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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

Showing 2 responses by david_d

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!
david_d
83 posts
 
Hi!
Audioengr you are talking about electrolythic caps (that are used mainly in power supply's) if I got it right. I can't give an advice on that subject(if the caps polarity isn't marked).

Sean said it right: " 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. " - but there's more when it comes to Zobel's.
A thing that is even more important than the "right" polarity(of the caps) is the orientation of the cap and the resistor. Much timeconsuming experimentation brought up a "rule". And that is: the capacitor "must" be on the positive(+) side and the resistor on the negative(-) side if the best(soundwise) results are to be achieved. That's very easy to check - turn it around and listen.
Why it sounds better that way - I don't know, but it does.

And Zobel's do affect the sound - for the better (if "right" values are applied) or worse (if "wrong" values are applied). The "right" and "wrong" values for the capacitor and resistor are a cable dependant matter.

Hope this helps.
Best Regards to all!
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