long overdue but finally placed my order with Danny for AV123 LS9 upgrade

mcallister · « **on:** 12 Jul 2010, 09:09 pm »

Ordered the Sonicap Platinum Bypass caps and the Sonicap to replace the erse cap yesterday for my three LS9's.

Anything I should look for while I have the cabinets opened up? Should I buy something like the "stand-offs" the skiing ninja offers to help stabalize the crossovers if there already isn't something like that in there.

Can't wait to get these installed and start the break in period

Hugh · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Jul 2010, 09:28 pm »

What is this 'stand-offs'?

Btw, good move on the upgrade M.

mcallister · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Jul 2010, 11:05 pm »

looks like just basically rubber isolation cones for the crossover to limit vibration.

kingdeezie · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Jul 2010, 12:03 am »

MCallister,

Can you post some pictures of what things look like when you get inside of the crossover?

I ordered one of the external crossovers from Bill at Response, and it requires some rewiring internally. It would be nice to have a little visual before I get in there.

Thanks!

mcallister · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Jul 2010, 01:09 am »

Will do. Hopefully the surgery will be this Saturday.

stu · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Jul 2010, 02:22 am »

I installed the cap upgrades to my LS-9;s last fall, and it was well worth the effort. It is hard to believe that adding some small bypass caps can make much difference, but they do. You will like the results.

As I remember, my crossover board did have short standoffs. It had 5 screws, one at each corner and one in the center. If you forget about the that center screw, you will remeber it when the board will not come out after removing the the 4 corner screws. The only difficult part of the job was removing the Ersa cap . It had a lot of adhesive (hot glue) holding it to the board. I just got an exacto knife and slowly cut away a little at a time until I got the old cap loose so I could de-solder it. It probably took about 5 minutes or so to get it cut loose and removed. I also did the upgrade without removing the wires. Tthere was enough play in the wire lenght so that removing them was not necessary.

Have fun, and enjoy!
Mark

mcallister · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Jul 2010, 10:01 am »

Thanks for the info Stu that will help!

mcallister · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 12:32 am »

The good arrived safe and sound! Thanks Danny. Hope to get these installed this weekend and add some pics.

mcallister · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 08:25 pm »

Finally getting to this tonight will post some pics.

playntheblues · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 08:36 pm »

I am looking forward to the pictures.

kingdeezie · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 09:15 pm »

Excellent!

Looking forward to the pictures and the listening impressions.

Bonk · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 09:37 pm »

I did the same on a pair of LS6's about a month ago . Couldn't be happier .

I too like the idea of rubber stand-offs to minimize vibration . In addition to "buffering" the contact between the xover board and the cabinet from underneath , it occurs to me that an additional standoff on the top of the board may be beneficial . Without which the screw head (which is connected directly to the cabinet) will transfer any vibration to the xover board . Sort of a sandwich affair if you will . ?

Bonk

playntheblues · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 10:45 pm »

I am curious why you guys didn't make the xoer external? Did you feel the benefit wasn't great enough for the work involved or??? The reason I ask is I am planning an external xoer and was wondering if maybe it was overkill.

mcallister · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 11:00 pm »

Well I'm terribly bad at diy as is so that has alot to do with it. I was putting off doing this upgrade for quite awhile in hopes the ninja would release his outboard crossovers but I've still not seen anything on them. The Response Audio outboard crossovers look very nice as well but unfortunately to rich for my blood at the current time especially since I have been upgrading everything else recently with this hobby

And I sell craft beer and am a collector/drinker of very hard to get beers and if you are into craft beers at all you know what I'm talking about

I may eventually try an outboard crossover but to many other things I need to upgrade or tweak.

Quote from: playntheblues on 27 Jul 2010, 10:45 pm

I am curious why you guys didn't make the xoer external? Did you feel the benefit wasn't great enough for the work involved or??? The reason I ask is I am planning an external xoer and was wondering if maybe it was overkill.

kingdeezie · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 Jul 2010, 11:09 pm »

I am supposed to be getting the Response Audio externals at some point; waiting for Bill to finish them up and test them.

It will be hard to compare the stock crossover to the external however, since it is likely going to be a significant difference across the board because of the better caps, inductors, resistors then just going external.

We shall see.

mcallister · « **Reply #15 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 11:07 am »

Got everything finished up around 11:30 last night. Started an isotek break in cd this morning not sure how well that will work. Will give some impressions and post pics when I get home from work tonight. Everything seems to be working okay

johnzm · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 02:41 pm »

pics

hey KD, u want any help u know who to call

and send me your email address, and mailing address. i finally want my tubes back (haha), and i got something here i wanna send your way

mcallister · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 09:03 pm »

Here are some images of the crossover before install and after. Things are already sounding very nice. Bass is much more articulate, and microsonics are more apparent with better sense of spaace overall. Can't wait to hear how the break in progresses.

well seem to be having trouble uploading the images.

S Clark · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 09:33 pm »

Finally have my LS9 cabinets! Holy $#!+ these things are big! They are "B" stock, but the problems with the finish appear pretty minor, and for the price, it was a no brainer. Look at how they dwarf a piano in the background.

I suspect they will end up on either side of the fireplace.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 09:51 pm »

Oh happy day.

So your wife finally knows how big they really are now. She didn't freak out I hope.