JohnKuthe Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 I acquired a pair of consecutive serial numbered 1977 Klipsch La Scalas: Type WS-BR Serial#s: 217412, 217413 Type AA Balancing Networks Beginner with recapping La Scalas. I can see three caps, two vertical in back and one bigger horizontal. Can anyone point me to the best source for new caps and accurate values for the correct replacement caps? I'm adept wirth soldering and screwdrivers! John Kuthe, Climate Anarchist and Audiophile! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted March 24, 2019 Share Posted March 24, 2019 John, its not a 7 its the letter T in the serial number which stands for 1979 its also LS - BR for LaScala - Birch Raw https://critesspeakers.com/rebuilding_a_set_of_type_aa.html 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted March 25, 2019 Author Share Posted March 25, 2019 9 hours ago, Budman said: John, its not a 7 its the letter T in the serial number which stands for 1979 its also LS - BR for LaScala - Birch Raw https://critesspeakers.com/rebuilding_a_set_of_type_aa.html Really? I guess I will have to get the Balancing Networks out to see what values capacitors are on mine. John Kuthe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC39693 Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 John, The AA schematic is in this thread (below) (and others I'm sure), from @Islander and the Crites site posted above has the values too and how to do it. 13 uF for the "horizontal" and 2 uF for the up right caps. If you take yours out you can check them with your multi meter and then go from there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted March 25, 2019 Author Share Posted March 25, 2019 On 3/25/2019 at 9:05 AM, MC39693 said: John, The AA schematic is in this thread (below) (and others I'm sure), from @Islander and the Crites site posted above has the values too and how to do it. 13 uF for the "horizontal" and 2 uF for the up right caps. If you take yours out you can check them with your multi meter and then go from there too. Yep! I have a local buddy who knows quite bit about Klipsch speakers and has a pair he upgraded extensively! All good information, from a Forum I respect! :-) John Kuthe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 I prefer film and foil caps, and am partial to Hovlands Musicaps but they are getting scarce. I suspect they have gone out of business, again. There are others that are equally good, but none are cheap, some actually bordering on stupid. I have been happy with Solen metalized caps in speakers I expected less from. I would use them in a parallel situation like the woofer caps in a Type AL-2/3/4 crossover. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Richard Hovland went his own way, but Alex continued on. You can still get Musicaps, and they're actually better than they used to be. https://uptoneaudio.com/products/musicap-film-and-foil-capacitors The PPT Theta is excellent, and reasonably priced. Fully protected film and foils are the most expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 9 hours ago, Deang said: ..... You can still get Musicaps, and they're actually better than they used to be. The PPT Theta is excellent, and reasonably priced. . Ok, but I haven't seen much selection in a year, or more and no 2 uFs available in a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted March 27, 2019 Author Share Posted March 27, 2019 19 hours ago, JohnA said: I prefer film and foil caps, and am partial to Hovlands Musicaps but they are getting scarce. I suspect they have gone out of business, again. There are others that are equally good, but none are cheap, some actually bordering on stupid. I have been happy with Solen metalized caps in speakers I expected less from. I would use them in a parallel situation like the woofer caps in a Type AL-2/3/4 crossover. Making little custom Cap Banks! I love it!! MORE power handling capacity for the same capacitance! John Kuthe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 18 hours ago, JohnA said: Ok, but I haven't seen much selection in a year, or more and no 2 uFs available in a long time. @JohnA that's disappointing to hear. I'm always having sourcing problems with the various film and foils. Vendors just don't keep as many in stock due to lack of cost and low demand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 John, if your La Scalas are the early top-loader models, like my 1974 Scalas, you can remove the lids of the cabinets and easily access the crossovers. If the cabinet tops have screws all the way around, you're all set. A #2 Phillips driver is all you need. If the tops are permanently installed, i.e., nailed on, pulling out the crossovers, as most people call the balancing networks nowadays, is not a big job, and they have far fewer mounting screws than the lids, so it's no big deal either way. As for capacitors, I went with Bob Crites's Sonicaps back in 2006. They improved the sound over the original caps, and the speakers still sound great today. The little plastic cradles and zip-ties that come with them make the update really simple, and the crossovers look much tidier than they did with the old tin can caps. Don't forget to loosen and re-tighten all the screws on the barrier strips, since some of them may have loosened up over the decades. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budman Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 get your self some real networks 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted March 27, 2019 Author Share Posted March 27, 2019 All good suggestions, thanks! John Kuthe... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted March 27, 2019 Author Share Posted March 27, 2019 26 minutes ago, Budman said: get your self some real networks I'll look for their website, thanks! :-) John Kuthe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 I don't have a website. The last time I had one I had so much work I was living out of my workroom, and that got real old real fast. Word of mouth keeps me just busy enough. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted March 30, 2019 Author Share Posted March 30, 2019 I visited https://critesspeakers.com and I'll call Bob soon and order $330 a pair NEW AA crossovers for my 1979 La Scalas, swap my AAs out, then determine if I need any driver upgrades! One step at a time!!! But a brand new pair of Crites AA La Scala crossovers sounds like a good deal for "instant professional crossover upgrade" and that can never be a bad thing! And relatively easy to do too! John Kuthe, etc... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted March 30, 2019 Author Share Posted March 30, 2019 On 3/27/2019 at 7:58 PM, Deang said: I don't have a website. The last time I had one I had so much work I was living out of my workroom, and that got real old real fast. Word of mouth keeps me just busy enough. Thanks Dean! I can imagine! Yeah, if you have a commercial website, like a *.com website, many expect you to be able to deliver on orders almost instantly, and when you are a one human shop, that is NOT hardly ever gonna happen! I know, I have a website KutheChocolates.com trying to grow a small seasonal chocolates business! Because I make Christmas Candy every year for over 30 years and have gotten quite good at it! But like I said it's a SEASONAL business, The weather MUST BE COOL DRY, and very cold weather is best. John Kuthe... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 I emailed Bob Crites (BobCrites@gmail.com) and ordered a pair of brand NEW AA crossovers and ordered a PAIR of brand NEW AA crossovers and a pair of squawker (I think!) gaskets plus shipping $345 I think!! Got the shipping email and I should have them by Wed or Thurs! Yay!! Swapping out the crossovers looks easy, I pre loosened the Phillips Head screws a little. I wish I could get in there more on the crossover mounting points. I'd get the little things you put in (kinda pop rivet in) sheet metal for a machine thread. Maybe I'll just stick 'em on with some extremely sticky 1/16in foam tape strips I have a roll of! My 1979 La Scalas sound pretty incredible now, so I can IMAGINE the improvement I might hear! John Kuthe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_Klipsches Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I did the same for my ‘80 (“U” Code) La Scalas. I just wanted to keep the old crossovers “stock”. Just in case someone down the road might want them the way they left Hope. Honestly, I didn’t hear much difference. The old ones must’ve been close to spec. But with all new parts, I figure they will be good for another thirty years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnKuthe Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 12 minutes ago, M_Klipsch said: I did the same for my ‘80 (“U” Code) La Scalas. I just wanted to keep the old crossovers “stock”. Just in case someone down the road might want them the way they left Hope. Honestly, I didn’t hear much difference. The old ones must’ve been close to spec. But with all new parts, I figure they will be good for another thirty years. Exactly! New modern parts will last 30+ years, I won't! :-) John Kuthe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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