DIY Phono Loading Plugs Question

@millercarbon, I pretty much knew the answer when I asked the question. But I had to ask just to make sure.

The phono input loading resistors are very critical sonically.  The very best sounding in my experience are Audio Note 2w Silver Tantalums.  Second best are nude Vishay bulk foils.  Each is pretty expensive but well worth it in my opinion.

Buy Vishay Naked Foil resistors from Texas Components on ebay (it is the manufacturer), this is the best audio resistor in the universe for reasonable price, not a snake oil !  

Actually ZYX recommendation is not more than 1000 Ohm, but more than 100 Ohm like any typical MC. You can pretty much ignore it and try whatever value you like!

@chakster  OK I found my Zyx box and spec sheet. It listed >100 ohm which I assume means over 100. I was using the 470 ohm which came with the phono preamp. So I may not need to make any other plugs after all. Preamp (JLTi) came with  100 & 470 ohm plugs. Still. all info appreciated

The main factor in choosing resistors for this application is keeping the noise as low as possible as any noise will be amplified in the following gain stages. Any resistor adds an amount of noise (called Johnson noise) regardless of the conductor material, as well as that each material has its own excess noise (apart from wire wound, but that's has its own inductive properties that rule that out). So that leaves thin film resistors, which in almost all applications are perfectly acceptable or bulk metal foil (like the Vishays suggested by @chakster ) which have exceptional noise performance and are very linear, albeit at a cost.