quality caps can do. Trying to replace the tweeters could be a challenge because of the cut out, so I am hoping that the caps will do the job. They are in the mail so I expect to get them this week and do the change over this weekend. As for the electorlytics it does look like they are for the bass section, I can always pull one and check it out to see if the values are still correct and if not maybe get a better electrolytic to replace them, just thinking. And of course now I cannot use my turntable to listen as the needle in the cartidge is no longer there. Its a MC that came with it, Music Hall MMF 7. I am not sure if it is worth puting a new cartidge in it or getting a VPI Classic, which is more money, that I was not counting on spending after having my amp and preamp upgraded, but this is a different subject.

Why would it not be just a matter of slinging a higher grade cap into the crossover. if the values are the same, shouldnt they electrically do the same thing and then its just a matter of the better cap doing the same thing better?

you would think so and I'm sure any upgrade would have some benefit. Just reporting what Lou at Daedalus found in practice, that fine tuning brings added benefit. We all know there are real differences in the sinature of caps, regardless of quality.