allegro 300 questions (allegro 3000 vs polk s10)

[jqprill]

I currently have a pair of allegro 3000's ,and a pair of polk audio s10's. Both pairs of speakers are used in a matrix surround sound setup. I would like to know which pair would have a better sound to decide with should be in the front, and which should be in the back.

Additionally, ive heard that the individual components of crossovers used in speakers from the 70's did not allow the speakers themselves to work at there full potential. Would it be worth finding a new crossover's for the allegros?

thanks

James

 

[Fonebones]

Old electrolyte capacitors dry out on the long run.
Why not try out wich pair of speakers your ears like more ?

 

[jqprill]

could i just find out the specs for the capacitors and replace them with modern substitutes? Or do the replacements have to be audio grade?

 

[dumptruck]

They have to be audio appropriate . I think you're only going to find one 3 uF capacitor in there. You could use 2.4 in parallel with 0.56 of these:
AXON True Cap Metallized Polypropylene Capacitors

or this:
4.7uF 100V Non-Polarized Capacitor 027-332
with:
Dayton Audio DMPC-0.33 0.33uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor 027-404

 

[phivates]

There's scant reason to think the original crossover is valid. And then there are issues like basket ringing and panel resonance and diffraction and someone else could go on but I won't. I'm very disappointed in my Polk Monitor 10s. They seem to be a study in voice coil heating effects. And 2nd order crossover downside. Bass is good!

 

[dumptruck]

Well yeah, but designing a better crossover is more difficult than replacing a single cap, to put it mildly. I don't like the Monitor 10 much either, but the S10 is a lower end later model (that I haven't heard).

 

[jqprill]

I listened to each pair of speakers carefully and eventually decided I like the Polk audios over the allegros, so they will stay as my fronts for now.

I took a look at the capacitor crossover, and its nothing but a 4 microfarad capacitor and an induction coil.

The allegros dont have any kinds of sound dampaning inside them either, so I should probably get something for that also. Will cleaning speaker terminals for the woofer and tweeter have a noticable affect?

 

[jqprill]

the caps dont match. I just looked at them and although they are the same farad output they look completely different.

 

[Fonebones]

For 4 uF i would use 3.3 and 0.68 Film Caps in parallel - the look is not important.
May be you can find sth in you next local electronic parts shop.
May be you can get some Wima MKP Caps, or a similar Brand, for a few bucks (5-10 for all 4 caps together)
Cleaning contacts may be a good idea if they are somehow corroded.