Resistor considerations Resistor recommendations Axon Bennic Dayton Intertechnik Lynk Mills Mundorf Ohmite/North

Resistor recommendations:

The critical issue with resistors is the large dynamic range of the audio signal. Metal film resistors - which are ideal for steady-state and/or small-signal use - are simply not suitable for high-power applications with high peak -to average power ratios. Conventional wirewounds using nichrome wire wound on a ceramic core are obviously problematic, especially in HF sections. That only leaves non-inductive wirewounds whose interleaved windings cancel out each other's magnetic fields. Furthermore, metal film and bulk metal resistors will typically cost the same as, or more than, a good non-inductive wirewound for the same power rating. Where you can save money is by buying metal oxide film resistors, but these have significant problems of their own. Metal oxides are semiconducting materials. As such, metal oxide resistors will display more noise than either metal film or wirewound devices. Furthermore, the attachment of the leads (conductors) to the metal film (semiconductor) looks somewhat like a diode junction and will therefore introduce a small degree of non-linearity due to rectification effects. Having said all that, as a concession for people's budgets, you will find one line of film resistors here, along with a few inexpensive wirewounds. Still, avoid them if your budget permits.

Vendor recommendations - Axon:

Axon brand resistors are simply private labeled Mills units. As such they're unsurpassed for speaker crossovers. For further information, see the Mills entry below.

Axon distributors & dealers: North America Zalytron, Sonic Craft, GR Reseaerch, and Speaker City Australia W.A.R. Audio

Vendor recommendations - Bennic:

Bennic is a Taiwanese trading company (the actually manufacturer is located in China) with a line of good quality, economy resistors. Note that these are not non-inductive! Recommended standard lines include: The SQP10 line comprises 10 Watt devices with standard values ranging from 0.10 Ω to 500 Ω. The SQP15 line comprises 15 Watt devices with standard values ranging from 1.0 Ω to 1.0k Ω. The SQP20 line comprises 20 Watt devices with standard values ranging from 1.0 Ω to 2.0k Ω.

Bennic distributors & dealers: North America Madisound and Solen Malaysia & Singapore Leda Resources

Vendor recommendations - Dayton:

Dayton's 10 Watt non-inductive wirewound resistors are supplied from the same OEM's that supply Bennic. These are excellent for the cost-conscious DIY-er. All other Bennic comments apply, except that these are non-inductive.

Dayton distributors & dealers: International: Parts Express

Vendor recommendations - Intertechnik (I.T.):

Intertechnik, in Germany, is a large German company marketing parts and drivers for audio and autosound applications. Among these are several popular lines of resistors. The Keramik line of ceramic wirewound units are not non-inductive, but are mentioned here because of their popularity outside of North America. They are available in 5, 10, and 20 Watt versions with standard values ranging from 1.0 Ω to 100 Ω. I.T. also makes a line of line of lower power (2-6 Watt) metal film resistors, not recommended here, which some might still find useful for tweeter padding.

Intertechnik distributors & dealers: Germany Intertechnik and Open Air Loudspeaker The Netherlands Speakerland/Speaker & Co Australia GSO Audio

Vendor recommendations - Lynk:

This is the one line of film resistors I warned you about. Lynk (sometimes listed in catalogs as "Link") is a brand of 10 Watt power resistors sold through DIY specialty vendors. All the film resistor caveats apply, but then these only cost in the range of <$0.40-$0.60 apiece (even less than the similar and popular Eagle brand, not listed here), while Mills goes for a little over $3.00 apiece. These are metal oxide film resistors, which are inferior to metal film resistors, but then metal film resistors with the same power rating will cost as much as Mills and therefore are not recommended. Standard values rang from 1.0 Ω to 47.0 Ω.

Lynk distributors & dealers: North America Solen, Meniscus Audio and Welborne Labs

Vendor recommendations - Mills:

Mills is the premier vendor of non-inductive wirewound resistors for speaker crossovers. The only real reason to buy anything else would be to save money, but they're not really that expensive - especially when compared to the prices of some metal film resistors. The "gold standard" in crossover resistors is their MRA-12 12 Watt devices with standard values ranging from 0.5 Ω to 40.0k Ω.

Mills distributors & dealers: North America Parts Connexion, Parts Express, Welborne Labs Michael Percy Audio, and Poland Akkus

Vendor recommendations - Mundorf:

Mundorf makes three lines of affordable power resistors suitable for some crossovers. As with Bennic and others, these are not non-inductive! The R5 series are 5 Watt devices with standard values ranging from 1.0 Ω to 47.0 Ω. The R11 series are 11 Watt devices with standard values ranging from 1.0 Ω to 39.0 Ω. The R17 series are 17 Watt devices with standard values ranging from 1.0 Ω to 47.0 Ω.

Mundorf distributors & dealers: North America E-Speakers Spain Audiohum Malaysia & Singapore Leda Resources

Vendor recommendations - Ohmite/North:

Ohmite is one of the oldest resistor companies. They make a very good non-inductive 10 Watt power resistor, the Axiohm 10C in standard values ranging from 0.10 Ω to 90.0 kΩ. Although sold through numerous electronic supply companies, these are primarily offered to the speaker DIY community by North Creek Music Systems who sell them under both the Ohmite and North names. Also note that, although good, Ohmite's units are not as highly recommended as Mills'.

Ohmite distributors & dealers: International: North Creek Music Systems (also sold under the "North" name) and Richardson Electronics North America Allied Electronics, Mouser Electronics, and Newark Electronics

©1998-2007 by Bob Stout, all rights reserved

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