Is it worthwhile to buy Bulk Metal Resistors?

[Damon Hill]

Objectively, bulk foil resistors are the most linear
types I know of; practically no thermal drift or
voltage-induced nonlinearity. They're about as stable
as one can hope for in resistors. The type of technology
is distinctly different from any film or composition
resistor; the closest equivalent is wirewound in terms
of the materials used. I'd generally use them in place
of metal film resistors if it weren't for the cost.

I'm considering them for feedback circuits and input
stages, particularly differential amps. Sort of like
Black Gate capacitors, except bulk foil technology is
better defined and more broadly accepted in the industry,
for good reasons.

There is a limited selection of potentiometers with
bulk foil elements and I think those would almost be
very worthwhile, but the physical types I need aren't
available.

Admittedly, the only place I'm using bulk foil resistors
now is as calibration standards. My evil brother-in-law
once gave me some .01% units (he's an engineer, he knows
the value of having reference standards).

[serengetiplains]

Originally posted by Peter Daniel
Actually MK132 are half the price of Vishays.

Vishays at Texas Components, $6.

Caddock MK-132s at Percy, $4 to $7.

Not quite half price.

[Peter Daniel]

Originally posted by serengetiplains


Vishays at Texas Components, $6.

Caddock MK-132s at Percy, $4 to $7.

Not quite half price.

I believe that the price of Vishays depends on value and tolerance. 220K MK132 Caddock costs $4.50, try to get a quote on a same value Vishay. At Percy you'd pay $32.50, TC may be cheaper, but I suspect it won't be less than $10. Is it quite half price?

In most commonly used range: 100R - 100K Caddocks are $4, comparing to $6 Vishays it is pretty close to half price.

[Petter]

Michael Percy is selling .3W Vishay Bulk Metal Foil in the range 5 Ohm to 120K at flat rate of $3.75 according to my catalog ...

Petter

[Peter Daniel]

Vishay VSH bulk foil radial lead resistors, now available in all of the values above from 5.0§Ù to 120K, .3W @$3.75
We are told this is an S102 chip with a conformal coating, excellent sonics, but not quite the equal of the S102 above... ask for a data sheet as you won't find it elsewhere.

I've been eyeballing his catalog for years and I've never noticed that. I was always seeing S102 info only. Sometimes threads like this are quite useful

[Robert Morin]

I like Vishay but they are a pain to buy. I use caddock because I can easily get them from Allied or Mouser. less pain good enough gain.

Robert Morin

[serengetiplains]

Percy actually purchases Vishays he sells from Texas Components, evidenced by code markings on the resistors. Cheaper to go directly to the source.

[Peter Daniel]

Here's the quote I got from Texas Components today. Percy's prices are lower.

These are all 0.01%

(1-4) S102K 100R00 0.01% = $15.01ea.
(5-9) = $11.71ea.

(1-4) S102K 22K000 0.01% = $16.51ea.
(5-9) = $12.88ea.

(1-4) = S102K 100K00 0.01% = $30.01ea.
(5-9) = $23.41ea.

(1-4) S102K 220K00 0.01% = $43.52ea.
(5-9) = $33.95ea.


These are 1.0%

(1-4) S102K 100R00 1.0% = $11.83ea.
(5-9) = $9.24ea.

(1-4) S102K 22K000 1.0% = $13.02ea.
(5-9) = $10.16ea.

(1-4) = S102K 100K00 1.0% = $23.67ea.
(5-9) = $18.47ea.

(1-4) S102C 220K00 1.0% = $34.32ea.
(5-9) = $26.77ea.

[serengetiplains]

Peter, I'm only paying $6 a pop for the unencapsulated S102K. Most recent order was only a few weeks ago for varying quantities of resistors ranging from 110R to 15K. Here's a quote from the confirmation email I received from Arbie at Texas Components:

t is good to know that you are pleased with the TX2352 resistor. Is there anything in particular that you liked about the sound? The price is 5.92 ea. We can ship parts in <2 weeks.

[Peter Daniel]

$6 is a very good price. I sent for another quote today, as I mistakenly asked for S102 version. It's worth noting that Percy carries S102 version, which is more expensive than "naked" TX2352 type.

I bought whole bunch of S102s from the guy selling them on a forum (at $2, initially), but I was not that much impressed with those. They sound fine, but highs are overdamped for my taste, sort of mellow sounding. I was reading that nude resistors are much better in this regard, as plastic encapsulation provides this additional damping and influences the sound.

I have some TX2352 resistors in my drawer as well, but still didn't decided where to use them.

I tried VTA55 Vishays from Partsconnexion and those were really unimpressive, Caddocks performed much better, IMO.