ra.ra Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 4 hours ago, RoyC said: only those who have .... calibrated hearing can hear those Solen/Dayton differences Yes, I fully agree, and since I've had limited but positive experiences using Solen caps, I grew curious to challenge those who refer to them as shrill, harsh, or evil. Like many others, I find Dayton caps very similar and an even better bang-for-buck value. The use of The Boxer lyric is very apt here. 3 hours ago, DavidR said: They are now being used in a parallel cap position where frequencies...... Yes, I understand their position in the schematic and that the previously rejected 24uF caps have now been bundled for use in the woofer circuit. Through much measurement testing and several examples of obvious physical failures, many of us have agreed that the black/red Callins-Temple caps can be called all sorts of names, but can you explain why the Solen caps, in your consideration, are "evil"? 1 hour ago, AR surround said: However, I only achieved excellent results when I heeded Carl and Roy's suggestion of trying a NPE and switched to Mundorf E-Caps. I did go back and look at your reporting on various cap combos, and was pleased to be reminded of your satisfaction with the affordable Mundorf cap. I, too, have been recommending the Mundorf E series for those who, for whatever reasons, feel that a Bennic or Erse NPE cap just won't cut it but are still looking for a low-cost cap solution. My introduction to this line of Mundorfs came via CSP member Klaus from Denmark on this site, and I have tried to spread the knowledge that I've gained from his experiences and reporting. I do understand that your prescription for a re-cap solution was complicated by those pesky, expensive Solen caps lying around, but my comments are mostly questioning the implementation of $60+ worth of caps in a woofer shunt application, as well as all of that soldering, etc. If the need to use your surplus caps had not been a factor, I trust you maybe would have considered this single cap instead. 1 hour ago, AR surround said: However, I only achieved excellent results when I heeded Carl and Roy's suggestion of trying a NPE and switched to Mundorf E-Caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR surround Posted June 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 1 hour ago, ra.ra said: ...I do understand that your prescription for a re-cap solution was complicated by those pesky, expensive Solen caps lying around, but my comments are mostly questioning the implementation of $60+ worth of caps in a woofer shunt application, as well as all of that soldering, etc. If the need to use your surplus caps had not been a factor, I trust you maybe would have considered this single cap instead. Actually, I would have used a $1.50 100uF +/- 10% NPE from Parts Express. I've got P.E. 150uF + 200uF NPE bundles for the 350uF woofer shunts in the AR90's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra.ra Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 I was only echoing your earlier enthusiasm for this Mundorf series, but in any case - - - yes, one or two simple NPE's should suffice for this type of application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Hi all I am new to this forum but a keen owner of AR10pi and AR3a improved. I am strugling here in the UK to get hold of suitable audio grade caps for the 10pi. In the first few photos on this thread of the 915 crossover there are some black axial caps with red ends and yellow writing. Can anyone tell me what type of caps they are and possibly what make? Also can anyone recommend a cap supplier in the uk any help is much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Welcome to the CSP. Those black caps with red ends are the notorious Callins electrolytics. They are evil and must be replaced. I’ll leave it to our UK members to recommend brands and sellers. I seem to recall Falcon was one supplier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stimpy Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Yes, Falcon Acoustics is a great source, for capacitors, in the UK. They offer Alcap electrolytic caps, and ClarityCap and Solen poly capacitors. All good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Many thanks for the replies....that's fast! I have been on the Falcon website and spoken to them. they can supply 4 of the 5 caps in each speaker. There is a massive ally can electrolytic 2500uf 63v in there that Falcon can't supply, they don't do anything like it. any ideas of a way around this or a supplier of one? I found a Kendeil cap on Ebay but it is 350volt. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Higher voltage is fine but I’m sure the 2500uF issue has been addressed in these pages before. I’m not sure but I think some members said to leave it. Do you have a capacitance meter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Hi i remember reading that quite some time ago, don’t remember much of the detail and haven’t found the thread since. I don’t have a capacitance meter, thinking I should get one. I would have thought after the best part of 47 years, all the caps would be dried up etc. I know with good and tested drive units these sound awful, no depth, no bass and completely dull and this has happened slowly over the last six months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd0nc Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Madisound in the US have 1000uf and 500uf caps. I've imported stuff from them before. Bennic used to do suitable caps but I couldn't find any when I did my AR9s last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted February 27, 2021 Report Share Posted February 27, 2021 Thanks for the replies and help. Madison will do MDL caps to make up the 2500uf value. Can get enough to do both speakers with shipping for £100 not sure what the import duties will be. I think I will wait for Falcon to come back to me with exactly what I need for the rest of them. Get the installed and see what they sound like and go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted February 27, 2021 Report Share Posted February 27, 2021 If the 2500uF can is Sprague Compulytic my understanding is it’s probably good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted February 27, 2021 Report Share Posted February 27, 2021 Hi just Put my head in the cabinet with a torch and the big 2500 cap is a Callins ! What is the opinion on that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted February 27, 2021 Report Share Posted February 27, 2021 I have found some new old stock Sprague Compulytic 2500uf 100V in the USA. Anyone know if these are suitable and what is the situation with using unused but old stock electrolytics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aadams Posted February 27, 2021 Report Share Posted February 27, 2021 I have purchased old Spragues from known and trusted sellers. They work fine. If you have listened to these speakers and can't hear a problem then this cap replacement is precautionary rather than remedial. You could leave the big cans in place and replace all the smaller values. Cap replacement in working speakers is rarely a big payoff excercise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted March 1, 2021 Report Share Posted March 1, 2021 Hi good to know about the Sprague’s as I mentioned earlier, these speakers have become ‘ un-listenable’ over the last 6 months. No depth or soundstage and no power to them even though the drive units are working ok, swapped them over for my 3a’s and the system comes back to life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted March 1, 2021 Report Share Posted March 1, 2021 Bennic and MDL both make 500uF and 1000uF NPE caps. The MDL might be slightly better as the Bennic line has recently shrunk the physical size of their caps. I've used 2 x 1000uF + 500uF or you could use 5 x 500uF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 Hi all So, after ordering a couple of 2500 Spragues from across the pond and a full set of Mundorf Ecaps from HiFiCollective, the speakers are singing probably better than I have ever heard them. Very impressed. I am now thinking my AR3a improved would benefit from new caps. thanks for all the help guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 4 hours ago, Garys cones said: Hi all So, after ordering a couple of 2500 Spragues from across the pond and a full set of Mundorf Ecaps from HiFiCollective, the speakers are singing probably better than I have ever heard them. Very impressed. I am now thinking my AR3a improved would benefit from new caps. thanks for all the help guys Are those 2500uF caps bi-polar? Do you have a link to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 Hi no, they are polarised and a fare bit smaller than the original Callins electrolytics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 They were purchased from Ebay item 173044708809 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTally Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 3 hours ago, Garys cones said: Hi no, they are polarised and a fare bit smaller than the original Callins electrolytics A polarized capacitor is intended to be used in a direct current (dc) circuit, like a power supply. Most likely, those caps you bought are dc power supply filter caps. They are unsuitable for use in an ac circuit like a crossover. Crossover caps need to be non-polarized. I would not trust a polarized cap in a crossover circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lARrybody Posted March 14, 2021 Report Share Posted March 14, 2021 Those Sprague electrolytic caps look more like filter caps than crossover caps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garys cones Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 This is what came out factory fitted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTally Posted March 15, 2021 Report Share Posted March 15, 2021 1 hour ago, Garys cones said: This is what came out factory fitted The NP in 2500 uF-60 V NP on the capacitor you took out of the crossover means it is a non-polarized cap. That is, the cap does not have a negative nor a positive lead as does a polarized cap. That crossover cap should be replaced with another non-polarized cap of the same capacitance value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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