"Silver-Carbon" Pot ex Tawan - Photo - & ignore my ugly Pinky!

[Joe Rasmussen]

Here is the photo of the "Silver-Carbon" pot that I've mentioned from time to time. This is clearly different from the Panasonic (supposedly also S-C) available from Thel in Germany and others:

This is the only pot I know that sounds uncoloured to me. The only pot I know that can stand comparison to a pair of resistors making up a "static" pot. And yes, it's tiny and soldering needs to be up to the job. Please note, it's not a quarter inch shaft, it requires a standard spline knob.



Here is my earlier post which describes the static resistor test that can be repeated with all pots:

Please read: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...156#post454156

Now Peter Daniel was dissapointed with the Panasonic S-C pot. It could be the lack of character (neutrality?) it may have if it sounds the same as mine? Hope Peter doesn't mind me saying that. One has to make allowance that some may not like it? Maybe they wouldn't like the DACT or similarly? Or perhaps my pot (I hope you don't mind me calling it that) is in fact that much better than the Panasonic? I just don't know.

Maybe somebody should get their hands on a Panasonic and do the same static resistor test, it's not a difficult one to do (and can be done with any pot). And if the Panasonic is up to the job, then some will like it and others will not.

The beauty of the static resistor test is that you have a real reference, it takes out the 'taste' factor and forces you to make an objective assessment/judgment. Try it, set it up and do it to a series of pots, this is what DIY is all about, then report back the findings.

So there you have it, a challenge that anybody can participate in, only basic equipment and your ears are required.

Joe R.

PS:For the photographic bums like myself, the above photo was with the latest Canon Pro-1 Series, 8 MegaPixel Digital Camera

[Peter Daniel]

Static resistor test (a pair of resistors forming a voltage devider) is only good if resistors have no sonic signature. I yet, didn't find such resistors.

For the record, I compared Panasonic pot against Vishay/Holco static resistor setup, and Panasonic was not comparable.

[Joe Rasmussen]

Originally posted by Peter Daniel
Static resistor test (a pair of resistors forming a voltage devider) is only good if resistors have no signature. I yet, didn't find such resistors.

For the record, I compared Panasonic pot against Vishay/Holco static resistor setup, and Panasonic was not comparable.

OK, maybe you're right re Panasonic. I used Beyschlag MF and compared to them any conductive plastic was far more colured. But the levels has to be within 0.1dB of each other, measured on the speaker terminals, switchable so that audio memory doesn't fail. That is the only way to conduct this test.

(BTW, this is also a useful way to test amps.)

If the levels are not matched precisely, the test will tend to favour the louder. I did another 'blind level reference test' where I increased by 0.6dB and my unware listener said this was definitely more 'transparent' and better. It wasn't, it was the exact same gear.

Joe R.

[Peter Daniel]

Nevertherless, Panasonic is a really nice pot. It does not posses the brightness that some Nobels have and sounds rather sweet. However, I was missing the last word in transparency, the discreet attenuator exhibits. I can suspect that Panasonic will appeal to tube enthusiasts

Testing a pot, like anything else in audio, greatly depends on the rest of a setup, more specificaly what is before the pot and what comes after.

[BlackDog]

Originally posted by Joe Rasmussen
[B]Here is the photo of the "Silver-Carbon" pot that I've mentioned from time to time. This is clearly different from the Panasonic (supposedly also S-C) available from Thel in Germany and others:

Joe,

Forgive me if I'm totally off track but that pot looks suspicously similar to what can be bought from Jaycar in NZ (you have them in Aus too!) for NZ$7.00 -- that's approx US$3.50 for the dual gang version.

I think I have one at home somewhere..

here's the link to Jaycar pot.

Maybe I'm wrong. Does yours have any identifying marks on it?

SteveM

[rdf]

I almost hate to ask, but has anyone tried using linear wirewound ten-turns? They've been in my passive for almost a decade now and I've never felt the need to swap them out. With ten turns the linear aspect is no big deal, and I do like the fact that the audio never jumps from metal to plastic (or carbon) to metal.
Just wondering about the experiences of others.

[jamesjung21]

Joe,

Forgive me if I'm totally off track but that pot looks suspicously similar to what can be bought from Jaycar in NZ (you have them in Aus too!) for NZ$7.00 -- that's approx US$3.50 for the dual gang version.

I think I have one at home somewhere..

here's the link to Jaycar pot.

Maybe I'm wrong. Does yours have any identifying marks on it?

SteveM

Yeah,
I was wondering about that too...

Joe, could you please let me know what it says at the back of the pot?


Cheers,
JayJay

[mrlots2do]

Originally posted by BlackDog

Forgive me if I'm totally off track but that pot looks suspicously similar to what can be bought from Jaycar in NZ (you have them in Aus too!) for NZ$7.00 -- that's approx US$3.50 for the dual gang version.
SteveM

I'm interested in dual gang and multi gang versions $USD. How much to ship to US? Anyone going to organize a group buy? If not, who sells them in the US?

[phs]

jaycar pots are definite cheap imitations, although if someone were willing id love to know how much difference there ACTUALLY is.

[mozfet]

OK where do I get some to try???

Mozfet