Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2008 9:59:05 GMT
guadixman  I think that I may have said the same a few times too!  |
|
|
|
Post by guadixman on Nov 2, 2008 13:46:47 GMT
I got the prices on naked Vishays from Texas Instruments today - the most expensive are the 47K @ $8.60 for the 0.1% and $11.21 for 0.01% and the offer of even tighter tolerances. All the other values were $7.17/0.1% & $8.72/0.01%.
What does the panel think about tolerances re. a phono stage and just how close should the matching be - there is a further charge for matching but I do realise just how important this is.
And how delightful not to have an American company sticking you for UPS/FedEx shipping - they have quoted $11 for USPS 1st class International postage.
These maybe famous last words but I have never been hit for Customs Duties here in Spain, so if anyone in the EEC wants to add to the order I am quite happy to do that - payment though must be in Euros. I know that the Brits get hit as do the Dutch but even more so - the Dutch Customs charge E30 just to lok at the paperwork.
|
|
|
|
Post by guadixman on Jan 17, 2009 13:17:55 GMT
I did'nt realise how long it has been since I last posted.
I was right about Welwyn - they took a long time to reply and then put me onto a 'specialist supplier' that quoted £15 for 1 x 15K Welwyn resistor - yes that's right £15.
It appears that Reidon will only quote for a minimum of 1000 pieces and once again Vishay has been busy and bought them out as they have done Powertron in Germany.
I got a reply from the sales manager at Powertron asking me to understand that Vishay would'nt like it if I was to compare Powertron/Reidon thin film to Vishay bulk foil, so, not only no samples but I can't buy them either, indeed I can't get prices for them!
I'm not sure what to make of that, maybe Vishay are worried that these Reidon/Powertron maybe close and much cheaper - quien saves?
Perhaps some German member of the forum could make some enquiries maybe?
The good news is that I shall be receiving some samples of the new naked Z foils in a few days. I have to admit that I did'nt think I would be lucky, so asked for 2 x 47K shunt duty and 4 x 1K downstream of the 1578/6SN7 tubes in the Bada PH12. I shall also try the 47K as last resistor in the signal path in the Lehman p/s.
I have looked at a few resistor shootouts and surprisingly Welwyn RC55Y don't come out to good. The old Holcos do though and I can buy 1W versions in Hong Kong but the leads would be too thick and I would have to drill out the PCB. I'd much prefer to find a source for the 1/4W Holcos for indirect use - does anyone know of a good supplier for these.
All the op-amps are in hand as are the replacement caps. So I shall order S102s'. Perhaps I may have found a cheaper source of these and if they are cheaper than TI then I will post here - this other supplier is in Europe so could be good news for those of us over here.
BTW - a healthy New Year to everyone.
|
|
rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
|
Post by rickcr42 on Jan 18, 2009 21:35:46 GMT
Vishay is becoming the Pac Man of electronics parts and I totally would not be surprised if at some point all quality passive parts hving a large productionwent throguh the "Vishay" name brand first.If that is a good or bad thing is not for me to say but is an interesting direction for the raw electronics parts arena (wonder how long WIMA can hold out  ) |
|
|
|
Post by guadixman on Jan 19, 2009 9:34:58 GMT
Hi Rick,
monopoly is never good, it always leads to complacency and high prices and eventually it destroys itself.
I intend to mix resistors as suggested and though I will have to pay more, I have found the best selection of resistors is with Hifi Collective in the UK - Takman/Shinkoh Tants and Kiwame.
Kiwame 5W to compare with Mills. Shinkohs to compare with AN Tants,which I personally don't like, at least from using in a phono stage. Takman (carbon film) are cheap enough to try and may well be a real improvement.
The good thing about a phono stage is that there is no hiding place for any component, especially when used with a h/amp, which I think is a wonderful diagnostic tool.
Stuart
|
|
|
|
Post by guadixman on Jan 21, 2009 23:44:11 GMT
The Z foils arrived today,
I decided to use a pair of 47K as replacement shunts in my Bada.Taking no chances I used my Zerostat gun and donned my cotton gloves. I took out the Welwyn RC55Y I used as shunts and in went the 47K Z foil.
Using my favourite testing CD (my TT is out of action at the moment) Nat Merchant's - Ophelia and after the Bada h/amp had warmed up I was expecting something along the lines of too bright/hard/cold - that's how the S102 have been described.
What I got was something very different - Natalie was really close, I could almost reach out and put my arm around her ( I wish) and her voice had far more subtlety. Piano was organic and deeper much more 3 dimensional. no hint of brightness or coldness.
Of course the resistor was'nt adding any of this, just letting more of what is there come through.
OK these Z foils are'nt cheap but I think that if they were used for all signal positions, they would break the rule about diversity, simply because they are so clean and neutral.
When I listen to components of this neutrality it only makes me crave for more of the same.
When I get my order of S102 it wil be very interesting to hear the differences.
|
|
|
|
Post by guadixman on Feb 6, 2009 11:35:48 GMT
Just an update - I have only changed my mind about the Vishay bulk foils in that I love them more and more. It also occurs to me that the effect of using them in judicious places in a CDP would make an even bigger uplift in quality.
|
|
|
|
Post by guadixman on Feb 18, 2009 9:05:17 GMT
In my Bada h/amp I changed a couple of original cheap 10K metal film resistors for Kiwames and much preferred the metal films. After 3 hours or so the Kiwames sound better but using them I have lost a lot of the detail and that feeling that the Vishays + metal film gave me of being pushed right up close to the musicians and singers.
I knew that these 10K resistors were important, they are directly downstream from the Vishays. I think I can hear the reason that Morgan Jones won't use carbon resistors of any kind. Perhaps like Rick says a particular type of resistor, in this case Kiwames may sound much better in another circuit but I for one will not be using them again.
The warmth or colour of carbon film types maybe what some like but at what price, a loss of so much detail and presence.
Bob Prangell - Beau of Moskido fame has a simple mantra - may all your resistors be Vishays (bulk metal foil) - right now I would agree with him wholeheartedly.
|
|
)