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Modified RF-25 cross overs, Mundorf supremes and North Creek Inductors

Last evening I had the best listening session yet from this setup. I have about 60 hrs on the cross overs now, the sound is getting richer and better defined. Last evening I played a couple of CD's that I hadn't played thought the new cross overs, MAN DOES THAT SOUND GOOD! I ordered some Mundorf silver/oil coupling caps for my amps, hopefully I'll get them installed this weekend. I'm looking for soundstage, the speakers are there, now it's improve the amps.
 
Dave C said:
Last evening I had the best listening session yet from this setup. I have about 60 hrs on the cross overs now, the sound is getting richer and better defined. Last evening I played a couple of CD's that I hadn't played thought the new cross overs, MAN DOES THAT SOUND GOOD! I ordered some Mundorf silver/oil coupling caps for my amps, hopefully I'll get them installed this weekend. I'm looking for soundstage, the speakers are there, now it's improve the amps.
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More holographic sound? :D

Have you tried using a SS amp? How do you feel the columns? Have they maintained the sensitivity, power driven, cut-off frequency ...?
So many questions.

Regards
 
Dave C said:
Last evening I had the best listening session yet from this setup. I have about 60 hrs on the cross overs now, the sound is getting richer and better defined. Last evening I played a couple of CD's that I hadn't played thought the new cross overs, MAN DOES THAT SOUND GOOD! I ordered some Mundorf silver/oil coupling caps for my amps, hopefully I'll get them installed this weekend. I'm looking for soundstage, the speakers are there, now it's improve the amps.
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Glad your enjoying your work Dave! :music:

I would expect good things from the Mundorf's they certainly are capable of astounding stage size and depth as you heard from my system using them in my networks for my tweeters. :thmbsp:

SET12
 
I received and installed the Mundorf silver/oil coupling caps in my amps. Man does that sound nice! If anyone ever tries to tell me that caps don't matter I'll laugh in their face!
 
Fatsound said:
I had a lot of time thinking about tweaking the RFs crossovers, so I already had an idea about it, but I didn't "read" someone who do it. You know: practice is better than theory. Google searches do not always work, but finally found here in Audiokarma someone who had done exactly what I am looking for, and with the same speakers. When I read your impressions, was like reading my future. That was basicaly the motivation I needed.

A pity to live so far Dave.

Regards.
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Fatsound,
Did you get your parts yet?
 
Today I pointed a guy posting in DIY to this thread and SET12's thread. I've had these complete for about 5 months now, I would have a very hard time going back to stock. The more I listen to them the better I like them.
 
Dave, based on your experience with other Klipsch models, could you say that the crossover modifications elevate the RF-25 to sound as good or better than, say the RF-35, RF-42, or RF-52?
 
I wonder too as at some point, wouldn't the physical limitations of the cabinet or the speaker itself limit your overall experience???...curious (from someone who lacks the talent to be able to get far beyond stock)...
Bill
 
Dave C said:
The finished install. I have to finish the second box yet. Enjoying the music right now though.
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That looks great! What did you use for the enclosure?

I bet a custom crossover on my Heresy II's would change a lot of opinions about them.
 
Mark Walters said:
I bet a custom crossover on my Heresy II's would change a lot of opinions about them.
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You got that right Mark. I have heard Daves RF25's and it is one smooth speaker to begin with. And its very nice looking.

I think one thing about the RF series is to stay away from the larger woofers IMO. The mids tend to be a lot less dynamic. I think Daves are 6.5in and are just perfect.

I have yet to hear Daves modified work but I have no doubt the RF25's are doing everything he tells me they are.

Mark as I said on a previous thread I posted on this morning this kind of extreme work that Dave and I have done will do wonders on just about any speaker one might have a love for looking to get some some improvement the average mods don't quite cover. And as I have said a number times YMMV do to the rest of your electronics. But if you have gear that rocks for you then the extreme mods are going to go to town in a big way as they have for Dave and I.

And as Dave has said, he can't imagine going back to the way they were in stock form.

Anyway I'm sure he'll have some comments for you guy's soon!

SET12 :music:
 
SET12 said:
You got that right Mark. I have heard Daves RF25's and it is one smooth speaker to begin with. And its very nice looking.

I think one thing about the RF series is to stay away from the larger woofers IMO. The mids tend to be a lot less dynamic. I think Daves are 6.5in and are just perfect.

I have yet to hear Daves modified work but I have no doubt the RF25's are doing everything he tells me they are.

Mark as I said on a previous thread I posted on this morning this kind of extreme work that Dave and I have done will do wonders on just about any speaker one might have a love for looking to get some some improvement the average mods don't quite cover. And as I have said a number times YMMV do to the rest of your electronics. But if you have gear that rocks for you then the extreme mods are going to go to town in a big way as they have for Dave and I.

And as Dave has said, he can't imagine going back to the way they were in stock form.

Anyway I'm sure he'll have some comments for you guy's soon!

SET12 :music:
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I am convinced you are correct. On a much smaller scale, I did the Large Advent Econo waveguide as specified on AK. I started and built the crossover from scratch, using even better quality caps, inductors, resistors, etc. than specified. The only part of the speakers left over from original are the oiled walnut cabinets. They sound great. I think I may just build brand new X-overs from scratch and try them. We will find out.:music:
 
myu701 said:
Dave, based on your experience with other Klipsch models, could you say that the crossover modifications elevate the RF-25 to sound as good or better than, say the RF-35, RF-42, or RF-52?
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I listened to the RF-35s years ago so my mind isn't fresh on them. However The RF-25s sounded best to me even at the lower price. I felt the smaller size of the woofers made a better blend between the horn and the mid frequencies. These speakers sound very well balanced. I had even thought based on what my ears like that if I were to build some cornscallas I might run numbers on using 4 smaller woofers in place of the 1 large woofer. I haven't talked with anyone about that yet though. In the end everyone hears differently, work toward what works for you.
Other klipsch models? I am a Cornwall fan, I like SET12's Fortes, I haven't heard the '42s or '52s.
 
I had a good evening of listening last night. One point that hasn't come up recently in this thread is the separation of instruments. The better caps, Mundorfs in this case and North Creek inductors have given much more space between instruments than the stock networks ever did. Sometimes it feels like you can stand up and walk around the musicians. This is hard to explain if you've not heard anything but "flat" music before.
 
Dave C said:
I had a good evening of listening last night. One point that hasn't come up recently in this thread is the separation of instruments. The better caps, Mundorfs in this case and North Creek inductors have given much more space between instruments than the stock networks ever did. Sometimes it feels like you can stand up and walk around the musicians. This is hard to explain if you've not heard anything but "flat" music before.
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I have a pretty cherry pair of Dynaco A-25's. They need at least a recap. I wonder if I did a complete rebuild with Mundorf caps and North Creek inductors that there would be a sonic difference?
 
A-25 has only a single cap and no inductors I believe. I guess it makes sense to use a good quality cap, but the A-25 already has the best inductor possible -- none at all!
 
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