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
Reynolds,

Yes. Putting the VSF in an outboard xover eliminates the resonating cabinet and will close the gap some between them and their Cast big brother.

The cost between the Duelund resistors and the Cast version are worth the little extra you will pay for them. If there is a small value cap on the tweeter then it would be worthwhile to consider the Cast.

What are the values in the Bolero xover?
Irish,

Thanks for your note. For my SR17.5 speakers I did get the CAST resistor. I received shipping notification on Thursday, so maybe by next weekend I'll be getting my first impression of the new crossover.

As for the Bolero, I don't know the values yet as my friend has not had a chance to measure them yet. It may take him a little while to get to it, but once he does I'll pass along the information.

Thanks again for your help.
Reynolds853,

Please keep me posted. Also I would like to hear your thoughts on the Cast resistors once you install them.
I was out with a friend to local hi-fi store. He is looking for a system.

Started with a $10k system. Terrible!

Then heard two $40k to $60k systems. They were getting closer both SS systems by well known names U.S. and U.K. won't say which.

The one from the U.K. I heard the most and sounded nice but could easily pick up the grain in the sound.

That system had maybe better bottom end extension and front to back sound stage. As far as tonality and realism not even in the same league.

The friend is coming over and has never heard mine so we'll see? I am just presenting another option that I feel is MUCH better and wayyyy more cost effective. Used speakers gutted crossover, used vintage amp that can easily replace caps in. He likes new stuff though. It shall be interesting to see if you get more work Frederik.
Volleyguy: Your friend is lucky to have your help.

Volleyguy and Iris65: I'm curious, what components do you have in your system? I have Rogue 99Magnum preamp and M180 monoblocks. I'm running NOS RCA tubes that I got from Andy.

My VSFs arrived the other day. These things are dense! They feel like they just have to sound good! I took them by the shop. I dug out a regular $3 cap (3.3micF just like the Duelund)... the two shop owners were in separate parts of the shop, so I did this separately...I had each close his eyes and hold out both hands. I put the $3 cap in one hand, then the Duelund in the other. Both times their eyes shot open! It was good for a few laughs. I can only imagine how heavy those cast caps must be!

It may be a week or so before I can get them put into my speakers - I'm out of town at the end of next week and have to get ahead on a project at work before I leave. But I'll update you guys when I finally get them in.