SMD resistors for audio

OliverD · 17th October 2007, 12:59 AM

I'm desperatly seeking for "audiophile approved" SMD resistors. All standard parts stocked by my distributor on TR seem to be inappropriate for audio. They sound much worse than even the lowest cost 0207 leaded metal film resistor.

I tried to order some melf / minimelf resistors but these seem to be going out of production soon.

Has anyone been through this before and can point me in the right direction?

banana · 17th October 2007, 02:33 AM

I've been using 1206 chip resistor for audio extensively, and is happy with it.

Got some BC MMA0204 resistor from Farnell, but I'm not sure how much longer the supply will last...

No, I'm not going into the rediculous priced Vishay bulk metal

OliverD · 17th October 2007, 02:52 PM

Hi, thanks. I wasn't happy with those at all. I tried different brands to no avail.

BWRX · 18th October 2007, 11:15 PM

Just look for metal film ones. Most metal film ones are very low tolerance, which is a plus if all you want is the "audiophile approved" status...

OliverD · 21st October 2007, 10:03 PM

Ok, my words could have caused some misunderstanding.

I'm going surface mounted for the first time in an audio circuit. The leaded parts that I usually prefer are not available as SMD.

So I was just asking for good sounding SMD resistors, not some kind of snake oil "approval".

Conrad Hoffman · 21st October 2007, 11:54 PM

Just use the RoHS approved metal films with regular solder. Shouldn't be any problem at all. IMO, the only thing better is to go to the expensive bulk metal foil resistors, and I question whether anybody can really tell the difference.

BWRX · 23rd October 2007, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Conrad Hoffman
IMO, the only thing better is to go to the expensive bulk metal foil resistors, and I question whether anybody can really tell the difference.

I can tell a difference. My bank account is overdrawn if I order more than 10 bulk foil resistors

peranders · 23rd October 2007, 06:27 AM

I have used standard 0805 resistors and am quite pleaased with it. If I happened to have bulk metal foil resistors I would probabaly test them but only of pure curiosity.

Sigurd Ruschkow · 23rd October 2007, 08:36 AM

I would try the Bulk Metal Foil resistors from Vishay.
Texas Components in the US also has some bulk metal foil ones that might be easier to source.

One other optional SMD resistor you can try is the tantalum film resistor. The sound is not at all like the bulk metal foil ones. The bulk metal foil ones are to me much more transparent and without coloration, whereas the tantalum ones are more laid back and with less details. Some like the tants better, some don't.

Regards,
Sigurd

Earfanatic · 23rd July 2011, 07:34 AM

I know this topic is old. But maybe there are new recommendations around since then.

Still Vishay bulk metal ones are way to expensive. There is (and already was) said the tantalum resistors are better ones.

Recently I was looking for an appropriate resistor type for my headphone amplifier and found the IRC PFC series tantalum resistors (SMT) mentioned in an article. I searched it and can be bought from farnell for a very reasonable price meaning 1-2$ each. Anyone has any experience with these or with other smt resistors for audio use?
The PFC series resistors has 0.1% tolerance.
The datasheet is here:
http://www.irctt.com/file.aspx?produ...type=datasheet

17th October 2007, 12:59 AM	#1
OliverD diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany	SMD resistors for audio I'm desperatly seeking for "audiophile approved" SMD resistors. All standard parts stocked by my distributor on TR seem to be inappropriate for audio. They sound much worse than even the lowest cost 0207 leaded metal film resistor. I tried to order some melf / minimelf resistors but these seem to be going out of production soon. Has anyone been through this before and can point me in the right direction?

18th October 2007, 11:15 PM	#4
BWRX diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pennsylvania	Just look for metal film ones. Most metal film ones are very low tolerance, which is a plus if all you want is the "audiophile approved" status... __________________ Brian

23rd October 2007, 06:27 AM	#8
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	I have used standard 0805 resistors and am quite pleaased with it. If I happened to have bulk metal foil resistors I would probabaly test them but only of pure curiosity. __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me

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17th October 2007, 02:33 AM	#2
banana diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hong Kong	I've been using 1206 chip resistor for audio extensively, and is happy with it. Got some BC MMA0204 resistor from Farnell, but I'm not sure how much longer the supply will last... No, I'm not going into the rediculous priced Vishay bulk metal

17th October 2007, 02:52 PM	#3
OliverD diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany	Hi, thanks. I wasn't happy with those at all. I tried different brands to no avail.

21st October 2007, 10:03 PM	#5
OliverD diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany	Ok, my words could have caused some misunderstanding. I'm going surface mounted for the first time in an audio circuit. The leaded parts that I usually prefer are not available as SMD. So I was just asking for good sounding SMD resistors, not some kind of snake oil "approval".

21st October 2007, 11:54 PM	#6
Conrad Hoffman diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Canandaigua, NY USA	Just use the RoHS approved metal films with regular solder. Shouldn't be any problem at all. IMO, the only thing better is to go to the expensive bulk metal foil resistors, and I question whether anybody can really tell the difference.

23rd October 2007, 08:36 AM	#9
Sigurd Ruschkow diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	I would try the Bulk Metal Foil resistors from Vishay. Texas Components in the US also has some bulk metal foil ones that might be easier to source. One other optional SMD resistor you can try is the tantalum film resistor. The sound is not at all like the bulk metal foil ones. The bulk metal foil ones are to me much more transparent and without coloration, whereas the tantalum ones are more laid back and with less details. Some like the tants better, some don't. Regards, Sigurd

23rd July 2011, 07:34 AM	#10
Earfanatic diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2010	I know this topic is old. But maybe there are new recommendations around since then. Still Vishay bulk metal ones are way to expensive. There is (and already was) said the tantalum resistors are better ones. Recently I was looking for an appropriate resistor type for my headphone amplifier and found the IRC PFC series tantalum resistors (SMT) mentioned in an article. I searched it and can be bought from farnell for a very reasonable price meaning 1-2$ each. Anyone has any experience with these or with other smt resistors for audio use? The PFC series resistors has 0.1% tolerance. The datasheet is here: http://www.irctt.com/file.aspx?produ...type=datasheet

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