KOA Speer's Anybody?

[talbany]

Anybody try these..KOA Speer SPR2 Carbon film's for signal path.. suppose to be the Kiwame equivalent..The Marshall guy's seem to dig them..Any opinions welcome!!

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/KOA ... usfg%3d%3d

Thanks!!

Tony

[David Root]

I've used a few 2W Kiwame. No problems, but not in major signal paths so probly not much help tonewise. Kiwame cost much more!

[Chris333]

Never tried Kiwame, but I swapped out some Xicons for Speers in the signal path, couldn't hear any difference. Not sure if Kiwames are supposed to be non-magnetic. Seems to be a selling point of Takman. Speers are magnetic, like xicon (assuming magnetic means they stick to a magnet, not that they're actually magnets themselves).

[paulster]

They're great in wreck builds but they're kind of Marshall-style anyway.

The SPR2s are the exact same resistors as Kiwame, with the exception that Kiwame may have theirs selected for tighter tolerance post manufacture since they are marketed as tighter tolerance than they are printed on the body.

[ToneMerc]

The SPR2s are the exact same resistors as Kiwame, with the exception that Kiwame may have theirs selected for tighter tolerance post manufacture since they are marketed as tighter tolerance than they are printed on the body.

I've done comparisons across different values and it's the exact same resistor. I've used them from time to time and I like them.

TM

[talbany]

They're great in wreck builds but they're kind of Marshall-style anyway.

The SPR2s are the exact same resistors as Kiwame, with the exception that Kiwame may have theirs selected for tighter tolerance post manufacture since they are marketed as tighter tolerance than they are printed on the body.

I've heard the same thing from the HiFi club..Same resistor and at .12 for 1000 not a bad price..

Thanks!!

Tony

[glasman]

I have been using the 1/2W KOAs in both MF and CF formats for several years. All good.

I will have to look at those 2W CF... !!! I have been using Xicon 1W CF, but some nice 2W in a few places would be killer.

[David Root]

www.partsconnexion.com is where I got mine. Like I said, not cheap.

You like 2W because of lower noise?

[talbany]

Dave
Yeah..the higher 2w cut down on contact noise associated mainly to Carbon comp and carbon film's

All The Best!!

Tony

[David Root]

I figured that was why HAD used 2W CF in some non-PS applications.

[renshen1957]

Anybody try these..KOA Speer SPR2 Carbon film's for signal path.. suppose to be the Kiwame equivalent..The Marshall guy's seem to dig them..Any opinions welcome!!

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/KOA ... usfg%3d%3d

Thanks!!

Tony

Hi Tony,

I have used them, excellent resistor made in Japan by the same people that produce the Kiwame resistors (which means tested in Japanese). Although these 2W resistors are listed at several specs of tolerance and Kiwames
have the tighest tolerences, the the samples I purchased from Partsconnexion (Kiwame) and the those at Mouser (KOA SPR2 lower tolerance) measured exactly the same tight tolerences.

Smart maketing idea, list a variety of tolerances and only manufacture the highest tolerance.

Very low noise (the audiophile crowd claim "lower than metal film", for what it's worth) and not "sterile".

I didn't test these resistors with a magnet, (and that's more to do with signal distortion in HiFi applications, "Magnetism, inductance, electrification caused by contact resistance and vibration make the sound flat and coloured. Ultimately you will hear an edgy brightness at the highs but overall a lack of accuracy and detail.") alot cheaper the Riken carbon film (no longer manufactured, $2.70 USD each).

The only drawback in using these 2watt resistors is in my experience the leads are naturally larger than 1/2w leads and can be a problem when used in circuit cards (eyelet boards) if too many resistors have to be crammed into a single eyelet.

Although circuit design is important, I have noticed the difference of using quality resistors as opposed to consumer grade metal film, carbon comps, etc. I use PRP metal films for cathode resistors, in the few places a Carbon Compostion makes a difference I do use NOS ABs or Stackpoles or if I can get them RCD Carbon Comps made in the US with the same co-efficient of distortion that the NOS (the Xicons Carbon Comps, et al, newer have lower values of co-efficient of distortion than the old school resistors or the new mfg RCD). First preamp tube I do use an audiophile metal film.


Some maintain it doesn't matter, even to the point of using metal oxide resistors as plate resistors(!). Maybe in high voltage applications this wouldn't matter, however, to my ear a little extra money spent is well worth the investment. Not that I am compulsively "resistor rolling."

Best Regards,

Steve

PS I have used Takmans for a few times for values I couldn't get in Riken or KOA. I like resistors (if and when I can get them) with tinned copper leads.

[Structo]

Yes I believe you are right.
When I researched the KOA Speer resistors compared to Kiwame the appear identical.
The Hi Fi guys are slow to admit it because they like to brag about how much they spend for components.

But I have used the 2w KOA resistors for power tube grid stoppers and they seem to work find.
Very small physical size.

[diagrammatiks]

these guys are really cheap too compared to the rnc series. anyone else try them?

[blinddog]

Hey guys has anyone asked Andy Fuchs about these. I thought he was getting failures. see link to previous thread discussing this. Maybe they improved.

Andy any insight would be helpful, thanks.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... a&start=15

[blinddog]

Sorry Guys

I missed Tony's "for signal path" The previous comment may still apply to plates.