Teflon wire and Tantalum resistors...

AudioFreak · 27th January 2002, 03:00 PM

Whats so good about these devices that they command such a high price?

Super · 27th January 2002, 03:53 PM

Teflon has some of the best dialectric properties an insulation can have. For audio purposes, its as close to air as we can get right now. (Individually teflon insulated wires are whats found in Cat-5 cable; part of the reason why it's become so popular for DIY cables)

tvi · 27th January 2002, 05:55 PM

Tantalum Nitride, is one of the most stable resistive materials available, until recently very few companies made resistor with this material. Its being used more often now in SMD resistor by companies like Vankel, IRC, etc.
As to why it might sound better???

The only polymer Dialectric I know of thats better than Teflon (PTFE) is Rexolite, a polystyrene with a more orderd internal stucture.

I think Rexolite is an Isotactic Polystyrene, where as normal Polystyrene is Atactic.

Rexolites dialectic constant is flat to about 10GHz, no really relevant in Audio.

Teflons other advantage is how easy Teflon insulated wire is to solder; no melt, bubble, fizz, smoke.

Regrds
James

AudioFreak · 27th January 2002, 11:07 PM

Thanks for the info.

John S. · 30th January 2002, 12:38 PM

I don't have any experience with the resistors, but have experimented with teflon insulated wire. I stated building my own interconnects and speaker cable about 10 years ago, after spending a lot of money on wires and then wondering if I could do something better. Teflon insulation and solid core wire was my basic component. Luckily, I had a small factory nearby that has been applying teflon insulation for over 30 years and I could go over and purchase a small spool(100'). The other characteristics make it attractive: excellent dielectric characteristics, high melting point.

Samuel Jayaraj · 30th January 2002, 12:55 PM

Also Teflon unlike PVC does not "store energy" nor does it chemically react with copper or silver. OTOH PVC reacts with copper to form CuprousChloride which is amorphous and a bad conductor.

dice45 · 31st January 2002, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AudioFreak

Whats so good about these devices that they command such a high price?

Sonics. That simple.

I go with teflon-insulated solid core wire (Allen Wright style) and oce I have settled on a design and do not intend to change values,

I replace resistors by tantalum resistors if I get the values.

Expensive but worth it.

One thing, tantalums are non-magnetic and the internal lead-to-element contacting is extremely good.

AudioFreak · 31st January 2002, 03:08 PM

thanks for the additional info everyone ....

dice, i understand the sonics are obviously good but i was wondering why and that has been answered above....

thanks.

27th January 2002, 03:00 PM	#1
AudioFreak Warp Engineer On Holiday Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Queensland, Australia	Teflon wire and Tantalum resistors... Whats so good about these devices that they command such a high price?

27th January 2002, 03:53 PM	#2
Super diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Connecticut	Teflon has some of the best dialectric properties an insulation can have. For audio purposes, its as close to air as we can get right now. (Individually teflon insulated wires are whats found in Cat-5 cable; part of the reason why it's become so popular for DIY cables) __________________ Bryan

30th January 2002, 12:55 PM	#6
Samuel Jayaraj diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bangalore, India	Also Teflon unlike PVC does not "store energy" nor does it chemically react with copper or silver. OTOH PVC reacts with copper to form CuprousChloride which is amorphous and a bad conductor. __________________ Sam

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27th January 2002, 05:55 PM	#3
tvi diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Moonee Ponds, Vic, Australia	Tantalum Nitride, is one of the most stable resistive materials available, until recently very few companies made resistor with this material. Its being used more often now in SMD resistor by companies like Vankel, IRC, etc. As to why it might sound better??? The only polymer Dialectric I know of thats better than Teflon (PTFE) is Rexolite, a polystyrene with a more orderd internal stucture. I think Rexolite is an Isotactic Polystyrene, where as normal Polystyrene is Atactic. Rexolites dialectic constant is flat to about 10GHz, no really relevant in Audio. Teflons other advantage is how easy Teflon insulated wire is to solder; no melt, bubble, fizz, smoke. Regrds James

27th January 2002, 11:07 PM	#4
AudioFreak Warp Engineer On Holiday Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Queensland, Australia	Thanks for the info.

30th January 2002, 12:38 PM	#5
John S. diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Massachusetts	I don't have any experience with the resistors, but have experimented with teflon insulated wire. I stated building my own interconnects and speaker cable about 10 years ago, after spending a lot of money on wires and then wondering if I could do something better. Teflon insulation and solid core wire was my basic component. Luckily, I had a small factory nearby that has been applying teflon insulation for over 30 years and I could go over and purchase a small spool(100'). The other characteristics make it attractive: excellent dielectric characteristics, high melting point.

31st January 2002, 03:08 PM	#8
AudioFreak Warp Engineer On Holiday Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Queensland, Australia	thanks for the additional info everyone .... dice, i understand the sonics are obviously good but i was wondering why and that has been answered above.... thanks.

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