Best pots for audio ?

[GerryCo]

Thanks again chip_mk


I will do a search on the pots you recommend. But can you tell me why you prefer them - is it price or quality etc?


My PC is quite an ordinary device, operating under Linux (Debian) and I do not see any form of specialised audio facility. At this stage I am using VLC for both audio and video playback of lossless (MS Windows) recordings.
So perhaps straightforward analogue - therefore mech. pots - would be the best option to use here, taking the full, unattenuated output from the PC into the analogue preamplifier ?

 

[russc]

I'd suggest PGA2320 - Stereo Audio Volume Control.
That way you can incorporate remote control.

 

[GerryCo]

I'd suggest PGA2320.

Thank you russc,


I will certainly check that out too.

 

[chip_mk]

After experimenting with Pihers and other available pots, a friend who is professional servicer of studio equipment gave me ABs (along with few nice parts). Sonically I like them best altough I had never tried Alps or other good stuff. BTW I have seen ABs in some military grade equipment.

Check also this thread pages #21 and #22 for some new solutions "WHAMMY" Pass DIY headphone amp guide

 

[GerryCo]

Allen Bradley pots don't appear to be available in South Africa - unfortunately.
When I looked AB up in Google, they act as agents here for other international companies involved in industrial control such motor speed controls etc.


Will check out your other suggestions too, many thanks !

 

[gabdx]

As you turn up the volume knob the noise increases by a few decibels, digital volume doesn't. With digital sound the effect of a digital volume is not so important and has the benefit of no added noise.

+ it saves a lot of money!

 

[mchambin]

High end microphone pre-amplifiers use:
24 Position Rotary Switches.
If you go this route, be aware of "make before break" versus "break before make" switch types.

 

[GerryCo]

Hi there mchambin,



Thanks for that, I guess Make before Break is the ideal ...

 

[miklos]

I believe Nobel makes high quality potentiometers.

 

[GerryCo]

I believe Nobel makes high quality potentiometers.

Thank you, I have heard of them;
Unfortunately, there is no supplier here in South Africa of that brand - I will have to choose between Bourne & Vishay for pots.
But my concern is whether to go for cermet or conductive plstic
- or even wire-wound. So some experimenting is called for .....


Many thanks

 

[wintermute]

I would recommend something like this DACT Type 21 Stepped Attenuator / Volume Control (Hi Fi Grade) * D shape Shaft * | eBay This is the detailed view of it eBay

Don't be put off by the cheap price. I got one for my preamp a few years ago, I'd never been happy with any pots I'd bought (mainly due to channel imbalance). I was a bit skeptical that something this cheap would be good, but I couldn't be happier

Tony.

 

[ticknpop]

I like stepped attenuators with TX 2575 Vishays, but thats very, very expensive.

For potentiometers TKD 2500 are superb , but expensive, I have a TKD P65CS stepped attenuator in a preamp I built for my son - its wonderful...... but hard to find,

TOKYO KO-ON DENPA WEBSITE

 

[GerryCo]

Many thanks to all for your help and advice. It's all been very helpful.

 

[forr]

Greetings all !!
Potentiometers have become hugely expensive, apart from the old carbon types. What would members recommend for typical audio pre-amplifiers (eg: volume & tone controls, etc) ?
I would be looking for low noise, long life types. Are wire-wound pots 'over-kill' ? thanks for any comments/advice

For volume controls, I am very fond of the Baxandall/Self/Puzeys active circuits.
When the load of the cursor has a high impedance, high quality pots are not needed.

 

[forr]

High end microphone pre-amplifiers use:
24 Position Rotary Switches.
If you go this route, be aware of "make before break" versus "break before make" switch types.

I made a 30 positions stepped volume control using a rotary switch which was of the break before make sort. It does not act as a potentiometer but as an attenuator. The lower resistor (connected to ground) is of fixed value (around 300 Ohm) and there is only one resistor connected at a time in the upper section (bar a high value resistor around 1 MOhm from the input to the output). So there are only two resistors in the signal path. Electronically, it is probably the best circuit but the stepped interface is not as comfortable as a continuous good old rotary potentiometer having a nice attenuation law.

 

[dubai2000]

I am very happy indeed with the 41-step series attenuators sold by Acoustic-Dimension in NL. Not exactly cheap but - to my ears - vastly superior to Alps pots (either blue or black).

 

[scottjoplin]

Vastly superior? If you say so

 

[dubai2000]

To my ears - yes, but obviously YMMV.

 

[gabdx]

I made a 30 positions stepped volume control using a rotary switch which was of the break before make sort. It does not act as a potentiometer but as an attenuator. The lower resistor (connected to ground) is of fixed value (around 300 Ohm) and there is only one resistor connected at a time in the upper section (bar a high value resistor around 1 MOhm from the input to the output). So there are only two resistors in the signal path. Electronically, it is probably the best circuit but the stepped interface is not as comfortable as a continuous good old rotary potentiometer having a nice attenuation law.

this type of attenuator can become very noisy in an area close to transmission towers. It is a real antenna!

 

[merlin el mago]

As you turn up the volume knob the noise increases by a few decibels, digital volume doesn't. With digital sound the effect of a digital volume is not so important and has the benefit of no added noise.

+ it saves a lot of money!

Digital volume loses dBs. Perfection doesn't exist.