BEC 346 Posted April 9, 2018 Capacitors deteriorate from age whether used or not. I got to find that out back when I was using the GE oil filled caps. They had been in production for many years and once my supplier sent me some with some very old looking boxes. I tested them and found them all to be high in ESR. These had never been out of the boxes, but were bad just from age. Bob Crites Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaudeJ1 2623 Posted April 9, 2018 2 minutes ago, BEC said: Capacitors deteriorate from age whether used or not. I got to find that out back when I was using the GE oil filled caps. They had been in production for many years and once my supplier sent me some with some very old looking boxes. I tested them and found them all to be high in ESR. These had never been out of the boxes, but were bad just from age. Bob Crites I agree with Bob here. I have found that the poly film caps do not deteriorate like the old oil filled ones. That being said, it's all about the Equivalent Series Resistance, which when high, it tend to go towards less PURE capacitance and more resistive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BEC 346 Posted April 9, 2018 1 minute ago, ClaudeJ1 said: I agree with Bob here. I have found that the poly film caps do not deteriorate like the old oil filled ones. That being said, it's all about the Equivalent Series Resistance, which when high, it tend to go towards less PURE capacitance and more resistive. I will disagree with you about film caps. They age just as quickly as any other caps. Notice the ESR reading on these. They are all film caps from Klipsch crossovers. Bob Crites Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaudeJ1 2623 Posted April 9, 2018 6 minutes ago, BEC said: They are all film caps from Klipsch crossovers. Are they Mylar film? or Poly? Pretty sure the Yellow ones are Mylar, which are the worst. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BEC 346 Posted April 9, 2018 Those are probably all mylar. I don't think I have so far ever encountered a poly cap in a Klipsch speaker. Bob Crites Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaudeJ1 2623 Posted April 9, 2018 18 minutes ago, BEC said: Those are probably all mylar. I don't think I have so far ever encountered a poly cap in a Klipsch speaker. Bob Crites Yep. Like those polys. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mallette 4470 Posted April 9, 2018 14 hours ago, DizRotus said: The 1941 demo disc Certainly would not be vinyl! Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deang 2936 Posted April 10, 2018 On 4/8/2018 at 8:49 PM, BEC said: Capacitors deteriorate from age whether used or not. I got to find that out back when I was using the GE oil filled caps. They had been in production for many years and once my supplier sent me some with some very old looking boxes. I tested them and found them all to be high in ESR. These had never been out of the boxes, but were bad just from age. Bob Crites They may have had higher ESR not due to age from sitting on a shelf, but from an earlier production run/model, where they weren't wound as tight. An electrolytic will dry out over time, whether in use or not - but I really don't think that applies to hermetically sealed film or paper in oil. Metallized dry films can develop an ESR related issue over time because the lead terminations aren't soldered -- basically anything where a conductive paste is used, and air and moisture combine over time to cause corrosion at the lead attachment point. Cheap caps are cheap for a reason. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deang 2936 Posted April 10, 2018 On 4/8/2018 at 9:14 PM, BEC said: Those are probably all mylar. I don't think I have so far ever encountered a poly cap in a Klipsch speaker. Bob Crites Just so people don't get confused, but Mylar is polyester, and is also referred to as 'poly'. Early series Reference stuff used metallized polypropylene, but now all back to using polyester. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deang 2936 Posted April 10, 2018 Concerning the measurements on those old capacitors: I think most of them measured poorly to begin with, and because of lousy construction, went downhill pretty fast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DizRotus 9035 Posted April 10, 2018 Does Tom need to be concerned about the caps in his NOS H2s? My advice is to enjoy them as they are. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubai2000 60 Posted April 10, 2018 I agree and I am glad it has been said! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaudeJ1 2623 Posted April 10, 2018 On 4/8/2018 at 8:49 PM, BEC said: Capacitors deteriorate from age whether used or not. I got to find that out back when I was using the GE oil filled caps. They had been in production for many years and once my supplier sent me some with some very old looking boxes. I tested them and found them all to be high in ESR. These had never been out of the boxes, but were bad just from age. Bob Crites I can't resist the analogy of this "going bad just from old age." For those who think they will live longer by NOT exercising.............well, I guess people are like capacitors too. LOL. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaudeJ1 2623 Posted April 10, 2018 2 hours ago, Deang said: Just so people don't get confused, but Mylar is polyester, and is also referred to as 'poly'. Early series Reference stuff used metallized polypropylene, but now all back to using polyester. Ok, so I should have repeated polystyrene or polypropylene, but I think the latter is only available in values less than 1 microfarad.................so. I guess my new advice for those who suffer from "practical paranoia" (just as I do) is to just replace ALL the capacitors, no matter what. They are relatively inexpensive compare to the cost of the speakers and the time for future enjoyment after all. End of story for me!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emile 3657 Posted April 10, 2018 @Tom_Birmingham ... welcome and congrats. Sorry I'm "late" to the party Enjoy the Heresie's; they are very nice speakers. But in a month you will add a pair of Forte's ... then some Cornwall's or LaScala's or ... then some Professional Klipsch speakers The disease goes by many names ... Klipschitis ... etc. Cheers, Emile 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dubai2000 60 Posted April 10, 2018 It is actually a very contagious disease - but sometimes not having a lot of space helps - though we have a proverb that translates like: "there is always space - even in the smallest of huts"........ 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom_Birmingham 27 Posted April 12, 2018 6 days in and the love affair continues. Having fallen in love with them I am sad that I can't get that first day feeling as I'm getting used to the speaker abilities now ! However, I am sure it will become more obvious when I get in front of some not so good speakers. Still though, they are ridiculously good. Now.....for that amp......... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom_Birmingham 27 Posted April 12, 2018 Oh I've found a lot of people on forums talking about Nad amps that are paired well. I'm looking around the £500 budget in the future if anyone can kindly make some recommendations. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave1290 8860 Posted April 13, 2018 5 hours ago, Tom_Birmingham said: 6 days in and the love affair continues. Having fallen in love with them I am sad that I can't get that first day feeling as I'm getting used to the speaker abilities now ! However, I am sure it will become more obvious when I get in front of some not so good speakers. Still though, they are ridiculously good. Now.....for that amp......... Have you thought about giving Guy a call and asking his advice and if he knows anyone local?? Just a shot... 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom_Birmingham 27 Posted April 13, 2018 Good shout! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
