Tantalum resistors!

[najo49]

Thanks eric for the tip about tantalum resistors. I just replaced key resistors in my 45 direct coupled amp ,and my paramour 2a3s. And what I hear is a upgrade that costs 3.00 ea. Try it ! And thanks Eric !

 

[earwaxxer]

Thanks Jaan! I was surprised myself as well... Pretty cheap upgrade IMO.

 

[najo49]

actually they are to cheap, if they were say 15.00 more awdiofiles would swear by them. my mind is racing with thoughts of tantalum stepped attenuators. And more resistor swapping.et al.

 

[johnsonad]

In what positions did you use them?

 

[corndog71]

Which ones are everyone using? Audio Note or Shinkoh?  Or are there any others I'm not aware of?

Drinking Dogfish Head Theobroma.

 

[2wo]

The ANs are 30% off. I think it will come down to who has the value you are looking for...John

 

[najo49]

I put them in as the only resistor in the signal path in my direct coupled 45 amp. And in my paramours the 499 ohm resistors at the input and coupling resistor in the other half of the 12at7 then another before the 2a3 I replaced all the 499 value resistors with tantalum. check out the schematic.I got mine from angela instruments.I think Angela also stocks some 2w or 1w tantalums. Mine were 3.00 ea.Jann o.

 

[Grainger49]

Jann,

On my 4900th post I wanted to tell you that I have some (3 or 4 pair) of Tantalum resistors poised for upgrading my almost stock Eros.  First I will put in the power supply choke.  I got good instructions from DebK on where she put hers and it didn't give any problems. 

But then I will slowly start swapping out other components.  One tweak few have posted about are the 0.1uF 600V "Ccomp" caps on the boards.  They sound better with a KK (Kommie Kap) Teflon in the circuit.

 

[chard]

I replaced my stereo volume pot in my stereomour with an 11 step series/shunt stereo attenuator stocked with Shinkoh Tantalum resisters. Big upgrade.

 

[najo49]

Clifford, where did you get the stepped pot. Or did you build it yourself with the tantalums. I have not seem anyone selling a pot or set of attenuators with the tants. Any info would be greatly appreciated. jann O.

 

[chard]

I used an Elma single deck 2 pole, 11 position shorting selector switch in a  fixed series/ variable shunt configuration. I special ordered the switch from www.percyaudio.com, after researching the Elma switches on their website: www.elma.com  . In 24 and 36 position attenuators they attenuate the signal from 100% through 0% attenuation. By opening up my stereomour and checking pot attenuation position at various listening levels, I discovered I only needed to attenuate my signal from 85% attenuation through 40%  attenuation. With this level of attenuation 11 steps are plenty.
  The stereomour imput impedance is 100k or the impedance of the 100k pot. My imput impedance varies from 75k to 137k with my fixed series/variable shunt attenuator. Pretty close to the stereomour design.
  The attenuator I buildt fits quite nicely in the stereomour.
This attenuator design is covered quite thoughly on line, just google S5 attenuator.   

 

[Grainger49]

VoltSecond is a long, long time Bottlehead poster.  He explains various ways to make attenuators on his site.  He also has a spread sheet that will give you the resistances for the attenuator.

Look here:

http://www.siteswithstyle.com/VoltSecond/12_posistion_shunt/12_Position_Pure_Shunt.html