Crossover Upgrades and Jantzen Wax Coil

My first upgrade to my speaker's crossover was mainly about capacitors. I replaced all Jantzen Standard Z caps "blue ones" with Superior Z caps "red ones" located on the signal path of mid. range. These replacements gave me lot of good things. Another significant  improvements were on the tweeter's crossover. Replacing a stock signal way capacitor Superior Z with new Alumen Z "again coming from Jantzen" raised my listening quality level to a new plateau. All electrolytics  used for impedance smoothing, including bass section, were also replaced with same value Cross Caps, the big black bulky ones seen.  

1st design (including bass)

2nd design with upgrades  (bass section was seperated)

Here my comments to Mr. Graversen (He had added this to his web side)

"All STANDARD-Z were replaced with Superior-Z, 8.2uf Superior-Z on tweeter was replaced with Alumen-Z. All electrolytics including bass section replaced with same value Cross Caps. Loy-out was completely changed in order to give maximum space between inductors.  Ok.. I start with electrolytics modification on bass section first. I heard positive effect on lower detail not that huge but ok for me.. I made all others at the same time. Just I want to say WOW !!!  Now higher frequency detail is simply eye catching and very natural.   Detail and naturality both came at the same time.  New Alumen-Z seems to be extremely good. At this point I wasn't able to evaluate electrolytics replacement in tweeter but I'm guessing it had positive effect. Real big improvements was on the mid range. I think that OBL15 should certainly be done using only Superior Z on the input of mids. Huge difference out there. A friend of mine has open baffle setup with crossover-less full range driver.. Now mid range purity of OBL15 reminds me to that setup."

I had been totally satisfied from these replacements. My speakers had been sounding perfectly detailed and balanced across the whole range except a little bit muddies on lower mid. What would I do if I faced some phase shifting and/or speed issues due to different amplifiers in bi-amped conf. ? It had been time for me to think this problems loudly. I had already done some successful modifications on my amplifiers for synchronizing but still I had been feeling that something need to be done to reach the level that I seek. I ordered wax coil with a little bit expectation to help this issue. 

Here some interesting comments about a foil coil I have found on audiocircle.com :
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=64975.0

Linearity.  The value of a coil is generally measured at an industry standard of 1 kHz.  If one looks at the value of a CFC  (Copper Foil Coil)  vs. WWC (Wire Wound Coils) from 20Hz-20kHz, the CFC value is more linear. CFCs have lower DCR vs. WWCs in equivalent gauges.  This is due to a better stack/wind.  The foil allows a better geometry which actually reduces the length of conductor required for said inductance with a given geometry.  In a two-way woofer circuit series to the midbass, this might allow better damping for a tube amp or improve the Q of the driver.  Such that the driver plays lower with better control. CFCs have lower FM distortion. WWCs exercise quite a bit.  Many have heard capacitors sing, but what about inductors?  The problem is that the freqs that work these coils the most are generally lower freq.  Wire in the WWCs does not allow audible reproduction of these lower freqs.  Just because the coil is not a very good low freq transducer, does not mean it is not vibrating.  While this is very small because of varnishing and zip ties, it is still greater than the tightly wound CFCs. Thin foil does not have the skin effect seen in solid conductors larger than 23AWG in the audio band. The characteristics mentioned above make the CFC a higher Q component.  This also means that it will increase the Q of any XO in which it is placed.

Increasing Q, damping, and control...lowering cable length, skin effect, and fm distortion.. Really lots of things there. Take a look at the Jantzen's comment below :

"Using pure copper foil we have insured a better surface for electron travel, a better distortion reduction and higher power handling, compared to wire inductors."

Although some of those affects mentioned above may be wrong or highly system depended or very small even negligible, Jantzen wax coil is definitely worth a try! This is not a highly priced coil. Actually it is cheap for what you get. I'm sure that you will agree with me when you hold this massive, beautifully made thing on your own hand.

Although both coils have 2.20mH value there are significant differences on their size and weight. Wire coil has a diameter of  75 mm. and weighted 750 gr. while the foil one is 96 mm. / 1000 gr. Weight may be ok however increasing diameter may cause a serious problem for the one who has physically limited place. Rdc values are also close "enough" to each other. I measured them and found exactly the same as the written values. Wire coil has 0.39ohm and the foil one has 0.42ohm. We talked this situation with Mr. Gravesen and he said no problem for a 0.03ohm increment. 

Jantzen wax foil are in place  

How does it sound ?

First listening session clearly proved me that how important the coil's design and quality are. This wax coil have significantly low distortion and low noise "to my ear" than my previous coil air cored wire. With the wax coil I could clearly hear more articulated, more transparent and more effortless sound that I'm looking for in mid/bass range within increased tonal balance. It is fast. Drums became more crisper with little more increased impact than before. Probably I must have found my final cure to my mid/bass sync. Positive effects I could hear were not limited with these things. It had positive influence too on deep bass coming from my electronic tunes. Increased mid definition also made my tweeter's performance wonderfully detailed and sweet to my ear.

Highly recommended to anyone who are looking for quality coil.