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
Power Supply

I had my tech guy do a partial power supply rebuild on one of my EL84 amps using ASC poly caps in the power supply. He rolled his eyes at me even worrying about the "sound" of something not in the signal path.

The amp had a hum after that and he could not hear on his test speakers.

I only used it for a few hours or so. I thought he had changed some of the coupling caps to poly as the amp sounded very different than every one of the vintage amps I have. I took off the bottom plate to find out he did not change any coupling caps.

The amp had more bass than the old vintage electro caps but sounded slower and had change in tone. I did not like it.

Can power supply caps affect sound? Not just smothness and power but tone?
Volleyguy,

If you draw a block diagram of the amplifier, it turns out that the power supply is located in the signal path in series with the other elements. This means that every detail of the power supply is located in the signal path and has a significant influence on the sound.
Micr0

This is very interesting.

I was under the assumption power supply of course affects the amount of reserves and how quickly and quiet the sound. I did not even think it could affect the tone? Part of the reason I did not want to even post it. I just shelved the amp.

I remember reading that Leak used a paper in oil power supply in the Leak Stereo 20 (never heard one) and also hearing great things about the Leak's natural tone.

I did not want to say it but poly in the power supply sounded the same to me as it did in the speaker crossover.

Leak (Quad II's as well Paper in Oil power supply)

http://www.bassboy.com.au/getreel/site/classicamps/files/amps/leak/tl12/amp.htm

http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/oldeworldehtml/quad2.html

I have 2 EL84's same brand. I am going to have to compare Jensen power supply vs. ASC.
Power supply

I bought several vintage tube amps (all same brand) for tests.

I started all mods on the worst sounding of them which was my Fisher 500c. The reason for this if I messed something up it was the worst sounding amp anyway.

Now after listening to the EL84 (all vintage) the 500c hammers it with all Jensen (copper paper tube) and Duelund VSF caps. So my worst, now my best. (by far)

How did they compare to new? I had new SS (pre and amp 10k here) and ALL of the vintage amps sounded better. (wayyyyy quieter) My worst amp (the most $$$) has been long sold. To my ears it was the best SS I could find in my budget.

What about a new tube amp?

Not a bad idea at all, but I would like Duelund caps all through out. (they are clearly audible over even Jensen) A top notch power supply, Jensen, Black Gate etc. Silver Duelund solid core wire would be nice as well. Problem an amp like this is far from cheap!

Hmmmmm No cheap answers.