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Speakerlab S7s Rebuild and Modding (Ribbon Tweeter Model)

I will love to know about your impre
Bratwurst7s said:
Today I made 1 small change. I had bought a pair of Mundorf MCap Evo in 0.01µF and today they went in the tweeter section
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I will love to know how this works, I think I read someplace this will add the fancy sound from the high grade cap without broke the bank... If you have susess I will consider adding something like this to my crossovers.

Good luck with your new laptop and calibration.

Cheers,
Rodolfo
 
morfeora said:
I will love to know about your impre

I will love to know how this works, I think I read someplace this will add the fancy sound from the high grade cap without broke the bank... If you have susess I will consider adding something like this to my crossovers.

Good luck with your new laptop and calibration.

Cheers,
Rodolfo
Click to expand...

The result is... ...interesting.

I wasn't expecting a big change. And it isn't a big change. And it is. ;)

The difference is subtle. It's just 2 little caps, about €20 with shipping.

My first impression was that the soundstage just grew a bit.
And there is a bit more detail.
And there is a bit more depth, and a bit more width.
It sounds just a bit clearer.
All in all it sounds just a bit more natural and a bit more real.

None of the changes are big changes. But together they add up to a very interesting improvement. I think that I have pretty much squeezed as much as I am going to out of these speakers. The good thing is that that adds up to a lot. The sound that I'm getting now is just very very real. Like I'm listening to live performances in my home rather than recordings.

I think that I am done with the system now, and that now it is finally time to just concentrate on finding good quality performances to listen to.

Cheers,
James
 
nerdorama said:
Another possible candidate for a bypass cap is the Cornell Dubilier 940C / 0,01uF / 3000VDC bypass. The Humble Homemade Hifi guy really likes them in his capacitor comparisons. I have some but haven’t tried them yet
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html
John
Click to expand...

I'll add those to the list, or at least look where I might be able to find some over here. I also looked at the Mundorf Evo Oil (also on that site/list) but the dread limitations of budget kinda stepped in. €20 for 2 caps was within reason but anything more expensive will have to wait until after I buy more granite. But the beauty of moving the crossovers to an external box is that I have very quick and easy access to them.

At this point I'm in for way over €300 for the crossovers alone. Actually, considering the cost of the first and second versions, probably over €500. I'm totally OK with that, it has been an interesting and rewarding journey, but the audio budget account needs to get recharged before doing anything else.

Cheers,
James
 
Found them. And huh, pretty inexpensive. I'll probably be making a Mouser order next month and at a little over €7 for a pair I'll probably order some. Thanks!

Cheers,
James
 
Hi James. Thank you for the nice comment. Wish I wasn’t 5000 miles away so I could hear your speakers after all the work you have invested.
John
 
John if you ever get the urge to visit Munich it would be a pleasure to have you visit. We can shake the walls a bit.

I know that it has probably changed beyond recognition since I saw it last but I always have good memories of Spokane. My grandparents had a farm near Spangle and I always loved that place. I think that the last time that I was out that way was in '89.

James
 
Bratwurst7s said:
None of the changes are big changes. But together they add up to a very interesting improvement. I think that I have pretty much squeezed as much as I am going to out of these speakers. The good thing is that that adds up to a lot. The sound that I'm getting now is just very very real. Like I'm listening to live performances in my home rather than recordings.
Click to expand...

I have been noticing this myself James, small little improvement makes the all thing wonderful. Will add to my to do things to improve my speaker caps.
I understand you feeling of live performance... Have you ever listened to Bill Withers at Carnegie Hall? If not, you should check it in your "new" speakers. I am pretty happy for you my friend, you should know that thanks to you I know what you are talking about
Cheers,
Rodolfo
 
morfeora said:
I have been noticing this myself James, small little improvement makes the all thing wonderful. Will add to my to do things to improve my speaker caps.
I understand you feeling of live performance... Have you ever listened to Bill Withers at Carnegie Hall? If not, you should check it in your "new" speakers. I am pretty happy for you my friend, you should know that thanks to you I know what you are talking about
Cheers,
Rodolfo
Click to expand...

I have not listened to that Bill Withers album yet Rodolfo but there is a SACD of a live performance of his and I do believe that it is the one at CH. It is on my short list to buy. :) The very first live show that I ever saw was Bill Withers when I was 15 years old. I don't have any of his work but need to get some soon.

One thing that I have been noticing more and more now is that I keep leaning more and more towards music with at least some acoustic instruments in it because they sound so much like they are in the room with me. And complicated pieces with lots of different instruments and singers no longer sound mashed together. It's very easy now to pick out very subtle things that are going on that were hidden before.

I really think that you need to take another trip to Germany soon. ;)

Cheers,
James
 
Ja ja ja ja ja!!!!! I really think the same my friend I should find my way to Germany soon again :)

That work form Bill Withers has given to me wonderful listening moments. Let me know when you finally take a listen to that, with your story about seen in him live, wow, I am pretty sure it will be pure joy for you.

I completely understand you about the new details appearing in the music, is the very same feeling I have now with my new restored amplifier... A new world appear to out ears. What a wonderful entertainment.
Pretty happy for you my friend!!
Cheers,
Rodolfo

Pd: if you want to have a wonderful group "in the room" look also for The Persuasions "A Cappella Dreams" from Chesky Records...
IMG_20200617_130744045.jpg
 
Before getting into that, I did take nerdorama's suggestion and buy some of those Cornell Dublier 740 series 0.01µF caps and put them in the tweeter section in place of the Mundord Evo/Oil caps. I can't really say that I heard a big difference.

The same can not be said for today's midrange section change. Considering how much I liked the improvement in the tweeter section from swapping the single Jantzen cap that I had been using I've been thinking about doing the same for the single Jantzen 56µF series cap in the mid section. Last week I ordered some Mundorf 33µF, 22µF and 0.1µF Mcaps, as well as some more of those CD 740 series 0.01µF and today I installed them. Only took less than hour to do both speakers.

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Cheers,
James
 
LOL. Earlier in the year I said that I had thought that I had squeezed out all that I could from these speakers. I was so wrong.

Once again a relatively small change has paid off and again surprised me. The change in the mid section resulted in an immediate improvement. The mids aren't playing any louder, but they are playing wider and deeper. More detailed, instruments are again even more defined and fixed in space. I was quite seriously heart-thumping surprised at the improvement. I'm quite happy to have once again been wrong and hear that there is more to be improved. It's such an interesting journey!

Next up? I ordered some new granite.

Cheers,
James
 
The new granite arrived this week. Going from 35x35x3cm to 40x40x4cm raises the weight of a slab to 19.5kg.

Ugg. I'm getting to where I don't really like lifting these speakers but did so again today. With the help of Wife we swapped out the stone and put the smaller pieces on top of the cabinets.

DSC07343.JPG DSC07345.JPG DSC07346.JPG DSC07347.JPG DSC07348.JPG

Cheers,
James
 
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