Subtle Sonic Restoration
Wow Canucker! Well this has been really enlightening for me! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I upgraded the caps, re-did the internal wiring and replaced some of the faulty drivers in one of my IMF TLS-50MkII cabs.
Yanno, we all chase improvements in our systems and sometimes we get results and sometimes not so much. Well I’m here to say, I’ve jumped on the “Re-Cap Bandwagon”!!! :thmbsp:
What I have found interesting, is we all love our vintage gear. But as many have said; “How do you know it is reproducing the sonic quality that was in the initial design if you’ve never really heard it?” And how do you know that sonic quality hasn’t changed over time? Well I guess you do what I did and find out!
Now with that said, I want to caution readers that the changes I have experienced are very, very subtle, but they are very, very real!!! And some may argue; “Well yeah, but is it the caps, the re-wire or the new drivers?” And I guess I can understand that criticism, but I think I can also give you some thoughts on what might be improving what! Read on dear Karma-ite!
The subtle changes I have experienced in my speakers are like a veil being lifted from in front of them. There’s a clarity and definition that have been brought to the forefront. This can be a little disconcerting at first because there is a “sharpness” that comes with this “detail”. You can now almost hear the frequencies being directed to the right driver and there is a sense of “driver separation”.
This sharpness and sense of “frequency definition” I believe will mellow and meld a bit as the caps burn in and the drivers get flexed, but the clarity and detail are what are impressive. Really, really impressive!!! Again this is all very subtle, but it is most assuredly there.
Listening to the older cabinet, there is a “warmth” that seems on the surface to be pleasant, but you can tell that it is almost “muffled” if not “veiled”. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the frequencies are “muddy”, but they don’t seem as defined as in the modified cabinet.
What all of this seems to indicate to me is that the upgraded IMF cab is now representing the type of “accuracy” and detail that the designers created in the first place. What it also tells me, is if I thought I was listening to “accurate” speakers before the mods, I most assuredly am now! And this is the point I’m getting to. If you think your 30 year old caps are playing just fine in those speakers or that receiver you oh so love; you may be sorely mistaken! :yes:
Now on to the other mods I made, and why I think I can sense what is improving what! I have noticed a definite improvement in the punch and dynamics of the modified cabinet. The Mids and Bass seem to have much better dynamics. This I attribute to the improved current flow from the re-wire. Now I know some will deny that this is the case, but I myself am of the opinion that (to a certain extent) a fire hose beats a garden hose!
The wiring in these was a really light 22ga aluminum conductor. I installed copper 16ga which is not only larger, it is a better conductor and I believe provides a certain level of “current overhead”. Less loss, less impedance, better performance. Call me crazy, but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it!
Now the drivers have provided their own subtle detail! The Monacor Mid-Bass is a truly well designed replacement. There is now a much nicer punch in the low mid-bass where it melds in with the B200. It has a smoother, faster tonal quality to it compared to the MTX that someone thought would work. Not sure if it is the difference in the impedance (8ohm Monacor compared to the 4ohm MTX) or all of the other parameters that we have discussed. But the Monacor just sounds right!
The "remanufactured" Coles has a beefier magnet assembly and just seems to drive the HF so smoothly and freely. To be fair, the original Coles may be compromised to an extent. So to my point, why not put in place a driver that is design as a direct replacment but utilizes all of the technical know-how that has been developed through the intervening years? :scratch2:
So those are my thoughts; re-capping is something everyone with 30 year old vintage gear should consider! You will experience so much better clarity, detail and separation from your speakers. It’s not an in your face type of improvement (unless your caps are totally shot), but it is a definite sonic improvement. Keep in mind that rewiring your speakers can provide improved punch and depth. And if you are replacing drivers, make sure you get a speaker that has been designed with your application in mind. Read and understand those Thiele-Short Parameters!!!
And finally, don’t be afraid to jump in, this project was fun and now I know what is actually going on in my IMF’s!!! I’m really looking forward to doing the other cabinet now!!! So have fun out there, because in the end, that’s what this hobby is all about! :thmbsp:
Wow Canucker! Well this has been really enlightening for me! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I upgraded the caps, re-did the internal wiring and replaced some of the faulty drivers in one of my IMF TLS-50MkII cabs.
Yanno, we all chase improvements in our systems and sometimes we get results and sometimes not so much. Well I’m here to say, I’ve jumped on the “Re-Cap Bandwagon”!!! :thmbsp:
What I have found interesting, is we all love our vintage gear. But as many have said; “How do you know it is reproducing the sonic quality that was in the initial design if you’ve never really heard it?” And how do you know that sonic quality hasn’t changed over time? Well I guess you do what I did and find out!
Now with that said, I want to caution readers that the changes I have experienced are very, very subtle, but they are very, very real!!! And some may argue; “Well yeah, but is it the caps, the re-wire or the new drivers?” And I guess I can understand that criticism, but I think I can also give you some thoughts on what might be improving what! Read on dear Karma-ite!
The subtle changes I have experienced in my speakers are like a veil being lifted from in front of them. There’s a clarity and definition that have been brought to the forefront. This can be a little disconcerting at first because there is a “sharpness” that comes with this “detail”. You can now almost hear the frequencies being directed to the right driver and there is a sense of “driver separation”.
This sharpness and sense of “frequency definition” I believe will mellow and meld a bit as the caps burn in and the drivers get flexed, but the clarity and detail are what are impressive. Really, really impressive!!! Again this is all very subtle, but it is most assuredly there.
Listening to the older cabinet, there is a “warmth” that seems on the surface to be pleasant, but you can tell that it is almost “muffled” if not “veiled”. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the frequencies are “muddy”, but they don’t seem as defined as in the modified cabinet.
What all of this seems to indicate to me is that the upgraded IMF cab is now representing the type of “accuracy” and detail that the designers created in the first place. What it also tells me, is if I thought I was listening to “accurate” speakers before the mods, I most assuredly am now! And this is the point I’m getting to. If you think your 30 year old caps are playing just fine in those speakers or that receiver you oh so love; you may be sorely mistaken! :yes:
Now on to the other mods I made, and why I think I can sense what is improving what! I have noticed a definite improvement in the punch and dynamics of the modified cabinet. The Mids and Bass seem to have much better dynamics. This I attribute to the improved current flow from the re-wire. Now I know some will deny that this is the case, but I myself am of the opinion that (to a certain extent) a fire hose beats a garden hose!
The wiring in these was a really light 22ga aluminum conductor. I installed copper 16ga which is not only larger, it is a better conductor and I believe provides a certain level of “current overhead”. Less loss, less impedance, better performance. Call me crazy, but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it!
Now the drivers have provided their own subtle detail! The Monacor Mid-Bass is a truly well designed replacement. There is now a much nicer punch in the low mid-bass where it melds in with the B200. It has a smoother, faster tonal quality to it compared to the MTX that someone thought would work. Not sure if it is the difference in the impedance (8ohm Monacor compared to the 4ohm MTX) or all of the other parameters that we have discussed. But the Monacor just sounds right!
The "remanufactured" Coles has a beefier magnet assembly and just seems to drive the HF so smoothly and freely. To be fair, the original Coles may be compromised to an extent. So to my point, why not put in place a driver that is design as a direct replacment but utilizes all of the technical know-how that has been developed through the intervening years? :scratch2:
So those are my thoughts; re-capping is something everyone with 30 year old vintage gear should consider! You will experience so much better clarity, detail and separation from your speakers. It’s not an in your face type of improvement (unless your caps are totally shot), but it is a definite sonic improvement. Keep in mind that rewiring your speakers can provide improved punch and depth. And if you are replacing drivers, make sure you get a speaker that has been designed with your application in mind. Read and understand those Thiele-Short Parameters!!!
And finally, don’t be afraid to jump in, this project was fun and now I know what is actually going on in my IMF’s!!! I’m really looking forward to doing the other cabinet now!!! So have fun out there, because in the end, that’s what this hobby is all about! :thmbsp:
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