All resistors have some sonic character of their own, - Al Sekela - Tweakers' Asylum

Tweakers' Asylum

Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ.

All resistors have some sonic character of their own,

In Reply to: Thanks very much. Question.... posted by hukkfinn on January 31, 2010 at 18:27:32:

depending on how they are used. Vishay is a major manufacturer of electronic parts (see their home page at http://www.vishay.com/) and resistors are only one of many products they make.

Large companies like this concentrate on quality from the manufacturing perspective: that the parts meet specs and perform reliably, not necessarily that they sound good in a particular audiophile application.

In fixed discrete resistors, Vishay has about 350 data sheets (see http://www.vishay.com/resistors-discrete/). There are some resistors with very low temperature coefficient. This could be a factor in how much distortion is produced by self-modulation of the signal, but it depends on how much current the circuit applies to the resistor. My guess is that other things, like the resistor film, insulation, and lead materials, will dominate the sonic character.

You will find some audio manufacturers who like Caddock resistors for stepped volume controls, even though they are more expensive than Vishay. My own experience is not with volume controls, but with damping RF noise. PRP, but only the half-watt size, are the best I've found.

One more thought is to check on how the modifier mounted the resistor. If it is standing by itself and supported only by its leads, it could be vibrating and causing acoustic problems from the vibration.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Should I expect much of a break-in with a new hi-quality resistor? - hukkfinn 03:54:51 01/29/10 (9)

I would have tried PRP or Caddock. - Al Sekela 15:23:12 01/29/10 (6)

Hmm THAT'S interesting... can you elaborate please? - hukkfinn 16:10:40 01/29/10 (5)

A potentiometer has three terminals. A resistor has two. - Al Sekela 14:32:48 01/30/10 (4)

Thanks very much. Question.... - hukkfinn 18:27:32 01/31/10 (3)

All resistors have some sonic character of their own, - Al Sekela 15:16:38 02/01/10 (2)

Thanks, that's really helpful. Sorry to be such a newbie. - hukkfinn 18:58:21 02/01/10 (1)

Everyone is a newbie sometime. - Al Sekela 15:26:27 02/02/10 (0)

RE: Should I expect much of a break-in with a new hi-quality resistor? - bacobits 08:35:42 01/29/10 (1)

Nope, different unit. - hukkfinn 09:03:56 01/29/10 (0)

Follow Ups

All resistors have some sonic character of their own, - Al Sekela 15:16:38 02/01/10 (2)

Thanks, that's really helpful. Sorry to be such a newbie. - hukkfinn 18:58:21 02/01/10 (1)

Everyone is a newbie sometime. - Al Sekela 15:26:27 02/02/10 (0)

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