[JOATMON]

I purchased some Path Audio resistors and they have a ground/shield wire on one side. I am wondering if I should connect this shield wire to the ground of the crossover network? Also, does it matter which direction I would connect it, as it will be in the signal path.

Thanks!

[Speedskater]

Most passive crossover networks have no shielded components.  Don't know why you would shield a resistor, with all the unshielded wires in and near the crossover.

[JOATMON]

Most passive crossover networks have no shielded components.  Don't know why you would shield a resistor, with all the unshielded wires in and near the crossover.

This is the first time I am using these Path Audio resistors in a crossover circuit. I have read that they are among the best to use in speaker crossovers! I'm sure that the shield wire has a purpose, perhaps in another electronic circuit application?

I just wanted to give them a try to see if I could hear a difference! I'm guessing that it wouldn't hurt to connect the shield wire to ground in the circuit?

[JohnR]

Their web page says to connect to the crossover negative. Not all amps have this connected to ground though.

I've never heard of individually shielded resistors.

[JOATMON]

Their web page says to connect to the crossover negative. Not all amps have this connected to ground though.

I've never heard of individually shielded resistors.

Do you believe that perhaps this shield wire, when connected, could help with any type of EMF produced from inductors that may be close to a resistor?  Just my own speculation, as I'm no electrical engineer...lol

I'm also wondering if the shielded lead should be connected first or after the signal path flow. In other words, the speaker crossover output wire's positive side would connect first to this resistor, as this is the first component to be connected in the signal path. So I'm wondering if it mattered if I were to connect the single wire first, then on the backside that has the shielded wire, connect that to the ground and the other wire would continue on the hot side to the rest of the components on the crossover? Or should this be just the opposite with the shielded wire connected first to ground?

[S Clark]

Imagine a resistor directly in front of a tweeter that is shunted to ground.  Not only did you just cut the volume of the tweeter, you also dropped impedence of the circuit (which could make for a very unhappy amp)  Unless you have a decent handle on what's happening with the crossover circuit, I can't imagine that grounding each resistor is a good thing. 

[Speedskater]

Doubtful that the shield does anything meaningful in any realistic situation.
Just another audiophile misunderstanding.

[JOATMON]

Imagine a resistor directly in front of a tweeter that is shunted to ground.  Not only did you just cut the volume of the tweeter, you also dropped impedence of the circuit (which could make for a very unhappy amp)  Unless you have a decent handle on what's happening with the crossover circuit, I can't imagine that grounding each resistor is a good thing.

This resistor is in the signal path, not in a shunt position. The shield wire that is attached to these Path Audio resistors are only used as a shield when connected to the ground portion of the crossover. It is not connected in any way to the other 2 leads that are used in the resistor section.

[JOATMON]

Doubtful that the shield does anything meaningful in any realistic situation.
Just another audiophile misunderstanding.

So I wonder now why Path Audio has incorporated this shield in the first place? Hmmmm

[ohenry]

Joatmon, I'd just ground the shield and never, ever bring this up again. 

[S Clark]

This resistor is in the signal path, not in a shunt position. The shield wire that is attached to these Path Audio resistors are only used as a shield when connected to the ground portion of the crossover. It is not connected in any way to the other 2 leads that are used in the resistor section.

OK, I get it now.  Can't see how it could hurt.  Like O'Henry said, just do it.

[JOATMON]

OK guys, Thanks for y'all s inputs!

Just one last question, Would it make any difference if I hook up the shield wire to ground being in the front position where the signal comes in first, or should I connect it after the signal has entered the resistor and have the shield on the backside of the resistor to ground?

[Speedskater]

You can just cut the shield wire off. It won't make any difference.

* * * * * * * * *
a better plan for interference reduction, is to use a twisted pair speaker cable.
speaker cables (being long) occasionally act as interference antennas.

[audiogurujax]

Note: If your amps are full differential balanced like My Pass XA60.8, DO NOT connect the ground lead wire to the neg(-) since it has signal and is not to be ever connected to ground  all you will be doing is introducing signal (noise) to the shield, and that's counterproductive.

[ohenry]

Joatmon, I'd just ground the shield and never, ever bring this up again. 

Son of a ......   

[JOATMON]

Note: If your amps are full differential balanced like My Pass XA60.8, DO NOT connect the ground lead wire to the neg(-) since it has signal and is not to be ever connected to ground  all you will be doing is introducing signal (noise) to the shield, and that's counterproductive.

I'm assuming that you have already experienced this with a Path Audio resistor used in the signal path of a speaker crossover?