I rather liked the polystyrene dielectric, while the parts weren't very compatible with modern manufacturing processes. Was your preference for NPO/COG related to size and value accuracy, or something else? JR
Calrec desks were all made to order for broadcast orgs. at the time, so no flow soldering etc. But NE5534 poly 22pFs for were forever dying.
What really clinched it for us was doing distribution curves for batches of polys & NPOs (CGO's hadn't been invented 8>D)
If you do a
single batch distribution of values on a good 1% resistor, you'll find the curve is well under 0.1% for 2 std. devs. though the mean would not be within 0.1% of nominal.
Similarly for good NPOs. Not quite 0.1% for 2 std. devs. but good enough to do Line Inputs like T2 in
http://www.ka-electronics.com/images/SSL/ssl_82E01.pdf
which easily met BBC & IBA specs for CMR up to supersonic frequencies WITHOUT TRIMS. And more importantly, better practical CMR & RFI performance too. I remember breadboarding the 1st one after heated discussions with Ken Farrar and seeing the CM drop through the floor as my solder joints cooled down.
Small polystyrenes don't have this nice distribution. 1% polys are usually selected so have a +/- 1% flat top distribution.
This is all early 80's. We bought most stuff from FEC & RS in the UK so no Golden Pinnae stuff.
And the other thing we threw out was DIP sockets for OPAs. Makes me wonder about Golden Pinnae pontificating on sound of OPAs. Hmmm.... mm. Maybe I should sell DIP sockets hand carved by virgins from solid BS ....
I do have strong views on electrolytics though. I LIKE nice normal electrolytics (eg Panasonics) with correct voltage across them.