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What capacitors are the best replacements?

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In Reply to: RE: Caps for MMG posted by Drumhead on July 25, 2010 at 07:09:33

Seems like a simple question, but wonder why you haven't gotten any replies?

Only because there is absolutely no consensus on what's "best". Everybody has their favorites tho'. What kind of a budget are you working with here?

Follow Ups:

RE: What capacitors are the best replacements? - Drumhead 13:38:12 07/26/10 (6)
Yeah, me too. but thanks for the reply. I don't think any caps could possibly be out of budget range, what I meant was I'm not going to spring for an expensive external crossover at this point. Most of my tweaks stay in the $50-$100 range.

Maggie MMG's bring me back to my beloved BES dipole sound
- I've been thinking about it since I saw your post yesterday... - JBen 23:10:34 07/26/10 (0)
  ...and here is my best input.
  I knew from the beginning, two years or so ago, that my MMGs would be bi-amped. Either actively or passively, at line-level. Therefore, I did not spend grandly on speaker-level xover caps. I did try low cost good ones for prototyping base slopes. There are all kinds of caps suggestions out there, including the Asylum/MUG archives. In addition, there are a couple of review sites, which I include at the very bottom here, in no specific order.
  However, let me go further than the caps and add a perspective. If I had to do things all over, knowing what I know now:
  - First, I'd hold on to my wallet and keep the xover as is.
  - I would either stand-brace, frame, or at least P-Frame for testing (this is what I use for now because I won't do frames as such)
  - In addition, (but "instead of the above" is quite alright), I would apply Dawnrazor's FULL-Razoring tweak. I am testing it now and I already feel confident in that it is a superb idea.
  - Also, I would add the Al Sekela's chokes tweak.
  Why the above? The framing/P-Framing should give you the cleanest highs and strongest lows -- and pretty much the mid's as well -- that your existing system is capable of. The Full-Razoring can also significantly improve the highs and lows on non-framed MMGs. However, it's most phenomenal contribution is the midrange and upper bass detail and texture. Also, at least P-Frames+Full-Razoring also enhance imaging synergistically. Al's chokes add insurance that the imaging and other aspects won't be affected by some types of electromagnetic interference.
  The total outlay for the test P-Frames, the FULL-Razoring materials and a set of Al's chokes is less that $100 and a little sweat. This alone will shock you in terms of sound improvement. It will also let you determine where the real weaknesses remain. THEN you can decide what the next step should be.
  If it is the xover, you can start testing replacement caps. Or, you can adopt Peter Gunn's xover design. Or, my personal favorite, you can bi-amp (check Davey's approach. I use something similar, though just for my MMG tweeters. They redefine what a cheap MMG is supposed to do.)
  Links to the Razoring tweaks: Razor your MMGs .
  Description of P-Frames: P-framed MMGs The P-Frames are a test rig. I am going to be replacing them with hidden wood bracing, soon.
  Some links to caps reviews/reference.
  http://www.vhaudio.com/21capacitorshootout.pdf
  http://www.laventure.net/tourist/caps.htm
  http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html
  
  Edits: 07/27/10
- RE: What capacitors are the best replacements? - RickeyM 21:41:16 07/26/10 (4)
  OK on the budget, now for the space. Many, many good caps out there. They are all probably bigger than the stock caps.
  
  Try this: Obbligato Film-Oil caps with Obbligato Gold Premium caps (22uF+2.2uF) on the tweeters along with a Dayton 50uF poly cap for a shunt cap on the woofer. This will return your MMG's to the first gen style x-over (better sounding).
  Since you don't want an external box, you will have to get creative on mounting your new parts. The pic is what one member did with his Maggies.
  
  Solution courtesy of Ed Morawski.
  - RE: What capacitors are the best replacements? - Drumhead 03:39:05 07/28/10 (1)
    Wow, thanks for pointing out the size difference. I had no idea these things were mutants from a nuclear site:) I guess there's no way it's going to be an easy swap of parts.
    
    Maggie MMG's bring me back to my beloved BES dipole sound
    - RE: What capacitors are the best replacements? - RickeyM 21:03:48 07/28/10 (0)
      FWIW, external x-over boxes needn't be expensive. I bought a couple of wooden cigar boxes to put my parts in. Should be do-able for $10-$15 bucks. I may be able to put up some pics of 'em tomorrow.
  - 1st gen xo erratum - wazoo 08:33:19 07/27/10 (1)
    You quoted twice the specified capacitance for the shunt. According to the official drawing below, there is a single 25uF in that section. It's the little cap between the tweeter caps and the coil in the upper detail. The component list also indicates a QTY of 1.
    It's the MG12 which uses a 50uF shunt. That XO has 33uF in the tweeter section - with a .1uF bypass. Obviously, the coil is also a larger value.
    
    "Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny" FZ
    
    Edits: 07/27/10
    - Good catch there! - RickeyM 12:05:00 07/27/10 (0)
      You're exactly right. Don't know where that "brain fart" came from?!?
      
      I would still recommend if the OP still wants to do a "cap-ectomy", that the original 25uF electroylitic be replaced by the same value poly cap. Or as I read in a tweak somewhere, to simply re-task the original tweeter caps (2-12uF's) over to the woofer circuit.

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