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
Volleyguy

Thanks for starting this thread. You should be commended for your diligence and open minded approach to all that is audio.

Tom
Thanks Tom
Not to be noble as I for sure started with a closed mind. It was hearing a full signal chain that was vintage tube amp and foil capacitors speakers and amp that made me realize things were not moving forward. I was quite shocked.

Mostly I did not understand why?

I do now. Follow the $$$. Business always looking to make things cheaper and I do not blame them. Charge as much as possible and give as little as possible makes for happy shareholders.

I was always thinking name brand big $$$ gear now more of a concept. Simple crossovers with high quality parts.

I can not even imagine buying an amp or speakers without knowing what they are using for parts. Yet much expensive gear is not sold on the parts quality?
Agreed, Volleyguy! And audio magazine reviewers generally don't tell us what parts are used in the products.
Jburidan

I do get things from both sides. I am very glad I bought many of my parts before the prices have went up so much. The sound is fantastic but I would not want to make a business case for using parts of such cost. I should total my parts today but likely $3k per speaker in wiring and crossover parts. My old stock speakers would total $20-30 per speaker in crossover parts and wiring. If I was in the business??? Using the 6 to 1 ratio meaning $3k of parts would need $18k per speaker extra at retail.

Is it me or has Duelund raised prices again? I have to go through some old bills. On that note has anyone tried the Alexander line? I have one pre-amp cap in the one side that is still a Jensen Paper tube. The Duelund Alexander is cheaper than the Jensen.
How can you make a logical and sound desesion when listening to one component change in one speaker for 300 consecutive hours? Any less time is not a valid sonic comparison. Is the glass half empty or is it half full? One of each will not give a fair representation of the soundstage image placement. Two corrective or compensating lenses must be installed correctly or you may not be able to walk or drive safely. It must be likened to wearing one tennis shoe on the left foot and and wearing a dress loafer with a leather sole on the right foot. Fit finish texture air contact touch breath all are relayed as a pair to the left side and the right side of our brain. Our apendages are plural as are all of our sensory receptors and transmitters.