[rbyar]

Good Evening,

i would like some help with my XO upgrade project. I have tried to follow Paco's directions ( MUG website)  but apparently some things have changed since then (2000).

Based on his comments I was going to use the Jensen capacitors. Their web site lists

Aluminium Foil/Paper in oil/tinned copper leadout

.22uf 400DC
.25uf 400DC

I requested a price quote for a pair of each.

But then received an e-mail stating i should contact Parts Connexion- their USA distributor. Which i did. I received an e-mail back from Mr. Johnson, Parts Connexion President, stating "We have the 0.22uf. As for 0.25uf .you can "parallel" a 0.22uf & a 0.033uf". I thought the idea was to lessen the number of capacitors and connections. Is Parelleling a good idea? I was also going to use the HomeGrown 22ga braided silver wire. I also checked with North Creek Audio for an air core12ga, 85x44mm, 3.5mH, 0.30 ohms DCR. Paco lists them at $40 they are now $95 and I could only find a 3.0MH with .30 ohms or a 3.5MH with .33 ohms.

I sure could use your help and advice. Am i on the right track? And that is true for anybody here in the forum that has experience with this sort of project. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Davey]

Those capacitor values are 22uF and 25uf, not 0.22uF and 0.25uF.

I would poke around on the http://www.Madisound.com website for some suitable components.

I personally think these types of "upgrades" are waste of time/money, but if you replace the existing components with those of the same value you won't change the tonal character of the speaker and it might yield some subjective improvement.

Ultimately Paco abandoned the high-level approach and switched to a bi-amp setup with a very simple passive, line-level crossover that I designed for him.  (Much more potential improvement in that route.)

Cheers,

Dave.

[jb]

Many years ago I upgraded the caps and wiring in my MG3s to good effect. I used paralleled Wonder Caps and same kind of wire I used for speaker cables. Using consistent wiring makes for a more coherent sound. I retained the stock inductors because there wasn’t enough room for air-core, foil inductors.

[TONEPUB]

I went a slightly more expensive but much more turnkey approach and got the upgrade from the Skiing Ninja.  I didn't have the time to experiment with caps, boxes, etc. and have had great luck with Sean's stuff in the past.

It's definitely more money ($599 for the pair) but you get the crossovers done, in the box and ready to install.  Just depends on how much your time is worth.

The bottom line is that replacing the inductors and caps in the 1.6 will result in a pretty big improvement in the speaker.  Much better midrange, more open mids/highs and less grain overall.

Even at $599 for the ninja mods, I feel this easily makes the speaker twice what it is.  Good luck on whatever path you choose for your upgrade, I think you will be happy with the results.  If you love your 1.6's now, there is a lot of potential to unlock!

[rbyar]

Thanks everybody for their ideas. I think i am going to try to put together these upgrades myself. Thank you very much DAVEY for correcting my capacitor values.  I am not sure which caps to use SOLEN or ANSAR. I found SOLEN @ 400v but could only find ANSAR @ 450v. Which do you think would be a better choice? The stock is 200v but was told a higher value would be an improvement.

Regarding the inductor- I think i am going to use 15 AWG Sledgehammer   Steel Laminate in either 3.3 mH 15 AWG Inductors @.185 drc ohms or the 3.7 mH 15 AWG Inductors @ .2 drc ohms. The stock inductor is 19awg 3.5MH @ .4 drc ohms.  Which do you think is a better choice? 

[rollo]

Thanks everybody for their ideas. I think i am going to try to put together these upgrades myself. Thank you very much DAVEY for correcting my capacitor values.  I am not sure which caps to use SOLEN or ANSAR. I found SOLEN @ 400v but could only find ANSAR @ 450v. Which do you think would be a better choice? The stock is 200v but was told a higher value would be an improvement.

Regarding the inductor- I think i am going to use 15 AWG Sledgehammer   Steel Laminate in either 3.3 mH 15 AWG Inductors @.185 drc ohms or the 3.7 mH 15 AWG Inductors @ .2 drc ohms. The stock inductor is 19awg 3.5MH @ .4 drc ohms.  Which do you think is a better choice?

    You need to use the same values as the original design. If you are going through this project choose the cap that will enhance the sonics not just any one. Same for inductors. Check out Crosscreek , Erse. Hovland caps have a VG synergy with the Maggie tweeters as well as mundorf silver/gold. Resistors either Mills or Dueland non inductive. Wire with copper not silver for those ribbons.
   Mye stands will tie it all together. actually i recco the stands before any mod to the speaker, but thats me. Have fun.


charles

[NagysAudio]

rbyar,

Solen capacitors are the way to go for crossovers. They're absolutely excellent and inexpensive. 200V are fine, even 100V is fine. Other capacitors to consider would be the Jantzen Z Silver, they're significantly more expensive, but great. Make sure that the uF rating of the capacitor is exactly the same as stock, or you will change the crossover point.

For inductors, you want to use the same exact value, 3.5mH (0.4DCR). The options you listed would be wrong for this crossover. My favorite inductors are the aircore 14AWG Solen. You can buy the 3.6mH (0.47DCR) and unwind 2 windings, this should give you a 3.5mH and the DCR will be close enough. You can buy them at www.solen.ca Make sure that they will fit. If they will not fit physically inside the speaker, then leave the stock inductors alone, otherwise you will change the crossover points of your speakers by using the inductors you listed.

[rbyar]

Good Evening,

Well, if finally ordered the parts. I ordered Vampire posts to replace the steel posts the Maggie's came with. I ordered twisted silver&copper 22ga wire from HomeGrown. I kept hearing mixed reviewes of all copper, all silver or a hybred. So i went with the hybred.  I had chosen Jensen capasitors but in the end could not afford them. So i purchased Mundorf's middle of the line capasitors. I ordered the steel laminated Sledgehammer Indcutor Paco had recommened and went with a 15ga instead of the stock 19ga but kept the values close to the original.  I am going to use the clamping devises that were recommended for the majority of the connections.  Instead of trying to fit all of these components into the little cavity in the speaker base i have decided to put them in a little wooden box and then attach the wooden box to the base of the speaker. The box will probably be 5"x6" so and that sould give me enough room. I will let you know how it turns out. If i blow things up. I will let you know that too.   

Thank you all for your guidence and advice.