Reply posted by Will Roberts on June 26, 2000

This is a very timely topic for me. I have some Klipsch monitors that are really starting to lose their punch, and the guy I bought them from advised me to look into changing the x-overs as he had done on his stock.

The current capacitors are nonpolarized electrolytics and 1 mylar. It sounds as I should go with poly caps.for this application (12 dB/octave I believe). Can you recommend good sources for higher powered audio grade caps?

Thanks,
Will

Reply posted by J.K.Constantine on June 26, 2000

Hi Will,

One problem I have run into when trying to upgrade x-overs to hi voltage poly caps, is the larger physical size. Can they be placed on the board? Also A real problem if your x-over is in a closed case. (to "seal" 1/4" inputs- An additional problem I have! Thinking of mounting them outside the box, and useing molex or some such to connect in the case with sufficient leads to allow opening the case...Or maybe I should try to change inputs to neutriks? the caps still won't fit on the board though...)

Best luck,
regards,
J.K.C.

Reply posted by Les Acres on June 26, 2000

Hi JKC,
I gave up on reversible Electrolytics years ago. When used regularly in High Power applications I found that they "dried out" going down in value and altering the performance in consequence. I then discovered high voltage polycarbonate capacitors and Boy! could you hear the difference!

For FOH use, providing the crossover frequency is high enough a 12db slope is OK but for monitor use where you can't really monitor what is going on the 18db is a lot safer.Don't forget to use air cored inductors with as thick a wire as you can get away with! This approach is not very practical for frequencies much below 1.5Khz but they will be good!

rgds,
Les Acres

Reply posted by J.K.Constantine on June 26, 2000

Hi Les,
Thanks for reply. Do you know where these polycarbonate caps can be purchased by someone who is not a contractor?
Thanks again,
reguards,
J.K.C.

Reply posted by Tom Young on June 26, 2000

Check www.audioxpress.com and either there, Old Colony Sound or Speaker Builder magazine (via that website) will have audio-grade caps or ads from suppliers of caps.

Tom Young