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
Micheal does the VCap Copper have any of the coolness of the regular VCaps?

I have not heard either. I know the regular VCaps were thought be double edge sword?

That is pretty stiff competition to be "way way" better than.

I just might have to hear for myself.
Just ordered some VCap Copper Teflons for the phono or pre-amp stage.

If they do not work out it is only CAST or VSF left.

I have a gut feeling the VCap Coppers will work in the phono stage. Seem to agree with Tempo's opinion often, could be that we are running similiar style speakers and most people do hear the same things.

To me the phono stage is slow in my amps. The Jensen's were a LARGE improvement there and caps that I like and will keep for sure even if in a second system. Duelund is expensive in high voltage and small values. If the VCaps do not work out it will be VSF's for the rest of the system. (or CAST ouch)

I am getting very close to done though either way, without going crazy with Duelund CAST Silver. (not happening) Power supply work maybe?

It has been a very interesting journey in which I have learned lots from so many people.

One thing I could not agree with more was Dgarretson's opinion of not spending too much on one part, if there is weakness elsewhere. Like having Silver wire hooked up to an all vintage amp with tired coupling caps. Silver wire is $500++ that is enough for good quality coupling caps and wayyyy better money spent and for sure if it is a wear item. 2 Jensen's on the phono stage is 10x the difference of Silver if the phono or pre-amp caps are lousy.

This is one area where the internet is excellent. In the past none of us would be able to share opinions in a small hobby and an obscure part of it. (passive parts)

With the internet it is becoming accepted knowledge that these parts DO matter and a lot.
Volleyguy we have had a listen session here where i live this evening. One of my friends is super critical and he was very
impressed though he thought my mundorf s/g/o in my crossover was the real reason why my sound was tilted a little to the light.
I have just order the V-cap cuTF for my pre-amp but for sure you will have them before me , but i'm convinced that they will make me very satisfied.
My Idea is to have them in my preamp plus mono blocks and then a duelund in my crossover + a clarity caps for the cost reason.

/michael
I have to admit every time I put in a Duelund part it just gets better. So far I can not hear ANY negative or signature to their parts which both Mundorf and at least the old VCaps had. (so I hear on the VCaps)

The problem is CAST does not drop in price in small values. (I know hand made)
I think my statement "way way better" was that the old V-CAP TFTF , just make me enjoy music a lot more than mundorf.
I have not heard the duelund as you have , but i can live with this kind of "coolness" , but we need to check out the CuTF.
I think you will have them before they reach denmark , i placed an order for 12 hours ago , but still need the final confirmation.
I ordered them from partsconnection.