The Simple Sweet Sensational LM3875 Upgrade

[ajw]

Today I changed out the 22k metal film FB resistor on each side of my LM 3875 Gainclone I have been using and in it's place put a 2 watt Kiwame carbon resistor....A very simple mod-probably as simple as it gets......The sound went from quite OK to xxxing awesome in the time it took to swap out the components...The detail and imaging was so much better,the soundstage increased dramatically and the bottom end was so soft, yet still had the presence that it needs....(My monitors go down to 12.5 Htz...This has to be a joke..a couple of dollars and the sound improves this much...This very simple mod has made a dramtic improvement to my listening pleasure.. So,if you want the shotest route from audio excellence to audio ecstacy in a gainclone amp...I reckon that this mod has to be it...I am absolutely amazed by the sound quality derived from such a simple upgrade..Best wishes to you all out there in listening land.....aj washington

[tiltedhalo]

I have often wondered about everybody changeing out there NFB resistors, input resistors ect....., yes I will agree pure carbons will have a more "relaxed" sound due to the electron conduction of carbon, but every resistor inside that chip is a cheap metal film so signal travels through cheap metal film to carbon back to cheap metal film, cant imagine a huge change in sound quality in that arrangment. I can see huge variations in in the NFB loop due to tolerance and temp drift.

[neutron7]

why do you think the larger carbon resistors had such a dramatic improvement?

[Elso Kwak]

Originally posted by tiltedhalo I have often wondered about everybody changeing out there NFB resistors, input resistors ect....., yes I will agree pure carbons will have a more "relaxed" sound due to the electron conduction of carbon, but every resistor inside that chip is a cheap metal film so signal travels through cheap metal film to carbon back to cheap metal film, cant imagine a huge change in sound quality in that arrangment. I can see huge variations in in the NFB loop due to tolerance and temp drift.

Metal film no electron conduction?? Ions? Neutrons? Positrons?
Cheap metal film??

[pwan]

Kiwame is mostly use in tube audio. I had tried with Kiwame 2W to one of my BG's CG at first it seems it sound better. However, when compare with another GC via A&B test by 5 of my audio lover friends ( I have 3 pair of BG's LM3875 GC), it seems the difference is not noticeable. Niether PD's premium kits nor other exotic components. Only changing type of input capacity make audible difference.

People may find it sound difference if they expect for it. Blind A&B test is better judgement IMO.

[analog_sa]

Kiwame in a fb loop sounds dramatically different than a generic metal film. Sadly, in my system it doesn't sound better than either Caddock or Riken. Maybe that's why it's cheaper

[Peter Daniel]

The Kiwames actually have sort of sweet, candylike sonic signature, so your descrpition of upgrade result is right to the point.

I prefer Rikens for more agressivness, but in feedback Caddocks worked always best for me.

[ajw]

In response to this reply
sensational upgrade Post #2
I have often wondered about everybody changeing out there NFB resistors, input resistors ect....., yes I will agree pure carbons will have a more "relaxed" sound due to the electron conduction of carbon, but every resistor inside that chip is a cheap metal film so signal travels through cheap metal film to carbon back to cheap metal film, cant imagine a huge change in sound quality in that arrangment. I can see huge variations in in the NFB loop due to tolerance and temp drift

I don't understand the science of it all...just the sound..The amp is driving some very high quality speakers in a professional recording studio and I have no understanding what is inside the LM chip-only what is inside the sound that I am hearing as a result of the change of the feedback resistors..

It can have as much drift and variation as it wants because the change is quality was dramatic and extremely pleasing...I was only trained to play music and to listen to sound,so I'll have to leave the technical debate up to the experts aj washington

[tiltedhalo]

Its not a debate at all, pwan is absolutly correct A&B blind tests are the only way to tell. IMHO its all voodoo science if we think its better, well are minds make it that way, the human brain is a powerfull thing. If you think its better thats all that matters.

[Luke]

Blind listening is not required. My wife whos not into hifi can tell the difference betwwen caps/resistors from the kitchen without even being in front of the speakers. She often comments what Im thinking about the differences. What may be harder to determine is if the change is better or worse.
There are a few people who doubt these component changes matter, all I can guess is the rest of the audio chain is letting the side down.
I have found this listening to different cd players and hearing no differences untill I changed my amp speakers and it was night and day.


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