RTA 12B Recap recommendations
Michael8it
Posts: 192
I am doing an overhaul of my Polk RTA-12B speakers and am looking for suggestions for Capacitors. I can get the correct values in Erse, Solen, or Jantzen which keeps the cost down, but I have also seen them done with Sonicaps and others.
I did this on another pair of speakers that I have since sold which use Erse caps, and I was happy with that, but this pair will be keepers and I'm willing to spend a bit more if it yields a significant improvement. From what I have read so far, all three of the brands I mentioned are comparable. If anyone has experience with these different brands I would appreciate the feedback.
Thanks,
I did this on another pair of speakers that I have since sold which use Erse caps, and I was happy with that, but this pair will be keepers and I'm willing to spend a bit more if it yields a significant improvement. From what I have read so far, all three of the brands I mentioned are comparable. If anyone has experience with these different brands I would appreciate the feedback.
Thanks,
Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd).
Comments
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buy some film caps instead of electrolytic. They are much better than electrolytic caps. There are not cheap by any means but very reasonable. Sonicaps and Clarity caps have a good reputation around here. You may not get exact but close enough works very well. Get some Mills resistors and switch out all those while your doing the job. If per say your resistor is say a 5watt move up to the 12 watt it won't hurt a thing.
www.soniccraft.com/
www.partsconnexion.com/ -
Erse is the least expensive at $120. Solen PB series comes in at $136. Jantzen has a few higher end caps I could use on the tweeter circuit, that package comes in at $290.
Sonicaps comes in at $565. The question is, am I going to get 4 times improvement from Sonicaps as I would from Solen when upgrading from stock.
Has anyone done a comparison between the two that could provide any feedback? If I'm just throwing away money on Sonicaps, I have better uses for it
Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd). -
If you must use Solen only use them in the bass section they are very shrill in the tweeter circuit.
You would not be throwing money away using Sonicap's but that is not for me to decide. I have used them in both my SDA's never question the cost or whether i wasted money. I know for darned sure I'm not taking them out.
Others have used Daytons (Bennic) and Erse I'll let them chime in. -
Spend the money on the Sonicap's, well worth it.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
A very good pair of speakers you have there. F1nut's advice is on point, those speakers are worth the investment.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
Thanks. I may split them and use Sonicaps on the Tweeter circuit and Erse on the rest just to keep the cost down.Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd).
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I second the Sonicap recommendations. The are very non-fatiguing, neutral, yet reveal subtle details. I have original RTA-12's, and for your superior 12B's I would think it would be money well spent, especially if done in concert with other upgrades that are recommended here on the forum.
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Thanks Jazzhead. It may come down to budget... Sonicaps are quite expensive because of the number of caps in the crossover, on the order of 5 times the price of Erse. I used Erse in a previous project and was happy with them. I may just settle for that. Love to hear from someone who may have used both or at least heard both.Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd).
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I would go with Jantzen for those particular speakers and your situation. Great caps for the $.
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Jantzen is definitely a possibility. Thanks for the feedback.Carver C-1, M-500 MKII, Yamaha HTR-5835, Polk RTA 12BM's (M-for mod'd).
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Some reading for you, http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html
As you'll read the basic Erse, Jantzen and Solen caps are not rated very well.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I've rebuilt the xovers in my RTA 12c's with sonicaps and mills 12 watt resistors, + some other mods. The results are what I'd hoped for, providing much greater clarity, imaging and slam.
I also recommend putting strips of Black Hole 5 on the interior back wall.
Can't comment on the other brands you mentioned as I've never used them in a cover mod."Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer -
Some reading for you, http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html
As you'll read the basic Erse, Jantzen and Solen caps are not rated very well.
Interesting reading!Post edited by K_M on -
Smart move to edit those comments.
Post edited by [Deleted User] onPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
