decato Mod 15TL Crossover Capacitor Values and Brands
bcwsrt
Posts: 1,580
Been scouring the various threads but still a little confused. I think the latest configuration for the capacitor values is a 12 uF, 10 uF and 13.5 uF, correct?
Then, what brand or brands should I be thinking about? I see Sonicap, Solen, Mundorf and maybe one or two other brands mentioned. If there’s not a consensus, which there didn’t appear to be, can anyone describe the sonic differences between the various brands?
I know I’m asking stuff that’s been talked about for the past 15 years, but just trying to make the right decisions on things if I end up going the route of doing the mods myself and the threads are a bit scattered about at this point.
Then, what brand or brands should I be thinking about? I see Sonicap, Solen, Mundorf and maybe one or two other brands mentioned. If there’s not a consensus, which there didn’t appear to be, can anyone describe the sonic differences between the various brands?
I know I’m asking stuff that’s been talked about for the past 15 years, but just trying to make the right decisions on things if I end up going the route of doing the mods myself and the threads are a bit scattered about at this point.
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM
Comments
-
I wouldn't use Solen anywhere but a low pass.
Sonicaps and Clarity are both very good, tried and true.
Jentzen are also respected.
https://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html?adlt=strict
I will say that Sonicap has all the exact values you should need. -
Budget-wise, the Clarity PX sound very detailed and balanced.Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
-
Sonicap will have all the values exact. Clarity PX and CSA will have the 10uf an12uf, but you'll have to parallel two 6.8ufs for the 13.5ufHome Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
I wouldn't use Solen anywhere but a low pass.
Sonicaps and Clarity are both very good, tried and true.
Jentzen are also respected.
https://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html?adlt=strict
I will say that Sonicap has all the exact values you should need.
Ran across a 1-year old, or so, thread from WMG and looked like that’s what he was using, at least at that time. So, figured I couldn’t go wrong with those. lol Probably helps a lot with the packaging not having to do two for the 13.5 uF.
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
I still have the RTA 15TL I modified back in early 2007. I haven't changed anything. In some other Polks that I modified, I started using a single Vishay MKP 1837 0.01uF in parallel with the main capacitor in the tweeter circuit. It works well with Solens. It's worth a try before spending a lot of money on more expensive capacitors. If you don't like it, you didn't lose much and you can keep the extra components for other projects requiring experimentation.
-
Appreciate all the responses. I'm a massive rookie to this type of thing and hoping to be one and done upgrading my original owner 15TLs. So, I like the simplification that the Sonicaps in all the correct values would provide.
Along those lines, am I going to get, let's say, 80%, of the benefit of this mod doing the capacitors, only, or am I leaving too much on the table not doing the inductors and resistors at the same time? Maybe I'm making it out to be more than it is, but in my mind replacing 3 parts is less daunting than 7, plus then having to think about maybe removing some hot glued-on inductors, figuring out how to re-package everything, etc. on top of it. I see some gorgeous work in these threads, just not confident in my own ability to pull something similar off.
As a follow-up to that, if I was to do only the capacitors, would sticking with the original values be the better way to go or would the 12/10 and 13.5 uFs still be the way to go?
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
Do the caps and resistors. Resistors are cheap and can be bought at the same place as the caps.
Vishay-mills 10 or 12 watts are your huckleberry. Yes there are others you could use but simple and done the benefits will be huge. -
If you're not going to change the inductors, then stick with the original capacitor values, otherwise you'll muck everything up.Home Theater/2 Channel:
Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer
dhsspeakerservice.com/ -
I wouldn't use Solen anywhere but a low pass.
Sonicaps and Clarity are both very good, tried and true.
Jentzen are also respected.
https://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html?adlt=strict
I will say that Sonicap has all the exact values you should need.
Very cool link!
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM
