Can new speaker capacitors be soldered to existing cap leads/wires?

[pdxtim]

I'll be replacing the caps in old Polk LS50 speakers and I read on AK that the old caps should be desoldered. In the past with some speakers I've just cut the leads of the old caps as close as possible to the old cap body and then twisted and soldered the leads of the new cap onto the existing wire/leads of the old cap.

What is the correct way to do this, and why? Does it matter? Thanks in advance for help.

 

[whoaru99]

It'll work for sure, but IMO generally reserved for situations where normal replacement is impractical or for some reason not possible.

 

[raycarr00]

I'd just cut, tie and solder. Sometimes, there's more damage to be done while un soldering. It's really up to you. P0lk LS50 Crossover Replacement?

 

[onwardjames]

Done it countless times. You're fine.

 

[NH-MAN]

No problem

 

[tadawson]

Electrically, it's the same. Mechanically, it's two more connections that can fail under the high vibration environment found inside a speaker enclosure . . .

 

[swechsler]

Mechanically, it's two more connections that can fail under the high vibration environment found inside a speaker enclosure . . .

Technically true, but if properly soldered, this shouldn't be an issue.

 

[dietz31684]

In a perfect world you'd remove it from the equation and solder the leads directly. I've done exactly what you're describing on a pair of Sansui SP2500 speakers which were glued/epoxied to the board and I was more worried about breaking the PCB. So far so good...

 

[tadawson]

Technically true, but if properly soldered, this shouldn't be an issue.

I take it that you have never seen even the best solder joints crack due to the soft metal cracking under stress? Not a huge risk, but inarguably more than half the number of connections . . . and if someone is cutting this corner, they likely aren't getting to the back of the pcb to refit any possible tie downs on larger parts.)

 

[pdxtim]

I'd just cut, tie and solder. Sometimes, there's more damage to be done while un soldering. It's really up to you. P0lk LS50 Crossover Replacement?

Yeah while desoldering components on an old Sony turntable recently I lifted and broke some traces. Not fun.

 

[BmWr75]

I’ve done it both ways. All turned out fine.