On Oct 4, 4:12 pm, "Arny Krueger" wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com
On Oct 3, 1:29 pm, "Arny Krueger"
wrote:
wrote in message
roups.com
It's common for the bean counters that really run things
to demand manufacturing cost be cut. Surface mount parts
are cheaper than the discrete TO-92 transistors
In many cases equal or superior transistors are
available in SMT format. Technically speaking, for small
signal transistors there is often little that prevents
the same piece of semiconductor from being mounted
either way.
and Wima film and foil polypropylene caps originally
used.
http://www.wima.de/EN/products_smd.htm
shows that SMD film capacitors are readily available.
You can't even buy the transistors I use in surface
mount.
So what? Are you saying that the transistor type you use
is totally unique and a comparable SMD does not and
cannot exist?
I suppose I could "sub" some surface mount
transistors, but the noise floor would rise.
Why?
Any audio designer with any hearing left can hear the
difference between a monolythic ceramic cap and a
precision polypropylene or polystyrene film cap,
Unless perchance you subject said designer to a
properly-run bias-controlled listening test. I've seen
dozens of audio designers fail to back their capacitor
dielectric hyperbole with performance. I'm not saying
that capacitor dielectrics can be chosen willy-nilly,
but the rules for choosing them have been known for
decades. There's no magic, only applied science.
you may
not think it matters but many would disagree with you.
There are still about 60,000 audiophiles who subscribe
to Stereophile and the kinds of anti-science I find
preached therein. That constitues "amny" but does it
make the anti-science right?
All my designs use through hole precision metal film
resistors and big ass film caps.
Proving exactly what? Size does matter? ;-)
I design for quality of
sound, I leave the rest to Behringer and friends.
I suspect that you're proud of your through hole
precision metal film resistors and big ass film caps,
and are still fighting battles that were mostly won by
modernizers in the previous millenium.
Try this experiment if you don't believe me. Replace the
quality film cap off one of your nice German mics with a
ceramic cap.
Excluded-middle argument, since it has been established
that SMD film capacitors are now common.
If Mouser and Digi-Key will sell DMD film caps to me,
why won't they sell them to anybody else?
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/631/704.pdf
They don't make polypropylene or polystyrene film caps in
surface mount.
OK Jim, so when your first story falls apart, which was that there were no
film capacitors available at all and SMT forced the use of ceramic caps,
you change it.
I thought you guys would know that.
Sorry to take you at your word, Jim.
DMD is not polypropylene or polystyrene.
So what?
Look at the temp co's of those caps, they are not in the same league.
Are you building Hi-Q tuned circuits, or putting coupling caps and bypass
caps into microphones?
If you can find me a surface mount transistor that will
spec at .3 nv/ hz/sq with 1.6 ghz GBW and will run at 120
volts let me know...
Maybe that's ahead of the SMT curve...
Obviously someone hasn't done the cap test in their
mics...
Jim, there's something about the cap test you recommended being irrelevant
to your changed story. If the question is polystyrene sounds compared to
DMD, why did you say compare to ceramic?
I love it when someone tells me I'm wrong when they
haven't done the test themselves.
Given that my standard for listening tests is double blind, I think that
means that you haven't done any proper listening tests, either. Right Jim?- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
You brought up DMD film caps, I've been discussing polystyrene and
polypropylene vs ceramic. Stop typing and try the test. That is if
your not too busy replying to internet posts. Show me a 1200 volt
polypropylene film cap in surface mount, err, maybe surface mount
isn't "there" yet either? Just like the 120 volt 1.6 ghz FT
transistors I use which are military devices in a TO-39 can. Guess
there still is a place for through hole in this new century. At least
the military thinks so.
When your surface mount electrolytic caps dry out in 20 years, you
will wish they were through hole when the repair guy says throw it
into a landfill. That applies to newer Rode mics as well. These have a
limited lifespan, they will be rotting in landfills when older classic
tube mics from 40+ years ago are still going strong simply because
they are built to be repaired. Surface mount is made for disposal.
I have done "proper " tests. They are not really needed in this
situation as the difference is not subtle. If you insist on double
blind, use two mics and do the test.
We are waiting for your results...
Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades