Wilson Audio Maintenance

marcbrown

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Apr 17, 2018
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So you tried the CAST version or the the less expensive ones from Duelund? My finding were very similar to Martin Collom's review of resistors in the HiFi Critic Volume 5 #3. The difference in clarity without any negatives you mentioned, was immediately obvious.
 

marcbrown

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Apr 17, 2018
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Just googled Duelund Cast vs Mundorf Supremes and on the audiogon forum there are many comments that much favor the Duelund CAST vs the Mundorf Supremes. Same on other sites too. Not much to support your claim anywhere that I can find.
 

shakti

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May 9, 2015
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hmm,
as the resistors are not only used to balance the volume of the speakers chassis, but also to act like a fuse, means, that the resistor has to have a thermal death prior the coil of the chassis, I have my doubt, that Duelund or Mundorf will fit exactly. I know, they sound very good, but does their thermal curve/specification meet the Wilson Audio specification?

I just ordered some original Wilson Resistors to be on the safe side. Than I can investigate further to find better resistors, meeting all requirements.

If someone has the evidence, that Duelund or Mundorf will be in line with the full Wilson spec, it would be great to share this evidence here in WBF.
 

rhyno

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Dec 29, 2010
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i've owned a 2nd hand pair of sasha 2s for 1.5 yrs, and after swapping in replacement resistors (the originals were off spec by 10-20% !!!), its like a new pair of speakers.

has anyone tried the duelund cast's ? seems there'd be trouble fitting them, and also they're rated for 10w as opposed to the 25w (50 in parallel) caddocks that wilson uses stock---which makes me worry about ultimate power handling and driver safety
 
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marcbrown

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Apr 17, 2018
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The specs of the Duelund CAST, including the watts, were the same as what Wilson used in the Sophia 3s as I ordered same specs. They do not fit inside compartment for them, but the sound difference was so noticeably improved I do not mind at all. When I go home I will get the specs of what I used and what Wilson recommends. I admit when I first read what Martin Colloms said about resistors I had big doubts it could make much difference. Wrong was I, there were multiple improvements that were obvious.
 
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microstrip

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The Caddock resistors 's Wilson uses in their speakers will work as fuses if the speakers are driven too hard - most probably the Duelund will not have the same exact behavior just because they have the same power rating.

Martin Colloms old experiments were carried in non documented conditions, admitting for example tolerances in the replacement resistors that Wilson Audio would never accept - I am quoting " For this comparative test, 4.7ohm and 5.6ohm value resistors are perfectly acceptable standard substitution values." For example, the Duelund cast was 4% high, implying some extra attenuation.

When they were published in 2011 many people tried them. After a peak of enthusiasm and a few detractors :), the affair was forgotten, although it resurfaces from time to time. I remember debating the affair with a few friends very energetically some time ago ...

As always you should try it with an open mind - it will surely bring a small change to the balance of the speaker and in some cases can be perceived as an improvement.
 

shakti

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Wilson Audio shipped again in a very fast time, so today I exchanged the old original Wilson resistors against brand new resistors of the same brand and value, as shipped from Wilson for original replacement.

I was not expecting such a big difference. I am not an expert for aging and burn it effects on resistors, but the speaker (Maxx 3) is playing now more fresh, more energy in highs and mids, more precise contours for instruments and voices.

Maybe the effect is gone after 100h of burn in time, will be hard to compare.

But because of the immediate effect I can recommend to do the exchange of original old resistor against original new resistor.
 
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shakti

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HMMMM Sophia has 3 each .. They are originals series 1

I have not changed the Bass Resistors, so Maxx 3 has 8 in total.

Sophia looks very similar to Maxx 3, like 5 per speaker (incl bass)

Wilson Audio shop:
"These are packaged for a single channel. You will need to order 2 sets if you wish to replace your resistors for a pair of Loudspeakers.

  • The Tweeter option contains 2 resistors assembled together with a final value of 8 ohms.
  • The Midrange option contains 2 resistors assembled together with a final value of 6.3 ohms.
  • The Woofer option contains 1 resistor with a final value of 30 ohms.
  • The Bundle option contains resistors for the drivers and phase listed above."
 

marcbrown

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Apr 17, 2018
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The Caddock resistors 's Wilson uses in their speakers will work as fuses if the speakers are driven too hard - most probably the Duelund will not have the same exact behavior just because they have the same power rating.

Martin Colloms old experiments were carried in non documented conditions, admitting for example tolerances in the replacement resistors that Wilson Audio would never accept - I am quoting " For this comparative test, 4.7ohm and 5.6ohm value resistors are perfectly acceptable standard substitution values." For example, the Duelund cast was 4% high, implying some extra attenuation.

When they were published in 2011 many people tried them. After a peak of enthusiasm and a few detractors :), the affair was forgotten, although it resurfaces from time to time. I remember debating the affair with a few friends very energetically some time ago ...

As always you should try it with an open mind - it will surely bring a small change to the balance of the speaker and in some cases can be perceived as an improvement.
Just because Martin cut corners and fudged with substitutions does not mean i followed suit. What i ordered and got were exactly the same specs as what Wilson sent me and what they recommend, only Duelunds instead of Caddocks. A doubter you are, but without trying them yourself there is not a whole lot you offer on this subject, other than doubts . Negatives without evidence or at least a fair trial seems closed-minded.
I went in with many doubts thinking not much should happen, but having my eyes and ears many times surprised before , i do not doubt until trying myself anymore. The Duelunds worked fine already as a fuse protecting tweeters when I cranked stereo too much one party.
The clearer transients and sweeter and extended highs were at once noticeable to me and music loving friend. About 6 months ago when replacing tweeter fuses after the party I put the Caddocks back in to reaffirm initial assessment. Same obvious conclusion, i much prefer the Duelunds.
When I go home tonight I will post value of resistors being used.
 
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marcbrown

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Apr 17, 2018
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My remarks about negativity were not aimed at anyone person just the negativity itself.
 

shakti

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looking forward to get some Duelund resistor types to choose the right values from. I had problems to find a matching "heating curve" , specially as the original Wilson resistors are screwed on a metal plate for cooling.

I very much love the Duelund "sound signature" , so it would be great to finetune the Maxx 3 in this direction.
 
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microstrip

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Just because Martin cut corners and fudged with substitutions does not mean i followed suit. What i ordered and got were exactly the same specs as what Wilson sent me and what they recommend, only Duelunds instead of Caddocks. A doubter you are, but without trying them yourself there is not a whole lot you offer on this subject, other than doubts . Negatives without evidence or at least a fair trial seems closed-minded.
I went in with many doubts thinking not much should happen, but having my eyes and ears many times surprised before , i do not doubt until trying myself anymore. The Duelunds worked fine already as a fuse protecting tweeters when I cranked stereo too much one party.
The clearer transients and sweeter and extended highs were at once noticeable to me and music loving friend. About 6 months ago when replacing tweeter fuses after the party I put the Caddocks back in to reaffirm initial assessment. Same obvious conclusion, i much prefer the Duelunds.
When I go home tonight I will post value of resistors being used.

Happy to know that your replacement was successful. I never tried such experiences, I only posted technical facts concerning the replacement and the most often quoted article on this subject. Also nice to know you have successfully determined that the altenative Duelund resistors works as a protection fuse.

Changing speaker cables also changes speaker balance and I do it very often, so please do not see my post as a negative. Probably if I owned X2 and felt that the treble needs some sweetening I would surely try the Duelunds.
 
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shakti

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Happy to know that your replacement was successful. I never tried such experiences, I only posted technical facts concerning the replacement and the most often quoted article on this subject. Also nice to know you have successfully determined that the altenative Duelund resistors works as a protection fuse.

Changing speaker cables also changes speaker balance and I do it very often, so please do not see my post as a negative. Probably if I owned X2 and felt that the treble needs some sweetening I would surely try the Duelunds.

Even changing the old original resistors of the "well known" red Maxx3 to a new set of original resistors made a big difference. So it will become difficult to compare with other brands, if aging? or overload? of the resistor can make make such a difference.
 

microstrip

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Even changing the old original resistors of the "well known" red Maxx3 to a new set of original resistors made a big difference. So it will become difficult to compare with other brands, if aging? or overload? of the resistor can make make such a difference.

Did you re-tighten and clean the resistor terminals when you got the speakers?
 

shakti

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nope, that may influence the effect as well!
thanx for the hint
muito obrigado :)
 

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