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Audiophile Shaka III

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4/28/1999 12:35 PM

Audiophile Shaka III

OK,

I decided that I am going to build a sorta "no compromise" Shaka III.

From the posts I have read, I will use Metal Film resistors, (Polyester?) Film caps, good wire....??? What else?

I remember R.G. saying that electrolytics muffle the tone a little????

Now is your chance to chime in on what component types I should use.

I just really want to see if I will be able to hear the difference.

Thanks!

Aron

p.s. Gus, I know you have a lot to say on this :-)

:-)

4/28/1999 1:56 PM

I think metal films are no great improvement over carbon films. I do not like TL07x devices however that is based on the stock I have from the early 80's. A few years ago TI had a TL05x line a much improved TL07x I was never able to find the TL05x's do you think TI changed the TL07xs specs to TL05xs specs. I know I like the sound of a lf353 compaired to my older TL07x. I find I some times leave cer and or tans in pedals because of the harmonic distortion they can cause. more voltage more distrotion. Aron I think the "dark" sound of the vox valve tone is from the elect caps they use AL and TA.

Use what sounds good to you and the amp you are using.

Gus

4/28/1999 2:02 PM

Tantalum caps, perhaps? They're supposed to sound "grainier" (as a sub for electrolytics) but I like them in distortion circuits. If you can get your hands on large values, polyester film replacements aren't too bad either.

With the resistors, using overrated values (1/2 watt instead of 1/4 watt) should ensure less noise as well. Maybe a conductive plastic pot for the volume control.

I guess the real question should be "is this all overkill?"

Anything I build for myself or for sale always gets big resistors and higher quality caps for reasons of reliability, since I've found the tonal differences to be small at best...

4/29/1999 10:27 AM

FWIW, in my audiophile days I noticed that metal film resistors can sound bright and a little abrasive, especially high values in a feedback loop. One of the circuits I built was a 6SN7 gain stage with a mosfet constant current source on the plate, otherwise known as a mu stage. The resistor from the mosfet source to the plate of the 6SN7 was changed from metal film to carbon comp to carbon film, same value. The carbon comp sounded by far the best but was the noisiest. The metal film was very bright, the carbon film was a good compromise between the two for noise vs tone. Really expensive Vishay bulk metal resistors are supposed to sound fantastic (for several bucks a piece!). Personally, I use carbon films about everywhere unless I am getting really retro, then I use Ohmite 1W carbon comps.

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