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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
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
Rob, I am going to leave that 29 ft section of the WE 16 alone until I am sure what I want to do with it. It won't be enough to use with my dynamo based system, which will be in my living room in the new house. I could use it in my main system upstairs, but that will require cutting it into small lengths for double runs. I want to make sure of what I want to do with it before getting out the wire cutters.

Where did you get the Beldon? I do want to get at least one pair of these ICs on their way.
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
I've never been a big fan of the Mullards, despite all the hype. I prefer the GE 5U4GBs that Israel supplies with the Franks, and they are much cheaper than the Mullards. The CV378 skinnys are great tubes, in my estimation. By all accounts, the fat bottles Rob found are a step up from the skinnys.
I'm still using the PSVane EL34 phillips replicas in my dynamo, along with one of the GE 5u4GB rectifiers and the red base 5691s. I am eager to hear what Rob finds when he starts replacing the caps.
mikirob
955 posts
 
Hi Brownsfan,
Here is the link to Belden 8402 interconnect: http://btpa.com/IC8402-XX.html

Remember, you must order a minimum of ten (10) feet of cable, for example, one six foot pair terminated; have them terminated with Switchcraft 3502AAU RCA.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
The Mullard CV378 outperforms the GE retifier in my listening comparison. The fat bottle CV378 is said to be the ultimate version but are very rare these days. Rob you should feel fortunate to own this tube.
Charles,
mikirob
955 posts
 
Hello Charles,
I feel extremely fortunate to have scored the older NOS Mullard High Wycombe CV378 "Fat Bottle". I spoke with Israel about this tube as well as "skinny bottle"; he was very enthusiastic about this tube plus liked the slow start. I read Dubstep Girl review of 5U4GB and their equivalent tubes. I must say she is accurate in her assessment on the brands I have tried. Dubstep was reviewing with a Woo headphone amp, so not apples to apples, but it worked out alright. Yazaki-san likes the NOS GEC and Marconi types like U52, for example, as well as some others. Yazaki-san sent Jeff Day a really nice NOS 5U4G rectifier under the Haltron banner, but since they never made their own tubes I wonder what it is? I'll have to ask.
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