I am asked regularly about capacitors and when they need replacing. Here's my philosophy on the subject. It's more philosophy than science as I'm not an electronics expert but I do have a scientific background and I tend to apply observation and experience to forming a theory.
In my experience of listening to dozens of speakers over the years most don't urgently need the capacitors replacing. My advice has always been to listen and you'll know when something is wrong. It occurs to me that I will notice difference simply because I do listen to so many. When one is sounding wrong then often as not it is a faulty capacitor. But I know my system and my listening environment so changes are noticeable.
The practical problem is that capacitors last for ages and they deteriorate slowly. As they deteriorate their capacitance value changes gradually overtime. To put it simply the capacitors in a crossover set the crossover value/s and any change in the rated capacitance can therefore alter the frequency of the crossover point. Small changes are probably not noticeable, some of the original capacitors are only supposed to be accurate to 10% anyway, but a larger change will be noticeable.
But will it? When a change happens so slowly you get used to the difference in sound incrementally over time. So you lose the memory of what it is for the speaker to sound as it did when you bought it.
Some people are sensitive to this but most aren't. I stick to my general advice - if you're enjoying listening then leave well alone, it's the music that matters not the performance of the system in theory.
However those capacitors are now around 30 years old and they aren't going to last forever. I've been researching the subject for a while and recently rebuilt a couple of pairs of speakers for a customer who wanted to bring his speakers back to life. I changed all the capacitors I could for original replacements. They sounded a lot better to me afterwards.
This could cause a problem though, because they will certainly sound different. The question will be asked, are they better?
I know in this case that they will but if you think your capacitors are wearing out and get me to replace them then they may well come back sounding a bit different!
Another issue is which replacement capacitors to use. I'm aware that using new original replacements is something of a limited possibility as supplies are running out and costs rising as a result. I've been able to do it up to know and can still offer original replacements but a couple of the values are getting short so I've been looking further afield.
Here's a thing though - 30 years ago the electronic industry were making the best capacitors they could. 30 years on they must be making better ones surely?
I believe that they are and also (like cables) I know that some enthusiasts can spend hundreds on seeking a tiny improvement. I can offer fantastic capacitors at very expensive prices, for instance the Jantzen Silver Gold Z-Caps shown above are around £500! But that's not what most owners want. I think they want a good stable capacitor that doesn't contribute it's own sound to the system and can replace the original at a reasonable cost, so they can rely on their trusted favourite Celestions to keep giving them the listening pleasure they are used to.
So I have been buying capacitors, experimenting, listening and forming an opinion. It's driven me a little mad but now I am 100% happy that I can supply new very good quality reliable capacitors for a reasonable price which remain true to the originals and will deliver the traditional sound of the SL6 series.
I can also supply a better range at a premium price for those true audiophiles who want the best balance of price v. performance.
Or you can just go silly. I'd love to hear the Jantzen Silver Gold Z-Caps !
I rebuilt my Sl600's with the standard quality caps (audiophile 3%) and they sound amazing, well worth the effort involved. I can heartily recommend this as an upgrade.
Please feel free to enquire and exchange information. I can either rebuild the capacitors into the crossovers if you send them to me. I'm not able to give a set price as I have at least a dozen different crossovers from the SL6 range and given there were only three basic models I cannot tell what you have until you tell me, send a photo or I get the crossovers from you! I can also quote for any specific type of capacitor you would like.
In my experience of listening to dozens of speakers over the years most don't urgently need the capacitors replacing. My advice has always been to listen and you'll know when something is wrong. It occurs to me that I will notice difference simply because I do listen to so many. When one is sounding wrong then often as not it is a faulty capacitor. But I know my system and my listening environment so changes are noticeable.
The practical problem is that capacitors last for ages and they deteriorate slowly. As they deteriorate their capacitance value changes gradually overtime. To put it simply the capacitors in a crossover set the crossover value/s and any change in the rated capacitance can therefore alter the frequency of the crossover point. Small changes are probably not noticeable, some of the original capacitors are only supposed to be accurate to 10% anyway, but a larger change will be noticeable.
But will it? When a change happens so slowly you get used to the difference in sound incrementally over time. So you lose the memory of what it is for the speaker to sound as it did when you bought it.
Some people are sensitive to this but most aren't. I stick to my general advice - if you're enjoying listening then leave well alone, it's the music that matters not the performance of the system in theory.
However those capacitors are now around 30 years old and they aren't going to last forever. I've been researching the subject for a while and recently rebuilt a couple of pairs of speakers for a customer who wanted to bring his speakers back to life. I changed all the capacitors I could for original replacements. They sounded a lot better to me afterwards.
This could cause a problem though, because they will certainly sound different. The question will be asked, are they better?
I know in this case that they will but if you think your capacitors are wearing out and get me to replace them then they may well come back sounding a bit different!
Another issue is which replacement capacitors to use. I'm aware that using new original replacements is something of a limited possibility as supplies are running out and costs rising as a result. I've been able to do it up to know and can still offer original replacements but a couple of the values are getting short so I've been looking further afield.
Here's a thing though - 30 years ago the electronic industry were making the best capacitors they could. 30 years on they must be making better ones surely?
I believe that they are and also (like cables) I know that some enthusiasts can spend hundreds on seeking a tiny improvement. I can offer fantastic capacitors at very expensive prices, for instance the Jantzen Silver Gold Z-Caps shown above are around £500! But that's not what most owners want. I think they want a good stable capacitor that doesn't contribute it's own sound to the system and can replace the original at a reasonable cost, so they can rely on their trusted favourite Celestions to keep giving them the listening pleasure they are used to.
So I have been buying capacitors, experimenting, listening and forming an opinion. It's driven me a little mad but now I am 100% happy that I can supply new very good quality reliable capacitors for a reasonable price which remain true to the originals and will deliver the traditional sound of the SL6 series.
I can also supply a better range at a premium price for those true audiophiles who want the best balance of price v. performance.
Or you can just go silly. I'd love to hear the Jantzen Silver Gold Z-Caps !
I rebuilt my Sl600's with the standard quality caps (audiophile 3%) and they sound amazing, well worth the effort involved. I can heartily recommend this as an upgrade.
Please feel free to enquire and exchange information. I can either rebuild the capacitors into the crossovers if you send them to me. I'm not able to give a set price as I have at least a dozen different crossovers from the SL6 range and given there were only three basic models I cannot tell what you have until you tell me, send a photo or I get the crossovers from you! I can also quote for any specific type of capacitor you would like.