With all do respect, I believe your conclusory statements are too broad to be considered credible.
I have no doubt that parts matter, but I do doubt there is any empirical evidence available to support the generalizations you have apparently gleaned from the referenced video:
“…most speakers on the market sounds pretty mediocre off the shelf.”
“…maybe speaker [sic] up to $8k might benifit [sic] from these higher quality Mundorf and Duelund parts.”
There are just too many variables and exceptions to the “rules” to justify such “absolutism”.
On the other hand, no kit is perfect; and I believe there is always room for improvement.
With all due respect Scott, Have you check what quality crossover parts in your speakers? Does it have these cheap Mylar caps and Sandcast resisters? Does it have these cheap thin wires to the drivers? I am confident changing those parts out for much higher grade part will do wonders to the performance of your speakers.
My loudspeakers cost less than $8,000 and pretty much operate without traditional crossover circuitry.*
But, as I noted above, I concede the point that nearly all products have room for improvement (in terms of parts quality and design).
*My AGA Reference 3.1 speakers are completely crossover-less from 150Hz to 35kHz. Each midrange is a 4-inch carbon fiber driver completely unencumbered by a crossover, operating from 150Hz on up to 3kHz. Also crossover-less is the CDTII tweeter, a capacitor by nature that automatically rejects low frequencies ensuring that no high-pass filter is needed.
I should have said most speakers that uses crossovers, the Gallo is an exception. As the review says, the Gallo is very fast because it omits crossvers, nice speakers, Scott.
We’ll let each person decide for themself if their speakers meet the criteria for a parts upgrade, and if they wish to pursue this matter to get more performance from their speakers. The possibility is there.
I do use Mundorf components in my Pure Audio Trio speakers, and they benefit mightily from them. They are not what I’d consider to be a traditional speaker however, and are designed to be tweaked.
“To save the manufacture money” is such an over simplification of the manufacturing process. If a speaker manufacturer has a price goal for its products it’s going to use the best parts it can to meet that price. So obviously crossover parts in a $800 pair of speakers are going to be ‘cheaper’ than those in a $2500 pair and those would also be cheaper than an $8000 pair. So are the drivers, the mdf/plastic, the finishes ect ect ect. But a lot of reputable manufactures work as hard to design and voice their budget products as their flagships, maybe even more so. As chances are 99% of people are going to interact with their budget offerings. If a $2500 pair of speakers sound great to someone that person might start thinking about how to afford a $8000 pair from the same manufacturer.
Obviously Danny will find fault with crossovers and all the other small (and not so small) dollar tweaks he sells because he sells them! That’s his business, so why would he tell you that the internals in your pair of speakers are any good? Part of his business model is playing to the anxiety’s of audiophiles working within a budget, it’s really kinda gross. Also I’m sure his tweaks make things sound different, but is different better?
The best thing is to hear for yourself the differences that different types of capacitors, coils, or resistors make. Mundorf has a demonstration room where you can test different components. Tony Gee has a nice review of various capacitors. Do you think a speaker cable makes a difference? A coil has far more conductor length than all your speaker cables. The type of coil—whether core or air-core, wire, stranded, or flat conductor, potted, waxed—and the resistance make a huge difference in the effect and character. Dry bass, full bass. Capacitors also have a sound signature, just like resistors. More detail, timbre, less distortion, graininess.
I have a good friend who is driven in every hifi decision he makes by measurements. He doesn’t trust his ears.
He installed Danny’s kit for his Magnapan .7s and the measured results were exactly as promised, ruler flat. That made my measurementalist friend very happy. But it ruined the sound of the Maggies, made them terribly fatiguing and he quickly sold them.
EDIT: They might have been 1.7s, I don’t remember.
I recently borrowed a Altair G2.2 from my dealer for the weekend. It is a better player then my Altair G1. It played with more refinement, more powerful and more engaging. It had better timing and more rhythm.
Because this is a upgrade I can hear and compare, I’m going for this upgrade next.
Although the crossover upgrade is very interesting and I do think it can make a significant improvement, the downside is that I can’t hear it or test it at home. I just need to trust the process but it makes me hesitant for now. I
I think I will do this crossover upgrade in my final stage, after the G2.2 and upgraded powercables. Then my sound is “final” and I can discuss the parts of the sound I would like to upgrade with the crossover as fine-tuning it.
It’s great to hear that the new component offers you an advantage. A clean signal is important at the beginning. I understand your concerns about upgrading the crossover, but you have nothing to fear. Tony Gee doesn’t just measure; he trusts his ears. Have you spoken to him yet? I think it’s possible to bring your speakers to him, since you don’t live far away. Listen to your speakers with Tony at his place and then discuss what needs to be optimized so he can incorporate your ideas. Perhaps you could also listen to his speakers, then you’ll be able to better judge what should be done and how. Tony will then optimize your speakers according to your specifications, wishes, and price. When your speakers are finished, you’ll go to him for a final check to see if they meet your expectations or if any minor adjustments need to be made. That’s what I would do if I were you, and you’ll get the best results with your existing speakers. But maybe things will turn out differently, and you’ll buy some speakers from Tony.
The crossover is quite simple in design, with low-value capacitors, just two resistors, and three coils. This keeps costs down. It’s definitely getting better.
Thank you very much! You have been a great help. I will get into it later. First I’m going to upgrade my streamer to a G2.2 because I recently heard it and can’t get it off my mind.
When i contact Tony Gee again, I will discuss further details and will report here later on.
I can understand that… once you’ve tried something at home and it’s good, you won’t want to be without it. Consider the entire system: A good symbiosis of everything is the right approach. I look forward to hearing what Tony conjures up for you. (humble.homemade.hifi) Tony Gee is also on Instagram, where he shows off his work and his optimized crossovers. Humble Homemade Hifi (@humble.homemade.hifi) • Instagram photos and videos
