dsavitsk
MOT: ECP Audio
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2003
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Looking through old posts, there seems to be a consensus around here (with the exception of rick, perhaps) that metal film resistors are neutral and good, and that carbon film resistors behave badly (especially with heat), that they are inconsistent, that they are noisy, and that they are to be avoided except perhaps in power supplies where they don't matter so much.
I recently built two versions of the same circuit one with carbon film Kiwame resistors, the other with a combination of PRP and Holco metal films. This is a buffer and is being used as a buffered passive pre. The Carbon version has a modified velleman with a tle2426 as a PS while the metal film has a modified welborne PS1 (that is, the metal film version has the arguably better PS.) The source is a Cary cdp, the power amp is a sumo, and the speakers are B&W (I mention this as the source, power amp, and speakers are all decidedly warm.)
Listening to these two circuits, it is true that the metal film version has lower noise, is more detailed, has more extension, images better, and sounds alltogether more clear. However, the carbon film version is clearly better. The difference, moreover, is not subtle in the least (i.e., this is not last 1%, but more like last 20%). The metal film version is harsh and tinny and foreward sounding -- even with all of the associated equipment being on the warm side.
The carbon version is warm and musical -- this was the case even when paired with a Non inverting gain clone which can sound a lbit on the sterile side itself. The sounds are round -- almost bloomy. Bass is deep and defined, but is visceral -- my wife described it as embracing.
Now, it may be that there is too much noise with the carbons for a headphone amp. In places where thay can be used, however, I am going to try them more often.
-d
I recently built two versions of the same circuit one with carbon film Kiwame resistors, the other with a combination of PRP and Holco metal films. This is a buffer and is being used as a buffered passive pre. The Carbon version has a modified velleman with a tle2426 as a PS while the metal film has a modified welborne PS1 (that is, the metal film version has the arguably better PS.) The source is a Cary cdp, the power amp is a sumo, and the speakers are B&W (I mention this as the source, power amp, and speakers are all decidedly warm.)
Listening to these two circuits, it is true that the metal film version has lower noise, is more detailed, has more extension, images better, and sounds alltogether more clear. However, the carbon film version is clearly better. The difference, moreover, is not subtle in the least (i.e., this is not last 1%, but more like last 20%). The metal film version is harsh and tinny and foreward sounding -- even with all of the associated equipment being on the warm side.
The carbon version is warm and musical -- this was the case even when paired with a Non inverting gain clone which can sound a lbit on the sterile side itself. The sounds are round -- almost bloomy. Bass is deep and defined, but is visceral -- my wife described it as embracing.
Now, it may be that there is too much noise with the carbons for a headphone amp. In places where thay can be used, however, I am going to try them more often.
-d