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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 OP
789 posts
 
Rauliruegas

Yes I agree that we each have our own priorities with sound as there would only be one cap, one source, one amp, one speaker and all would agree that they were the best.

Yes I am looking for a cap that is fun. (to me of course)

The vintage caps are very coloured (worn out now) and yes I rank them better than the non defective but boring sounding Sonicaps. That has to do with my perception of their lack of dynamics.

I do know the vintage caps are "colored" but do not hear that with the Duelund's. I would say more like Tony Gee's "super natural" makes instruments sound like the real thing. If that is colored I want a violin to sound like a violin.

What I do not like about the Sonicaps is lack of energy not SPF. I do not dislike Sonicaps they are cheap and are not offensive but not in the league of the better caps (IMHO) in what I am looking for and that is that "live" feel that horns can do.

"A child with new toy".

I did say that I had these speakers for almost 30 years and loved them. I know the caps are going bad and after putting in the Sonicaps I was so disapointed I put them up for sale. When the guy came to buy them he had the old tube amp. I knew there was still problems but enjoyed listening to them again on the tube amp with vintage caps.

Then I got the new caps and it is beyond my wildest expectations. I almost do not listen to my main system. So yes I am like a kid who has his favourite "old" toy back and better than ever!

The two different caps.

I did say I was very early with the second Duelund. What those people did say is even the best caps will leave their sonic signature. You will hear the "cap" as opposed to the music. That does make sense to me. I found the Deulund/Supreme to not leave any signature on the music.

I am still eval'ing two Duelund's. There is another thing even if I like two Duelund's better (which I am not sure) I have to weigh there extreme cost against other improvements. I am now considering Duelund's for inductors.

Raul I do not think two caps introduce "more" distortion. I found the Duelund/Supreme tow work VERY well togther and I could hear stuff in the music I had never heard and could pick out instruments I did not know even there. I can not see that as distortion.

Raul I will agree that the only way to eval this is to di it one's own self. (everyone's ears different) I did not know I was going to like Duelund so much. I only bought them on site recommendation. I thought well why not.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Stormen

Thanks for the link.
I will be reading up on this. I am very interested now. I will let you know on the 14 days. They sounded excellent right out of the box with the Supreme's. But two Duelund's even more dynamic but could use a little settle down which may happen.

Did you compare their inductors to others? Are they worth the extra cost? Duelund is NOT cheap!
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 
As previously stated, I think you're missing the boat in not defering judgment until much further into the break-in process. However it's delightful to hear that the experience has salvaged speakers that you were considering selling after three decades of ownership. Very few on this forum realize that a few hundred spent on mods may avoid tens of thousands in equipment churn. When those Klipsches were manufactured, the hobby was full of tinkerers. No more.

To Raul's point about neutrality: I started with internal mods to my CDP source, and continued modding progressively downstream as best I could with each component. I was first convinced that the source was the most important component, then later the preamp, then later the amp, and so on. Of course they all are! Do the best with each one, and with such high-quality piece parts you will probably find when finished that your system has achieved transparency & neutrality.

PS: I'm still trying to recover an original pair of Altec VOTT that I foolishly sold to my brother in 1977 for $150.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
9,123 posts
 
Dear Volleyguy: Good. I could not agree totally with you but I respect you in every subject you posted.

Like I told you: at the " end of the day " the important subject is that you be happy because is you who has to live with that audio system, it does not matters what I think about.

There are many " doors " that we can open to discuss on your thread but I think that could be for some other time.

Go on and achieve what you are looking for, good luck!!!.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Regards and enjoy the music.
raul.
volleyguy OP
789 posts
 
Dgarretson

The original post did say it was a log from start to finish for others to read in the future. So they could know or have an idea of what to expect. The hours are piling on the caps and yes they do become smoother but have not had one cap move up or down in my fav's list. I have not had one cap become more dynamic yet either, smoother yes.

If I did not do one thing more than replace the tweeter caps I know like the Klipsch much more than my other speakers. (Linn) So for a cost of $400 the Klipsch now sound very good. I would have to compare to at least 10k speakers if not more in the speakers I have heard. (except maybe JohnK horns as I have not heard them)

I do think Steen Duelund fit the old mold. (of being a tinker)

Arthur Salvatore on his web site said he would like to hear a all out set of Khorns. (he STILL has the Khorns as one of the best speakers ever)
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