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Jantzen Wax Coil inductors or Solen Hepta-Litz?

I am currently replacing some Erse foil inductors on my speaker (Cabasse Baltic IIs) midrange crossovers and am deciding on whether to use Jantzen Wax Coils or Solen Hepta-Litz. Maybe some of you have experience with these two inductor types in speaker crossovers, especially midrange crossovers, that I can talk you into sharing, perhaps? :-)

Here's the background:

The Erse inductors I am currently using are a little rolled off and a wee bit aggressive, as a recent replacement in my tweeter cross-over proved when I replaced my tweeters' single Erse foil inductors (from Percy Audio) with Jantzen Wax Coils. I replaced the tweeter inductor because I only needed one per side, and this was the cheapest way to see if the Erse inductors really were rolled off, harsh, and aggressive (as Ric Schultz of tweakaudio.com has recently posted in our own AA "Tweaks" Asylum, and he was right on the money.)

Indeed, it was immediately apparent that the Jantzens were far more extended, detailed, natural, and musical sounding, while the Erses were slightly veiled, rolled off, and yet at the same time were just a wee bit aggressively over-dynamic, all of which are the problems I have been having with my system ever since three years ago when I completely re-built my crossovers with 99.99% pure teflon-coated silver wire, Jupiter "Flat-Stack" caps, and Erse coils. I simply never suspected the Erse coils were responsible for these irritating flaws, always suspecting, instead the silver wire or the Jupiter caps. Turns out, I was wrong. It was the Erses.

The only reason I don't just buy the six replacement inductors I need for my midrange x-overs from Jantzen is that I very recently read some posts from folks who swear by the Solen Hepta-Litz as being the most musical and true-toned, natural sounding inductors around AND they are about 1/3 the price of the Jantzens, which is a big price differential.

So, before I spring for the US$180 it will cost to replace my six Erse inductors in my midrange x-over with six Jantzen Wax Coils (through HiFi Collective, UK), I want to consider the Solen Hepta-Litz, as the six Solen Hepta-Litz I need only cost US$55 (through Parts Connexion, Canada.) Like I said, BIG price difference there.

I am looking for folks who have heard these two types of inductors from Jantzen and Solen, and what your impressions were. Again, we're talking mids here, so warmth, musicality and natural tone are critical, just as much as speed, dynamics and detail, if not more so.

Folks who have no experience with either type of inductors (Wax Coil or Hepta-Litz), and think all this is voodoo and magic are advised to please not waste everyone's time pontificating and bloviating their 'brilliant' opinions how all inductors 'sound the same', etc. After wasting time with posts at other audio forums where 'experts' (who have never heard either inductor, of course), go on to say that they basically know everything there is to know on the subject (again, of course!), and that in their omnipotent view inductors of identical values invariably all sound the same, etc, etc., I simply ask that such people refrain and 'stifle' (like Edith Bunker) the urge to say we're all deluded, wasting our money and time, and that all inductors really do sound the same and there is no real sonic difference among similar value inductors. We who have heard these differences, beg to differ. In short, posts from such contentious types will be roundly ignored.

What is humbly sought are simply posts from people who have actually personally heard or used these inductors in speaker crossovers, especially in the midrange, and what they thought of them. On-topic hearsay from others about the sound of these inductors is also appreciated, as that can possibly convey meaningful info. But anyone's personal experience with these two inductors would be fabulous, and greatly appreciated. :-)

Thanks in advance.

WS


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Topic - Jantzen Wax Coil inductors or Solen Hepta-Litz? - Winston Smith 20:27:57 08/29/15 (21)

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