Instead of getting into the building details I would like some reviews please about the sound quality out of it. I know the advantages that it offers in terms of point contact, humidity, immunity to mechanical interference, so I do not want to talk about that.
As some believe that the resistor material (metal film, tantalum etc) also affects the sound quality, I would like to know please if you have any evidence or technical explanation of the sound quality that relates to this LDR material.
As some believe that the resistor material (metal film, tantalum etc) also affects the sound quality, I would like to know please if you have any evidence or technical explanation of the sound quality that relates to this LDR material.
Its kind of hard for us non-reviewer guys to say exactly how it sounds. Fantastic is one word that comes to mind. It is honestly better than any other pot out there. I have LDR customers comparing with goldpoint and penny and giles. The LS circuit kills these pots. Only need look back a few posts to where Stuart was talking about the penny and giles pots, he's the guy who did that comparison. He showed his build pics.
There is no snake oil here, no psychoacoustics or any of that babble. LDRs can create the best sounding pot out there.
Scientific? Nope, were not scientists.
Uriah
There is no snake oil here, no psychoacoustics or any of that babble. LDRs can create the best sounding pot out there.
Scientific? Nope, were not scientists.
Uriah
I had been away from the computer for a few days. Got back to your post and 51 other emails. Yeah yeah thats not anything like the few hundred my wife gets at work every day, but a lot for me 
Here is exactly what you requested as sent to me in one of the aforementioned emails that I had not yet got to when I responded earlier to your post.
"Hi Uriah,
I put this kit together and set it up this afternoon. I connected my Phillips CD100 using a very cheap 2mtr interconnect to the inputs, then from the outputs a 4 to 5mtr long interconnect to my integrated Avantic amp (7 watt pp valve). Speakers are Lowther acoustas with EX2 drivers, I also feed a JBL sub via an active cross-over. The PS used to supply the optical volume control is just a cheap thing you plug into the mains, however it did have a steady 5 volt dc output.
I have always been disappointed with the audio quality of CDs, having listened to many players, I feel that it never approaches the quality of vinyl. In fact I hardly ever listen to CDs, because of this. It is especially the edgeness to the vocals that irritate me. Anyway all this changed this afternoon, this is a magical box, wow!! it is fantastic. Everything that is bad about CDs is illiminated. The sound from this is amazing, the difference between having this in circuit and out of circuit is like night and day.
I cannot understand how this can make such an improvement to the sound in this way. I have always thought that the minimilist approach was the better one. I could understand if it had been connected to an amp that was purely an o/p stage with no vol control and shorter, better interconnects, where all impedences were correct. All I have done is put this thing in line to test it, to see it works. Better shorter interconnects, correcting impedences and, connecting to just the amp section of the integrated were to follow. Also a better power supply. But as is, it is marvelous. Tommorow I will connect my phono stage through it. Brilliant."
Here is exactly what you requested as sent to me in one of the aforementioned emails that I had not yet got to when I responded earlier to your post.
"Hi Uriah,
I put this kit together and set it up this afternoon. I connected my Phillips CD100 using a very cheap 2mtr interconnect to the inputs, then from the outputs a 4 to 5mtr long interconnect to my integrated Avantic amp (7 watt pp valve). Speakers are Lowther acoustas with EX2 drivers, I also feed a JBL sub via an active cross-over. The PS used to supply the optical volume control is just a cheap thing you plug into the mains, however it did have a steady 5 volt dc output.
I have always been disappointed with the audio quality of CDs, having listened to many players, I feel that it never approaches the quality of vinyl. In fact I hardly ever listen to CDs, because of this. It is especially the edgeness to the vocals that irritate me. Anyway all this changed this afternoon, this is a magical box, wow!! it is fantastic. Everything that is bad about CDs is illiminated. The sound from this is amazing, the difference between having this in circuit and out of circuit is like night and day.
I cannot understand how this can make such an improvement to the sound in this way. I have always thought that the minimilist approach was the better one. I could understand if it had been connected to an amp that was purely an o/p stage with no vol control and shorter, better interconnects, where all impedences were correct. All I have done is put this thing in line to test it, to see it works. Better shorter interconnects, correcting impedences and, connecting to just the amp section of the integrated were to follow. Also a better power supply. But as is, it is marvelous. Tommorow I will connect my phono stage through it. Brilliant."
This gives an idea,
I am very susceptible of using this thing, but no negative. It is just a "new" approach, but I mostly read good reviews from people on this idea. Although I do not have the "golden ears" I do not know if so much difference occurs, but If at least it does not do any harm in sound than the standard potentiometers, then it will be fine for me, only and only because of the advantage of immunity to humidity (and others).
Thank you for this little discussion
I am very susceptible of using this thing, but no negative. It is just a "new" approach, but I mostly read good reviews from people on this idea. Although I do not have the "golden ears" I do not know if so much difference occurs, but If at least it does not do any harm in sound than the standard potentiometers, then it will be fine for me, only and only because of the advantage of immunity to humidity (and others).
Thank you for this little discussion
Power supply? Anybody? Batteries? Good idea?
Lucas,
Batteries are a very good idea
Uriah
This could be a good point to start a discussion using batteries PSU for the plain vanilla LSA.....every body must be interested with a simple batteries....
Hi guys
This thread is no longer a group buy but still a good place to talk.
I have LDRs for sale at Build An Amp and you can buy a few kits there as well.
Are they well matched? Yes, very well matched. I match 460 at a time so there is very tight matching.
Batteries: Guys check out allelectronics.com as they have lots of large batteries that will last for months on a LSA as well as chargers for when they do lose a charge. I have seen a lot of chargers on ebay that are 'smart' so they only come on when the battery needs a charge and it should charge in an hour or two so it wont interrupt your listening but once a month or so.
This thread is no longer a group buy but still a good place to talk.
I have LDRs for sale at Build An Amp and you can buy a few kits there as well.
Are they well matched? Yes, very well matched. I match 460 at a time so there is very tight matching.
Batteries: Guys check out allelectronics.com as they have lots of large batteries that will last for months on a LSA as well as chargers for when they do lose a charge. I have seen a lot of chargers on ebay that are 'smart' so they only come on when the battery needs a charge and it should charge in an hour or two so it wont interrupt your listening but once a month or so.
switch in 300k to 510k before the LDR.
The source will see the additional resistor + the series LDR + shunt LDR as the input impedance.
The receiver sees the shunt LDR as it's source impedance.
This should still work very well.
You may need to add a trimmer to one or other of the added resistors to balance out the signal when listening at lowish SPL. Then just switch across the resistor to bring the volume upto normal listening adjustment.
Andrew, shoot me an email and I will email you the manual. It should help explain.
I just choose to not post about it online. Reading the LS thread should give a good idea why. I dont like to get into arguments with people and invariably there is some j*rk that loves to argue which confuses the kids. I let my customers do the talking and it keeps me pretty busy.
Uriah
I just choose to not post about it online. Reading the LS thread should give a good idea why. I dont like to get into arguments with people and invariably there is some j*rk that loves to argue which confuses the kids. I let my customers do the talking and it keeps me pretty busy.
Uriah
No Problem Danilo. I have fun helping you guys out. The listening comments once you have it running are great because its so cool to hear someone listening to the same system and talking about how wonderful it is now. The difference, just adding a lightspeed or similar circuit, is huge.
Uriah
Uriah
I brought my lightspeed to a local audio meet. We were using it with a variety of tube gear. We swapped it in place of a Bottlehead Foreplay version 1. Big difference! Not necessarily good or bad, just big. It really mated well with some amps and just ok with some others. It goes to show how synergy in a system really matters.
Here are the photos (scroll to the bottom).
Here are the photos (scroll to the bottom).
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