Hi all,
I am putting together parts for a EL84 SE valve amp build - what’s the view on paying extra for matched capacitors and resistors ?
Is it worth paying extra, does it make a difference , is less or more necessary for a single ended build ?
I have read somewhere it’s not worth paying the extra as the matched pairs don’t remain matched for long once the equip is being used and so is a waist of money.
Thanks
I am putting together parts for a EL84 SE valve amp build - what’s the view on paying extra for matched capacitors and resistors ?
Is it worth paying extra, does it make a difference , is less or more necessary for a single ended build ?
I have read somewhere it’s not worth paying the extra as the matched pairs don’t remain matched for long once the equip is being used and so is a waist of money.
Thanks
You can do what the manufacturers do buy a bunch of resistors and measure them to get two at 1 % ( or less ) tolerance from each other .
You are paying for somebody to do it for you.
Yes its worth getting very low tolerance resistors with high temperature stability .
Saying "they don't stay matched for long " isn't the way to look at it.
If the tolerance is wide to begin with its going to be even worse after a lot of use thereby affecting the amplifiers performance .
Whereas less than 1 % tolerance going out of spec. wont have a major effect on the amplifier .
You are paying for somebody to do it for you.
Yes its worth getting very low tolerance resistors with high temperature stability .
Saying "they don't stay matched for long " isn't the way to look at it.
If the tolerance is wide to begin with its going to be even worse after a lot of use thereby affecting the amplifiers performance .
Whereas less than 1 % tolerance going out of spec. wont have a major effect on the amplifier .
I bought 5% 1000 ohm MO resistors from Flywin and every one I've tested has been 1000 ohms on the button.
Same with Kyet CBB caps.
You can get 50ppm MF 1% resistors for pennies, too.
Same with Kyet CBB caps.
You can get 50ppm MF 1% resistors for pennies, too.
For what it's worth . . . .
The diyAudio First Watt power amplifier called "M2x" has eight interchangeable daughter boards which implement its first stage of amplification. Seven of the eight daughter boards do NOT use matched parts, and one of them does use matched parts.
So far, out of about 100 builders who've posted their listening impressions and sonic opinions, only two or three DIYers have preferred the sonic presentation made by the one (named "IPS6" in case you're curious) with matched parts. All other listeners preferred a daughter card which did NOT use matched parts.
It's worth mentioning that many people only built a few of the daughter cards, not the full complement of all eight. Some of those builders undoubtedly chose their favorite from among a subset which did not include the one with matched parts.
Still, two or three out of 100 is not what I'd call an overwhelming majority.
The diyAudio First Watt power amplifier called "M2x" has eight interchangeable daughter boards which implement its first stage of amplification. Seven of the eight daughter boards do NOT use matched parts, and one of them does use matched parts.
So far, out of about 100 builders who've posted their listening impressions and sonic opinions, only two or three DIYers have preferred the sonic presentation made by the one (named "IPS6" in case you're curious) with matched parts. All other listeners preferred a daughter card which did NOT use matched parts.
It's worth mentioning that many people only built a few of the daughter cards, not the full complement of all eight. Some of those builders undoubtedly chose their favorite from among a subset which did not include the one with matched parts.
Still, two or three out of 100 is not what I'd call an overwhelming majority.