by Roy Mottram Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:15 pm
metal films are usually the best for 1/2 watt or less resistors used in the audio signal path.
metal oxide resistors are usually the best for 1 to 3 watt resistors used in the power supply or in a plate load.
carbon films are OK if you want that old mellow tone from the 60s. carbon composition are rarely used anymore for anything audiowise.
There are other types of resistors, such as wire-wound, that are used when needed for high current and low resistance.
If you like to pay $4 each for a resistor when a 10c Vishay/Dale metal film is perfectly fine for 99.99%, then you'll like tantalum film resistors.
20 or 30 of those can really up the budget!!
You didn't ask, but I only use polypropylene capacitors in the audio path. Never use polyester capacitors for anything, in my opinion!
PP caps are normally metalized film, but better ones are made with foil and cost more (that's the difference between the Sprague 715P and 716P).
Even better are paper in oil (PIO) and better yet are Teflon which are usually over $100 each, if you don't care for standard $2-5 capacitors.
