The joys of Transformer Volume Control maintenance - 23 pole switch replacement

Speedysteve7 · 03:38 PM

For a while now the TVC vol has been acting up. The TVC was second hand when I got it and I have used it a fair bit.

I knew this job was going to be a pain & I had put if off for quite a while and I was not wrong.

It was not blessed with the best quality switch in the first place.
The old switch was a cheapish Club level (i think it was called) one that can be had for about 17euros. I bought a nice posh looking Seiden 23 pole one and must say it is nicely built and clicks with satisfying precision.

Having worked out how the switches were different in where the input output and ground should go, I set to.

Plumbed in the in out and ground and then worked form there round listening to my headphones to confirm working fine every now and then. Pretty tight and fiddly but satisfying.
I had to extend some of the wires as the switch orientation was different so that took extra time.

Very nice smooth action to the switch and perhaps it sounds better - well no clicks and pops on vol adjustment and no occasional intermittent right hand channel on a couple of settings at the very least. I fancy things sound even crisper and better connected now

kevinkr · 23rd July 2011, 11:57 PM

Sounds like a lot of fun..

My last adventure with switches with so many contacts was when I built my 24 step attenuators ~74 solder joints per channel - took me days.. I'm still using them 10yrs later..

Speedysteve7 · 24th July 2011, 08:17 PM

Yes for the first 20mins of cutting wires and soldering to the new switch I was wondering if it would ever work again:-)

I listened to my mobile phone playing through the TVC and into a H/P amp into phones as I was doing it and stepped the vol up with each new pair of wires attached. to make sure it worked right at each step.

A day of use and the Seiden is a beautiful soft action switch but just positive enough with a luxury feel.

kevinkr · 24th July 2011, 10:53 PM

Good methodology for making sure it worked right at the end.. Good switches do make a difference in both performance and durability and if it feels better as well so much the better..

I suspect I will soon face the prospect of wiring up another set of attenuators or a TVC..

23rd July 2011, 03:28 PM	#1
Speedysteve7 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hants/Berkshire/Surrey	The joys of Transformer Volume Control maintenance - 23 pole switch replacement For a while now the TVC vol has been acting up. The TVC was second hand when I got it and I have used it a fair bit. I knew this job was going to be a pain & I had put if off for quite a while and I was not wrong. It was not blessed with the best quality switch in the first place. The old switch was a cheapish Club level (i think it was called) one that can be had for about 17euros. I bought a nice posh looking Seiden 23 pole one and must say it is nicely built and clicks with satisfying precision. Having worked out how the switches were different in where the input output and ground should go, I set to. Plumbed in the in out and ground and then worked form there round listening to my headphones to confirm working fine every now and then. Pretty tight and fiddly but satisfying. I had to extend some of the wires as the switch orientation was different so that took extra time. Very nice smooth action to the switch and perhaps it sounds better - well no clicks and pops on vol adjustment and no occasional intermittent right hand channel on a couple of settings at the very least. I fancy things sound even crisper and better connected now Last edited by Speedysteve7; 23rd July 2011 at 03:38 PM.

23rd July 2011, 11:57 PM	#2
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	Sounds like a lot of fun.. My last adventure with switches with so many contacts was when I built my 24 step attenuators ~74 solder joints per channel - took me days.. I'm still using them 10yrs later.. __________________ www.kta-hifi.net

24th July 2011, 10:53 PM	#4
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	Good methodology for making sure it worked right at the end.. Good switches do make a difference in both performance and durability and if it feels better as well so much the better.. I suspect I will soon face the prospect of wiring up another set of attenuators or a TVC.. __________________ www.kta-hifi.net

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24th July 2011, 08:17 PM	#3
Speedysteve7 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hants/Berkshire/Surrey	Yes for the first 20mins of cutting wires and soldering to the new switch I was wondering if it would ever work again:-) I listened to my mobile phone playing through the TVC and into a H/P amp into phones as I was doing it and stepped the vol up with each new pair of wires attached. to make sure it worked right at each step. A day of use and the Seiden is a beautiful soft action switch but just positive enough with a luxury feel.

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