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
Here's some more info to add to your research:

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/6.aspx

I have just talked to a friend with Lascala's and he used Solen caps. He said he noticed right away the improvement. I am starting to think it is me being conditioned by Linn. Linn has this method of listening to systems called "Tune Dem" and basically you follow the tune, if it makes everything easier to follow it is good. Well the Klipsch "to me" now are not easy to follow as every instrument seems to scream like a horn! Linn gets you to follow what is going on and the Klipsch makes me weary trying to follow. Once Linn gets you, they got you in their camp and only their gear (maybe Naim) seems to do it for you.

There method is so simple "follow the tune" sounds infantile! But when you can't it is frustrating!

I do not think I will survive any break in period as I think these speakers just sound like crap to me now and no cap or inductor or anything is going to change that.

I find myself saying what the heck was I thinking!

Sorry guys if I do not survive this break in but can say I doubt Sonicap is going to change anything in these speakers that are VERY dynamic but seem VERY dated to me. I do not believe they are from the modern era. They may be quaint but to many faults to (for me) live with.

When I listen to a group (common as the Beatles) and can not tell a huge difference to who is singing the song I know something is wrong! That seems like child's play on my Linn speakers as I know who is singing mostly who is on back-up and when they dub the lead singer in as back up. With Klipsch they all sound almost the same!
Guy came to buy the Klipsch Lascala's. I had him bring his own tube amp. I didn't think it fair for him to listen on my gear. One thing for sure is old tube gear sounds much better with Klipsch. The bass was wooly but from the midrange up they sounded real good. If he does not buy them I am going to pursue the tube route. I cannot say I prefer the sound over the modern gear but it was at least not offensive and had some characteristics that are very nice to listen too.
I have bought the tube Fisher x100d. I have to say I wish I had tubes all these years I had Klipsch speakers. So crossover is back on. Being used as a seccond system. Man the U.S. used to make some real good stuff! It is a shame what has happened to Audio! I am looking for paper in oil caps. I am not to impressed with the plastic caps. Anyone know where you can get real paper in oil caps?
US still makes great hi-fi. You just have to search it out, not mass produced or marketed so more work to find but well worth it.