Recordings are the weak link regardless of format. Quality varies from the awful to the sublime, with most in the middle. You would be better off judging the sound quality of these speakers by using a tone generator. Paper caps do dry out but modern era caps like those in the M&K's don't.
Recapping old M&K satellites
Hey all,
New to the group so thanks for the add. With your kind indulgence I thought I'd jump into the capacitor pool here and likewise seek the counsel of wiser elders on the subject. (I'm 64 but still... 😬)
I'm building a small system for my kitchen (near-field use, spkrs at far end of kitchen table, about 36" away from head and about 36" apart -- probably far from ideal but my only option here) and got the stubborn, romantic idea into my head to buy my first *vintage* M&K satellites (fabulous Arcam Solo sub provides bottom end). I went all the way back to the company's start buying pairs of both S-2B and S-3B satellites. The taller/multi driver S-1B's were my default choice but too tall for this application.
As these pairs are both from the (probably *early* '80s), we're talking about 40-year-old speakers and assuming they've never been attended to, dried out or leaking caps were a distinct possibility and their replacement advisable/necessary. In giving them each a listen, the bigger, hardier S-2B's sound just dreadful, as though a blanket's been thrown over them, and although most noticeable in the high end this affliction seems to be across the audio spectrum.
With the S-3B's, performance is really pretty sublime with the one niggling exception of not being able to hear ride cymbals! Crash cymbals come through much better. (I should add that I'm a lifelong drummer and thus particularly attuned to such audible information. I've also read in various forums that these satellites have small sweet spots but I've bobbed my head left right up down and that doesn't seem to be what's at play here) Other high note details from all(?) other instruments seem totally present. Weirdly enough, on *certain* recordings (maybe 20%?), the ride cymbals ARE audible -- so this 80/20 split is rather baffling given my main theory of the case regarding caps gone bad. I recognize that different recordings have varying quality levels but this as an explanation seems improbable though I suppose not impossible?
I haven't cracked open either speaker yet to visually investigate what's happening on the boards but before I proceed with anything I thought I'd elicit thinking from you wise folks about what I'm likely experiencing and what my best path forward is. Many thanks!
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