Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

The reason I asked about metal films John is because I had new carbon comps in the 100k plate resistor spots, and they were causing rustling sounds. But - they only started being noisy after my amp started having grounding problems, so maybe the poor ground amplified the noise? Either way, taking them out and using 2w metal oxides instead reduced the noise dramatically. I've got some metal films on order, so I'll try them too.

From what I've heard, the noise effect is worse the higher the value of the resistor, which is why people advocate strongly replacing any 1M CC input resistors before the 68k's, and changing the 100k plate resistors. Something like an 820ohm cathode resistor theoretially shouldn't be anywhere near as noisy as the 1M input resistor or the plate resistors.

I see you like to know that the values of the resistors won't drift, I assume so you can keep the good sound you've got and know it won't change? Sometimes I feel like that with my amp, but right now I like the unpredictability of having drifting resistors, and feel it gives my amp a bit more character and a life of its own. I like using CC's for the preamp cathodes and NFB resistor, as when they drift up the amp gets a bit more gain and feels warmer, without the effect being dramatic.
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

CC has some nonlinearity at high voltages which can add some harmonies ath the right places... at least that is what you can measure and at least in theory ;)
 
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Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

I see you like to know that the values of the resistors won't drift, I assume so you can keep the good sound you've got and know it won't change? Sometimes I feel like that with my amp, but right now I like the unpredictability of having drifting resistors, and feel it gives my amp a bit more character and a life of its own. I like using CC's for the preamp cathodes and NFB resistor, as when they drift up the amp gets a bit more gain and feels warmer, without the effect being dramatic.

I talked a bunch on this subject with Trace Allen(Voodoo Amps) about the CC vs MF resistors and was told it was a bunch of hype with the CCs.....This guy knows his stuff and he's a friend,so if Trace uses all MFs in his fabulous V Plex amps,naturally they're good enough in my own amps...Marshalls hiss alot and are pretty noisy amps and the MF resistors were a no brainer! And yes,my amp sounds really inspiring and I'd like to see it stay that way and not have values drifting! I feel the overall circuit would stay consistent tonally over a period of lots of years this way...And my amp is smooth,has great sustain,is going to stay accurate,and is quiet also...Couldn't ask for more really...The voicing in my own amp is more about component value and using the right caps,transformers,choke,and some cool "usable" internal mods that don't include added tube stages.....I'm estatic with this amp overall!

I'm told this about the CC resistors....."The only thing you'll benefit from with CC resistors,is extra noise"....Argue your points about CC and I'll still stick with the MF and CF as a compromise between the 2 types.....CC resistors were plentiful and cheap during those early years of the amps we all love...It was also about saving money and buying in bulk....Marshall used Radio Spare transformers and didn't start getting any sought of consistency with their transformers until they went PCB in 73 as I'm told from the sources that know...I Know I'm off subject but you get my overall drift buddy.... ;o)
 
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Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

I'm not sure where the heck all this "noise' in CC resistors seems to come from... age perhaps? poor quality perhaps? not using a high enough wattage rating perhaps?

I just don't have noise issues in my amps (yet). If that day comes, the first thing I'll try is a Carbon Film resistor.
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

George Metropolous is selling the 150's as standard and the Sozo's as upgrades in his amps, kits and boards, I do believe. I got a handwire conversion for my plexi along with a MM OT, so i will report when i get the amp done. The Hovland worked fantastic in my Mexi-Tele, but I put the whole RS kit in. I would think that the Hovland would be THE cap to use for a clean amp.
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

Scott_F said:
I'm not sure where the heck all this "noise' in CC resistors seems to come from... age perhaps? poor quality perhaps? not using a high enough wattage rating perhaps?

I just don't have noise issues in my amps (yet). If that day comes, the first thing I'll try is a Carbon Film resistor.

Scott...This stuff is coming from some other amp guys,as I wanted to just go basically with what Marshall used,but on the other hand,I'm glad I went Metal Films....I feel my amp is quieter for it...
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

jdm61 said:
George Metropolous is selling the 150's as standard and the Sozo's as upgrades in his amps, kits and boards, I do believe. I got a handwire conversion for my plexi along with a MM OT, so i will report when i get the amp done. The Hovland worked fantastic in my Mexi-Tele, but I put the whole RS kit in. I would think that the Hovland would be THE cap to use for a clean amp.

You'll have to try and see for yourself? Sometimes the perfect cap in a highend audio component is too hi fi sounding in a guitar amp? What we want is coloration of tone and some components do a better job at getting that...That's why I'm always screwing around with all kinds of different things...:)
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

Yeah, Strat.....RS says that the Hovland that they sell is a modified version of the Musi-cap. Wonder if they dirtied it up a bit:laugh2: It sure works in my Tele. I went with the Sozo option on my Metro board......at the end of the day, I am not at all happy with the way my 1987x sounds compared to the handwired amps i have, so it was time for some major surgery.
 
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Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

Scott_F said:
I'm not sure where the heck all this "noise' in CC resistors seems to come from... age perhaps? poor quality perhaps? not using a high enough wattage rating perhaps?

I just don't have noise issues in my amps (yet). If that day comes, the first thing I'll try is a Carbon Film resistor.

I've read that the crackling may come from air or oxygen trapped within the carbon comp the resistors are made from. I think Gerald Weber or Ken Fischer may have written that somewhere.
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

Lew if that's the case my source of Mouser new construction carbon comp resistors must be first rate. That's my only conclusion. I believe in the mojo factor.
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

Scott_F said:
Lew if that's the case my source of Mouser new construction carbon comp resistors must be first rate. That's my only conclusion. I believe in the mojo factor.

Whatever works for you Scott.....:) :banana:

I Know it's not just the caps in my own amp that are making the difference,but the sum of all the components! The Sozo caps are keepers though in this amp!
 
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Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

Wait, didn't Marshall use military metal film resistors in the first place?
 
Re: Experimented Today! Sozo Caps Vs Orange Drop 715s

firebirdVII said:
Wait, didn't Marshall use military metal film resistors in the first place?

Most of what I've ever seen in older Marshalls is either CC or Carbon Film..
 
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