B&W 803S crossover network lifespan?

[Mrv8q]

I have a similar setup to the OP, 802S2 fronts, 805 Matrix center and rears, driven by the same Rotel 1095. I do have the 802s up on Sound Anchor stands and JPS Labs bass alignment filters. Sounds good to me, haven’t thought about the x-overs. Hmmm.

Had to pull the 805 rears; wife wasn’t keen on all the brown boxes. Now using small B&W M1s, definitely not the same!

 

[Mrv8q]

BIG thanks to RVT1K for the link! Just downloaded a PDF for my 802s. I’ve had them for nearly 30 years and have never seen the SM. Many thanks!

 

[Fishead]

For me, a capacitance meter is for checking new parts before I install them, not the old ones that I'm going to replace.

Or, in my case, checking the health of an existing part. I hear you about the capacitor being old and there being a good case to be made for replacing it before it does fail. I wonder if there is anything special about this particular capacitor or could any, good quality cap of the same value be installed as a replacement. Any recommendations? I may also reach out to B&W tech support to see what they might say about it. I haven't even checked the HTM3 center channel speaker nor the 805S rear speakers' service manuals to see if there are any electrolytical caps in those......

 

[RVT1K]

BIG thanks to RVT1K for the link! Just downloaded a PDF for my 802s. I’ve had them for nearly 30 years and have never seen the SM. Many thanks!

You are most welcome!

 

[RVT1K]

Or, in my case, checking the health of an existing part. I hear you about the capacitor being old and there being a good case to be made for replacing it before it does fail. I wonder if there is anything special about this particular capacitor or could any, good quality cap of the same value be installed as a replacement. Any recommendations? I may also reach out to B&W tech support to see what they might say about it. I haven't even checked the HTM3 center channel speaker nor the 805S rear speakers' service manuals to see if there are any electrolytical caps in those......

I would be very curious to see if B&W actually had anything to say above and beyond "...use our parts...".

I think, in this application, there is no need to spend big bucks on a cap. Those are typically saved for the mids and tweeters. That being said, the "great capacitor debate" is as highly contested a the "great interconnect cable debate" and can be just as boisterous.

I see Parts Express lists a generic non-polarized electrolytic cap -200uF/100v- for under 5 bucks. There is also a Solen polypropylene cap -200uF/400v- for almost 90. This is one of the reasons you often see electrolytics when larger values are required. Size may be a consideration as well since elecrtolytics of the same value and voltage rating will be smaller.