2. speakers
  3. 1211428524

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
regismc
49 posts
 
I like em.... But I put them in a couple of 'unusual' uses. First I've got a pr.
of JBL Pro 'slot' super tweeters. These had a 1.0 uf Dayton cap, but required a 1.7 so I put in a pr. of 1.0 & .68s. Instant upgrade as you could
hear the extended reach, particularly 'lower down' for a fuller & more fleshed out treble.

The 'other' way I used them is inside my power conditioner. A passive filtering type unit w/separate digital & amplifier inputs with matching outlets,
fronted by CMCs. I used prs. of 4.7s & 3.0s on the neutral to ground outlets of the amp & preamp sections. I prefer Mundorf S/G/O on the
digital section outlets. A pr, of 3.3s.

As Grannyring states the caps r very good. They r physically small, but
I've compared them against others I'm familiar with, Clarity MRs, Sonicap
Platinums, CuTF V-Caps. They 'play well' w/the Mundorfs.
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
334 posts
 
Grannyring

I have not actually bought any parts lately. The Duelund tweeter inductor I had. The Duelund CAST to use on the power supply I have.

Part of me needs to know why those caps would be so good? I am not saying they are not just why?

I can see them competing against
the "Clarity MRs, Sonicap Platinums, CuTF V-Caps. They 'play well' w/the Mundorfs"

That would make them a great bargain for sure as those caps mentioned are much more expensive.

The friend came over with the Khorns to hear the system. The first thing he did was get out his iPhone to test SPL thinking it was louder... It is the dynamics. It is no comparison to his. He has poly caps regular Sonicaps or origials.

I am somewhat surprised that it is not mentioned more about the CAST incredible dynamics. The ratio of the signal turning to mush is astonishingly low.
theaudiotweak
1,793 posts
 
Same is true for direct mechanical coupling. You will have much greater dynamic contrast as well as a measurable increase in spl. Tom
volleyguy1's avatar
volleyguy1
334 posts
 
theaudiotweak

Tom I have heard that many times from people. I have not compared CAST to mechanical coupling. Have you?

Just back from a friends house hearing his speakers which are Khorns.

The difference is dramatic, grain, slow, plastic sound nowhere near same tone but polite. He is going to hook up a tube amp same as the one I have for better comparison. A huge difference in dynamics.

There was a post on here a while back from someone getting Tinnitus after getting CAST caps. I for one do not doubt it. In putting on a Rock concert video it is weird even though the total volume is not any louder the contrasts are extreme. When those mics are right into the drum set it is loud! Your ears ring like a real concert. VERY powerful. Maybe as one poster said almost to much or at least be careful!

I know Audio Note on there higher end amps uses no caps. I think Jimmy compared CAST to Mechanical coupling did he not? and is there differences in mechanical coupling quality.
theaudiotweak
1,793 posts
 
Volleyguy1

Mechanical coupling is just that and generally has no design bearing on capacitors other than maybe how they are wound and most importantly under the context of resonance control..how they are mounted. Direct mechanical coupling is a method where devices are hard mounted and coupled without the use of glues or soft mounting insulating materials. Tom
More to discover