Resistor Shootout: Duelund, Pathaudio, Jantzen

In audio equipment, selection of true resistor, especially in signal path, may be one of the best effective way to minimize noise and distortion. There are three types of resistors in this shoot-out. Let's see what happen.

Important note : All the conclusions below are based on my long term listening sessions only. They are not the consequences of any engineering measurements. 

From left to right :

• Standard Graphite Silver from Duelund Coherent Audio
• Pathaudio 
• Superes from Jantzen Audio

Resistors type & performance can greatly vary according to used area. For example, on power supplies more inductive resistor (generally cheapest ones) can contribute to performance more than expensive "non-inductive" resistors. On the other hand, on signal path we have to use lowest inductive resistors to avoid signal degeneration. 

Test place : 

All three resistors used in this test have low to zero inductance values. So they are ideal for using in signal path. I compared them on R1, a resistor located serially on signal path to tweeters, in my speakers crossover network.

Superes from Jantzen Audio

"10 watt wire wound, ceramic core resistors with a 1% tolerance and low inductance less than 0.7 uH"

First of all, I want to say that Jantzen Superes, the cheapest one in this test, is better than grey color MOX Jantzen which is already better than standard cement resistors. These resistors came to me within OBL-15 speaker kit from Jantzen Audio. I used them almost for a year so I know their sonic signature very well. Briefly Superes is an adequately detailed and uncolored resistor with small noise floor. Not the best one here but if we consider price/performance ratio Superes is one of the best resistor available on the market.


Standard Graphite Silver from Duelund Coherent Audio

"Constructed from a graphite rod with silver terminals in a phenolic cylinder for protection. They have practically zero inductance, with a 5% tolerance - 10 Watt" 

Duelund has been producing two different type of this resistor. Standard Graphite (used in this test) and expensive Cast type which is epoxy filled within its body. Practically they are the same except for epoxy damping. After passed to Duelund from Jantzen Superes I heard huge difference on details. Honestly I wasn't expecting that much. In some classical records I started to hear recording equipment's noise floor. I always turn to volume up while I'm listening my classical albums because of the dynamic range issue. So the noise floor is becoming much more hearable.  Interestingly when I was passing to Superes again there was very little to non evidence on noise hearable coming from recording equipments. Duelund's soundstage (not in depth but width) was also significantly bigger than Jantzen and Pathaudio but on the other hand it was lacking in focusing a bit.  I lived with Duelund almost six months. It is a good resistor for upgrading cheap ceramics and even well made wirewound types. I guaranteed that you can hear the difference at the very first moment but I'm warning you these organic beauty is somehow adding its signature to the sound. I did not find it "as the best" for naturalness.


Pathaudio 


"The body is encased in copper, shielding the resistor body structure against RF interference and magnetic fields.  Non-magnetic  and ultra low inductance  with a 1% tolerance - 10 Watt"

This is the most expensive and most beautiful looking resistor in the test. I passed one week with it and total playback time was not exceeded 25-30 hours..  According to manufacturer it needs at least 100 hours to complete burning process. Ok this will not stop me. Partially burned Pathaudio must be the best resistor in the world of hifi. Just say wow..!  It is sounding perfectly natural with hell of details, and dynamics within true black background.  Keith Jarrett's solo piano performance on the Köln concert album has never been so good like now. Pathaudio's soundstage is not big like Duelund but it brought quite remarkable naturalness, presence, focus and harmonic richness to my system.