Improving tracking on cheap pots

Hybrid fourdoor · 24th April 2004, 11:56 AM

Attention!!! ***Audiophiles need not read further****

This looks to be a good way to improve the tracking abilities of cheap stereo pots.

Now I know it may not seem kosher, since were adding all these resistive paths, but in the end it comes out to an acceptable value.

Anyways I started with a 150K Pot and "modeled" normal measurments at various positions. I then compared a network with 2 additional resistors, and then a network with 3 resistors. In each case the tracking was smoothed out considerably.

The point here is to create a descent pot that doesn't cost much. Most cheap stereo pots can be bought for ~$2, and 1% Dale resistors can be had for (way) less than $0.15 each....a better alternative to $30+ speacialty pots. The only drawback is that at very low values, the other resistors are unable to help the pot very much, but this translates to having the volume at full, which is not a very widely used place for most equipment. You can see in the normal usage area it cleans up quite a bit. ANd you end up with a 50K Pot with good tracking.

Hope this is helpfull

Tall Shadow · 5th May 2004, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hybrid fourdoor
Attention!!! ***Audiophiles need not read further****

This looks to be a good way to improve the tracking abilities of cheap stereo pots.

{SNIP}

Hope this is helpfull

It would be, but the pic is not available.

Thanks for the post tho'!
Can You just mail it to me?

Tall Shadow

Andypairo · 5th May 2004, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tall Shadow

It would be, but the pic is not available.

Tall Shadow

Must have been some audiophile hacker

Any chance to see the right picture?

Cheers

Andrea

Alcaid · 5th May 2004, 01:45 PM

http://home.comcast.net/~westrock/pages/pottrack.htm

Alcaid · 5th May 2004, 02:03 PM

100R in series with ch2 and you'll have an even better tracking. Don't know about the sonics of such a mod though.

Bill Fitzpatrick · 5th May 2004, 03:33 PM

The guy that wrote this is weird. The pot's not connected right and he has 3 resistors where 1 will do. If you have things connected the way he suggests you cannot turn the volume all the way down.

officeboy · 5th May 2004, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hybrid fourdoor

1% Dale resistors can be had for (way) less than $0.15 each

Where?

24th April 2004, 11:56 AM	#1
Hybrid fourdoor diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ft. Worth, TX	Improving tracking on cheap pots Attention!!! *Audiophiles need not read further** This looks to be a good way to improve the tracking abilities of cheap stereo pots. Now I know it may not seem kosher, since were adding all these resistive paths, but in the end it comes out to an acceptable value. Anyways I started with a 150K Pot and "modeled" normal measurments at various positions. I then compared a network with 2 additional resistors, and then a network with 3 resistors. In each case the tracking was smoothed out considerably. The point here is to create a descent pot that doesn't cost much. Most cheap stereo pots can be bought for ~$2, and 1% Dale resistors can be had for (way) less than $0.15 each....a better alternative to $30+ speacialty pots. The only drawback is that at very low values, the other resistors are unable to help the pot very much, but this translates to having the volume at full, which is not a very widely used place for most equipment. You can see in the normal usage area it cleans up quite a bit. ANd you end up with a 50K Pot with good tracking. Hope this is helpfull __________________ I enjoy my organic shapes.....

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5th May 2004, 01:45 PM	#4
Alcaid diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Klepp	http://home.comcast.net/~westrock/pages/pottrack.htm

5th May 2004, 02:03 PM	#5
Alcaid diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Klepp	100R in series with ch2 and you'll have an even better tracking. Don't know about the sonics of such a mod though.

5th May 2004, 03:33 PM	#6
Bill Fitzpatrick diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Eugene, OR	The guy that wrote this is weird. The pot's not connected right and he has 3 resistors where 1 will do. If you have things connected the way he suggests you cannot turn the volume all the way down.

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