Best Resistor type for TW builds.

[leadfootdriver]

Carbon Comp, Carbon Film, or Metal Film.

[selloutrr]

Carbon film is tradition
Carbon comp 100k 2w and 47k 1/4 w
flame proof 9k1 2w
sand power resistor

carbon film is a nice compromise between function and behavior

[ckpop]

Carbon film for me but not all are created equal. I have found out certain brands sound better then others. Some are more musical and others can make the amp sound broken and forced when under distortion. I really thought all carbon film resistors were the same until I started doing listening tests stage by stage. No I have not lost my mind

[selloutrr]

Stancor/SEI and TRW were the brands used in the original TW's.

[passfan]

Carbon film for me but not all are created equal. I have found out certain brands sound better then others. Some are more musical and others can make the amp sound broken and forced when under distortion. I really thought all carbon film resistors were the same until I started doing listening tests stage by stage. No I have not lost my mind

Would be cool to at least hear which ones you prefer. And no, I don't think you've lost your mind.

[leadfootdriver]

Carbon film for me but not all are created equal. I have found out certain brands sound better then others. Some are more musical and others can make the amp sound broken and forced when under distortion. I really thought all carbon film resistors were the same until I started doing listening tests stage by stage. No I have not lost my mind

I posted a Badcat thread, and found out that they use 2 watt honker resistors in their amps! I was kinda bent on going metal film, but I can't source the milspec variety any larger than 1/2 watts.

I found KOA Speer brand in 2 watts. Any thoughts on these? What brands did you like anyways?

[selloutrr]

You realize the resistors in the blackcat are carbon comp (brown) and carbon film / Flame proof not metal film right?

[leadfootdriver]

You realize the resistors in the blackcat are carbon comp (brown) and carbon film / Flame proof not metal film right?

Yeah, that's why I mentioned the KOA's. I think I'd rather go with the bigguns' instead of the MF's.

[coolidge]

http://www.partsconnexion.com/resistors ... _watt.html

[selloutrr]

I suggest you make sure the circuit sounds good before you drop $200 in resistors were $10 would have worked.

You have to ask yourself. How much are you gaining versus cost. Guitar amps are not HiFi. by design guitar amps have a lot you don't need to hear.

[renshen1957]

Carbon film for me but not all are created equal. I have found out certain brands sound better then others. Some are more musical and others can make the amp sound broken and forced when under distortion. I really thought all carbon film resistors were the same until I started doing listening tests stage by stage. No I have not lost my mind

I posted a Badcat thread, and found out that they use 2 watt honker resistors in their amps! I was kinda bent on going metal film, but I can't source the milspec variety any larger than 1/2 watts.

I found KOA Speer brand in 2 watts. Any thoughts on these? What brands did you like anyways?

Hi,

I would second that you haven't lost your mind. And you are not alone.

As to the KOA 2 watt carbon film resistors:

KOA Speer are also sold as Kiwame 2 watts at Hi-Fi prices (Kiwame is Japanese for tested), both are same resistor (made in Japan at the same factory).

The sound is great, I would state these are very quiet noise wise despite of the banana oil Audiophile sales pitch "Quieter than Metal Film" (YMMV), these resistors are excellent. Very close tolerance for the Kiwames; please note, I have purchased the regular KOA Speer resistors spec'd at a wider tolerance and found the tolerances identical when measured against the Kiwame. Probably KOA Speer's Japanese mfg just makes the one tight specification and sells the same resistor under the lesser tolerances. Smart marketing.

Downside, when used in Eyelet Circuit cards with a number of leads into the eyelet, your real estate disappears very quickly. You might have to use larger eyelets, the leads do take up more space. Mouser carries only a small sampling of the common values.

Other Carbon Films that I have used and were better than consumer grade carbon film resistors for sound; Riken (mfg discontinued), Amtrans (well built, black anodized aluminum case, epoxy filled, copper-plated brass end caps, gold-plated OFHC leads, etc) supposed to fill the vacuum that Riken left, Takman (Rex).

I use magnets to test resistors, if the resistor sticks tight, I pass on it. An old HiFi trick.

Some people hold Xicons Carbon Film in high esteem, I only use them when I don't have another value readily available. Nothing against them, might use them in a non-critical build. More of a design philosophy, if I pay good money on the Iron, the speakers, and the tubes, why would I skimp on the resistors?

I've heard a similar debate over metal film resistors, psycho-acoustic arguments (you hear a difference if you believe there is a difference), which although possible, isn't something I buy into. As I do hear a difference.

I have respect for one manufacturer, designer, and guru who states it doesn't matter which brand of metal film used, the circuit design matters, the most, don't waste your money on voodoo components. In one aspect he is right, fancy resistors won't turn a sow's ear poorly designed circuit into a silk purse amp. Yet, through recording and replacing resistors, I did notice a difference. And I haven't started on capacitors (Polypropylene vs Polyester vs Paper in Oil vs Wax Paper and Foil (yes, the latter is still being made). One can resistor roll and Capacitor Roll as well as tube roll. But I digress.

Diminishing returns? Does it matter? Well these would be considered Tweeks in some people's book and essential in others.

I recall a certain builder who could hear the difference between irradiated and non irradiated pvc insulation on wires and between this insulation Teflon (which was too bright to his golden ears), whether a tube contained DuPont or Dow chemicals for the phosphors, etc. His name----Ken Fisher.

Best Regards,

Steve

PS

Being a trained classical musician, dabbled in Hi-Fi, and tried different components in amps (including Output transformers). I do hear a difference. I hear a difference between digital recordings and analog, between MP3s, CDs and LPs (and how the sound source was originally recorded). I especially hear a difference between Tube and Solid State. It is how much these differences add up.

[ckpop]

I suggest trying different brands of carbon film resistors but let your ears be the judge. Be sure not to get to wrapped up in the Hifi direction because some of the parts I prefer are the cheap component over the expensive Hifi parts. Look at the whole picture of the resistor down to the gauge and length of the leads and how much lead acts like wire being added into to the circuit.
I hate to say this but one certain brands or type maybe work with one certain amp design and may not really work the best with another.
I guess I am not really good at giving a straight answer to the original question but really the way I approach my builds is not the same with every amp.

[passfan]

I suggest trying different brands of carbon film resistors but let your ears be the judge. Be sure not to get to wrapped up in the Hifi direction because some of the parts I prefer are the cheap component over the expensive Hifi parts. Look at the whole picture of the resistor down to the gauge and length of the leads and how much lead acts like wire being added into to the circuit.
I hate to say this but one certain brands or type maybe work with one certain amp design and may not really work the best with another.
I guess I am not really good at giving a straight answer to the original question but really the way I approach my builds is not the same with every amp.

Understood, but someone who has built on the order of 50 Dumble style amps should have some idea what he likes and where. I'm not trying to be pushy here. Some on this forum could use a good starting point. Having a basis to start tweaking from could be imeasurable to an education.

[joCCe]

Have anyone here built a Rocket with 1W Beyschlag MBE 0414's? I have all the values needed, but I've never actually built an amp with them.

Thanks
Joakim

[M Fowler]

Well if you are a recording artist or professional musician and have loads of cash by all means purchase the $3-$5 resistors.

If your like me and enjoy building different types of amps you don't use crap components but you do buy within your means. Does it make a difference in tone, of course it does. However, there is a limit to how far one needs to go in your component choice.

The same holds true for NOS verses current production tubes. I use only JJ tubes and once in a while a different brand such as Sovtek rectifier tubes.
Make the amp work with current production tubes as NOS is going to deplete your amp building funds quickly.

Mark