Metal or Carbon Resistors - Which is better?

A passive preamp paired with 300B amplifier and TT as main source.

Passive preamp comes with two options,

a) Metal film resistor - 1% accuracy 0.5W type

b) Carbon composition resistor - 5% accuracy 0.5W type

Which one would you choose and why?

lalitk06-18-2025 3:11am

mitch2 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,336 posts 06-21-2025 at 02:14pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete When Steve McCormack helped me remove the volume control from the signal path in my SMc Audio preamp, I ended up choosing Audio Note 2W Silver Non-Magnetic Tantalum Film resistors to install in place of the stepped attenuator. Sounds great, no regrets.
mitch2 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,336 posts 06-19-2025 at 02:21am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Not sure about "better" but I chose Amtrans AMRG non-magnetic carbon film resistors in my Hattor passive that I use to adjust volume and provide a display and remote control in my system. I have been happy with the sound, and compared to the many other preamps I have owned I don't believe it leaves anything on the table wrt volume control without gain.