Converting a DACT series pot to a shunt pot
 

Hi all,

Recently replaced the ALPS blue pot in my passive pre with a 100k DACT and that was a spectacular upgrade-clear, clean, open, detailed.
This is a series pot, i.e. the audio sigal has to pass through all the resistors (up to the point set by the pot). I have been told that shunt pots are better, but DACT does not make one.

Anyone with an idea of how to mod the series pot to a pseudo-shunt?

If your DACT is a 2 deck type, which it probably is, you won't be able to do a ladder attenuator, except for just one channel.

You would need another 2-deck DACT or a 4-deck type.


Carlos

Re: Converting a DACT series pot to a shunt pot
 

This is possible, but I don't recommend it. (removing SMD resistors, soldering another.. a very tricky and costly business)

Regards,
Milan

As I understand, we're discussing the pseudo-shunt attenuator.

Regards,
Milan

It's very easy: just place a fixed 10k series resistor and use your DACT as switchable shunting element, from fixed resistor to ground.

I did that with my Sonic Fronteers attenuator and it worked fine. You will loose some gain, but it shouldn't be a problem.

This type of attenuator is not necessarily better than series switcher or a good pot, btw.

Sorry, my mistake.

Thanks everyone, will try and post results.

One other question: A couple of years ago, Stereophile posted a DIY plan for a buffered pre-amp (Aunt Corey's premap). The detail is still available at the stereophile website.

Has anyone tried this?
Does the use of a buffer improve the performance of the passive pre?

It will depend on your system and the setup, but chance are it will. But it has to be implemented very well, otherwise it will bring too much coloration.

I myself prefer an active preamp, over the passive pot.

Active preamp vs pot vs switchable output transformer. Are you changed your opinion, Peter ? Not long time ago, I think that you was prefer trafo. ;)

And I prefer TVC over active preamp on classical and jazz material ;)

But this also is not set in stone. On some days my preferences are quite different.

But most of the time I'm using modified ML380S preamp in my secondary system and S&B102 in my main system.

In my workshop I have PEC pot mounted directly on amps input. I enjoy all 3 systems.