Top resistors

As an update, I installed the naked Vishays and overall found them to be better in my preamp that the other resistors I used. Not a warm sounding resistor but open, detailed and good tone without any edge. Very good clarity. Lucky for me I can change them on the fly anytime I want. As already mentioned, mine are in a preamp and not tested in an amp or speakers, etc. I only require two resistors, one for each channel.

Very interesting comments. I have tried in a DHT preamp the Audio Note, Shinkoh, Takman, Riken and Amtran resistors. They all sound different. I prefer the Shinkoh for a more realistic and natural. The metal film was more lively and open compared to the Shinkoh. Second to the Shinkoh was the Audio Note, very close but not as natural in tone or flesh sounding. I am able to switch the resistors on the fly as I built them into a rotary switch. Many people who have heard the preamp in "their" system agreed to my findings even though they did not know what resistor I was switching to. Not sure if I would get the same results in speakers or amplifiers as I have not tried this yet.

Happy Listening.

I have tried many resistors in the preamp that I build. I do like the Vishay but also the Shinko. It also comes down to the placement in the signal path. I prefer the SHinko sound because it has what I would describe as a more real sound. The Vishay is close, it has a more open sound. To describe the difference, when I listen to female vocals and the person whispers, the air coming out of the lungs and out of the mouth sound very real with the Shinko and not the same with the Vishay. You won't know the difference unless you compare them. In my preamp I can dial in 6 different pairs of resistors on the fly so I can hear the differences immediately.

I personally don't know the difference between old and new, my experience is recent within the past 3 years.  Also Caddock makes a very nice sounding resistor so for the prices of resistors, but several and try them for your self.  I mostly buy from Parts Connexion.  Happy Listening.