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

Showing 9 responses by davidpritchard

Volleyguy,
Have you installed the Duelund hook up wire to your speakers? I look forward to your impressions.
David Pritchard
Nothing better than a fine tube amp, the perfection of Duelunds, and Klipsch horns.
Have you changed any of the inductors such as the North Creek 8 guage? Check out Krell_Man system here at AudiogoN. Very nice Duelund eye candy.
Wishing the best in sound.
David Pritchard
Volleyguy,
Please call North Creek and change your Inductor guage to 8 guage so you will be happy. I have the 8 guage for the Klipsch KLF-2O . Set-12 on Audio Karma has the 8 guage on his Klipsch Forte speakers. I think you will find the bass improved like Duelund improves the mid and tweeter frequencies.
David Pritchard
Dear volley guy, I have the Klipsch KLF-20 speakers and have ordered the Duelund VSF caps for the midrange horn and also for the tweeter, along with the Duelund resistors. What capacitors have you tried on the woofer circuit?
Have you tried Duelund hookup wire from the crossover to the individual speaker drivers?
Have you tried different speaker terminals or are you using the original Klipsch terminal strips?
David Pritchard
The Duelund hookup wire is listed at Partsconnexion. The Duelund 0.5 wire is their least expensive type at $10.00 per foot. A question- many use special speaker cables. Should I be using speakers cables from each speaker driver to my external crossovers? Maybe this is the best approach? If I use speaker cables I will need 4 pair so I am looking at cables costing $200.00 each or less.
Which Vampire wire did you use, they have several types. Who did you buy from?
I have on hand Kimber PR speaker wire that may be a starting point.
Thanks to all who participate.
David Pritchard
Dear Volleyguy,
Congratulations on getting ready to finish the crossovers. I plan on mounting my Duelund based network for the Klipsch KLF-20's external to the speaker cabinents on butcher block wood. I will solder the hookup wire to the speakers using silver based solder. I have some Kimber speaker wire on hand but I am still considering the Duelund silver hookup wire at $800.00. Speaker terminals will be Cardas. I am using the North Creek 8 guage inductors.
I look forward to other posters ideas and your listening impression with the"finished" product. Thank ypo for posting this topic.
Dear Volleyguy and Friends,
Concerning the inductor question. At Audio Karma in tne Klipsch Forum there is a great thread about upgrading the Klipsch crossovers started by SET-12. In the Klipsch Forte, he tried both the Alpha Core and the North Creek inductors. He preferred the North Creek 8 guage. He found it to be a major improvement in bass manage ment. He did think the tweeter is improved in the Forte in upgrading that inductor to a North Creek 8 guage.
I have the North Creek inductors inhand-custom wound but delivered in 10 days. I am still waiting for Duelund to send the caps for the midrange and tweeter, and the tweeter resistor.
Yes the most practible approach for me is to use the Kimber PR for my hook up wire-but. I do wish I could hear someone who has tried the Duelund 0.5 silver wire against other wires. I have had 3 Audiogonners E-mail me to tell me they had used Duelund wire and were happy-but no comparison reports. It was mentioned that great care has to be taken to get the impregnating oil off the wire when sodering the wire.
I will try to see if Partsconnexion can give me some ideas on hook up wire. They were very helpful in my Duelund order. Maybe Duelund for the mid and tweeter and ordinary wire for the bass.
Lastly I am thinking that silver may be better long term than copper as when silver oxidizes it does not degrade the sound- so I am told.
David Pritchard
Congratulations on the Duelund wire purchase. How many feet will you be using? For my system of 4 drivers per speaker, I will need a total of about 84 feet. I have had one person suggest soldering the hook up wire to the speakers and also solder at the crossover connection. That makes sense to me.
Did Partsconnexion give you any info on the Duelund wire? Michael and Chris were quite helpful when I placed my capacitor order.
I look forward to your experience with the more complete Duelund sound.
David Pritchard
Barry,
How exactly did you connect the cable cooker to your crossover network? I would like to do this.
David Pritchard