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FYI: Goertz Zobel Networks

I just got off the phone with Goertz, and they mentioned that the Zobel Networks can be installed at either the speaker binding posts, or the amplifier binding posts.

I thought I'd pass this information on, as I've seen others mention difficulty getting a tight connection on the spades, while also adding the Zobels. This is my case with the Vandersteen 3A, with small screw terminals.

If I had binding posts, I could just solder bananas to the Zobels and install that way, but now I was told that I will be able to do that on the amplifier end.

gthrush1
david_d
83 posts
 
Hi, Gthrushl!
In my experience with various Zobel "Networks" the "best" (soundwise) place to aplicate them is on the speaker side (I use my Zobels' on the speaker side with "bananas"). Also, experiment with the "polarity" of the Zobel's - the sound changes when you rotate the ends of the Zobel's to the speaker terminals. So its jut two "ways" of connecting them and it shouldn't be too difficullt finding the better sounding solution. Don't ask me why it sounds different but it does...
Don't get scared "off" spades, bananas are more practical but there it ends. And you surely can make a tighter connection (not to mention more contact surface) with spades than with bananas.
Hope this helps a bit.
Cheers!
sean
6,231 posts
 
Non-polarized capacitors are polarized, so you can orient them one way and get one sound / reading and flip them around and get different sound / readings.

As to mounting the zobel's at the amp or speaker, at the speaker is always the preferred method. Some amps have built in zobels right at the binding posts inside the amp.

As for using spades, bananas, etc... I've found that it is very convenient to connect the speaker wires with spades for the tightest connection and to use decent quality bananas for the zobels. Each allows a solid connection without interfering with the other. Obviously, one would have to have "5 way binding posts" on the speaker to take advantage of such a method. Sean
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audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Non-polarized capacitors are polarized, so you can orient them one way and get one sound / reading and flip them around and get different sound / readings.

Really? I guess I have learned something then. I just had Andy Bartha, who does mods over for a DAC shootout and he showed me the guts of his mods to a Musical Fidelity upsampling DAC (BTW - the Perpetual Tech with Dan Wright's mods sounds better IMO). Andy swears by non-polarized black-gate caps. However, he uses them in the power-supply and decoupling, which is polarized by definition. Is there a way to tell which way to install would be best?
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