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Wharfedale W70 x-overs help

JohnMac

JohnMac

Addicted Member
I've been curious about using Wharfedales with one of my tube amps and just picked up a nice pair of W70s. I was told that they had been recapped but one tweeter seemed suspect so I opened it up to take a look. I'm thinking these are the original or at least not new caps. The blue one is marked ILX 4.7uf, 25v and the silver is 4mfd, 50v. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

John

By the way, these seem to be the most efficient speakers that I've tried with my low powered tube amps.
 
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They don't look new to me as well. Beside that they look to be electrolytic types, I would recap with Mylar or Poly type caps. PE's Dayton 5% are hard to beat for the $$!
DC
 
I like Daytons too. I just found some info that conflicted with my crossovers. It said they used 2 2ufs in parallel. And that changing to non electolitics would greatly change the sound. Mentioned oil caps. I'd like to find out exactly what I should do to preserve the original sound.
 
I have changed a LOT of caps from electrolytic to Polys and Mylars and never had a one suffer worse from doing so! Typicaly speaking the sound always improved.

Fact of the matter caps will just dry out over time and break down, lose tollerance, etc. I typicaly give an electrolytic cap 20 years (at most) then yank them. Many experienced people here will agree that cap change out (for the better Mylar/ Poly types) is usually a must or prefered thing to do..
DC
 
I am very interested to find out about cap replacements as well. As far as I know, the caps in my W70's are original and look to be the same as yours save for the blue cap. I just hooked them up to my Scott 299B tube integrated and they sound pretty harsh in the mid-range to me. I'm thinking those 45+ year old caps may have drifted a bit? That said, the bass is very solid and accurate. Have had no issues with my Heresy II's, very smooth in the mids and highs, so I'm thinking it's the speakers not the amp.
 
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dc270 said:
I have changed a LOT of caps from electrolytic to Polys and Mylars and never had a one suffer worse from doing so! Typicaly speaking the sound always improved.

Fact of the matter caps will just dry out over time and break down, lose tollerance, etc. I typicaly give an electrolytic cap 20 years (at most) then yank them. Many experienced people here will agree that cap change out (for the better Mylar/ Poly types) is usually a must or prefered thing to do..
DC
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I agree. In my experience a recap has usually been an improvement and never the other way around. As it turns out the suspect tweeter is working after all. They sound overall quite nice but new caps might wake them up a bit.

Hey Jenkster. I can't say my mids sound harsh. Quite warm and well rounded. Maybe even slightly dark. That's a large mid-range and really puts out a lot of sound. If I could bring the highs out a little I'd be very satisfied. If I can get around to recapping them I'll resurrect this thread and let you know.
 
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JohnMac said:
I agree. In my experience a recap has usually been an improvement and never the other way around. As it turns out the suspect tweeter is working after all. They sound overall quite nice but new caps might wake them up a bit.

Hey Jenkster. I can't say my mids sound harsh. Quite warm and well rounded. Maybe even slightly dark. That's a large mid-range and really puts out a lot of sound. If I could bring the highs out a little I'd be very satisfied. If I can get around to recapping them I'll resurrect this thread and let you know.
Click to expand...

Yes, please keep me in mind if you get around to doing a re-cap. I got too many other projects going at this time.
 
Don't use polys in W70s. I did and a BIG mistake. I have quite an edge on the tweeter that from past experince I know should not be there. I've tamed it through judicius amp matching. Mine oriignally had a single oil filled and I'm going to go back to them when time permits as I love the speakers. There seem to be a number of different crossover configurations with the x-vers using oil filled cap only having one cap while the x-overs w/o are using 2 but not in parrellel so apparently a design change.
 
Whoa. I guess I'd better do a little more research. So can anyone tell from my photos what I should use?
 
My crossovers seem to only have one cap. I have wondered if there is a cap inside the tweeter box? I haven't taken the time to look as there is a lot going on around that box.
 
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Jenkster. There seems to be several configurations. Are yours w70. Or w70d or c? Mine have no letter following the 70. I tried to remove the tweeter box and it's either clued on or REALLY stuck with age. Couldn't tap it loose.

John
 
JohnMac said:
Jenkster. There seems to be several configurations. Are yours w70. Or w70d or c? Mine have no letter following the 70. I tried to remove the tweeter box and it's either clued on or REALLY stuck with age. Couldn't tap it loose.

John
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Hi John,

Mine just say W70 and only have one adjustment pot. I assume they are the original of the series? They probably had different cabinets to choose from which was common back in the day. Being as they are a three way, I would assume there would be at least two caps in the crossovers? Maybe this weekend I will try to remove that box.

Mark
 
Mine too have one pot. Let me know what you find when you remove the box. I cancelled my cap order. I want to be sure I put correct ones in. Maybe someone with more experience with Wharfes will chime in.

John

Does anyone know of a source for oil filled caps?
 
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