Quality rotary switch

slowpogo · 6th April 2007, 03:52 AM

I'm looking for a rotary switch with a nicer feel than the standard Mouser/Digikey kind, E-Switch, Alpha etc. They "snap" into position with a fair amount of wiggle room once they're set.

Who makes the kind of switch found in better audio equipment, the kind that feels "spring loaded," settles into position with a soft thwack, and doesn't wiggle?

Minion · 6th April 2007, 03:41 PM

Maybe a Proper "Lorin Switch" would be what you are Looking for.....They are probably the best readilly available Rotary switches.....

Cheers

Jan Dupont · 6th April 2007, 03:55 PM

ELMA is a good choice

QSerraTico_Tico · 6th April 2007, 04:22 PM

Switchcraft, Shallco. Forget Elma and similar products!

mrshow4u · 6th April 2007, 04:41 PM

..I've had good luck with Grayhill. I remember them being fairly available. Newark, Digi-Key, Mouser.

QSerraTico_Tico · 7th April 2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrshow4u
..I've had good luck with Grayhill. I remember them being fairly available. Newark, Digi-Key, Mouser.

Yes that too are good.

dnsey · 7th April 2007, 12:40 PM

My choice is Radiatron.

The 'vintage' ones are even better...

slowpogo · 8th April 2007, 05:37 PM

I'm going to try a Lorin and a Grayhill; they're not too expensive.

When I turn the knob on my Alps Blue Velvet pot, it just feels nice...you can feel the quality, just the right amount of torque needed. When I turn the knob on an E-Switch rotary, it feels cheap and plasticy. I don't want to spend $37 on an Elma switch, which I'm sure is pretty nice, but even the switches on my ancient Pioneer receiver feel 10x better than the E-Switch. We'll see..

Geek · 8th April 2007, 09:45 PM

Just to toss in my

here,

How about... cheapo rotary and relays for your audio signal? It's a little more complex, but for $20 worth of stuff, gives you similar performance of a $60 ceramic switch.

It's been a system I've been switching to and because only low current DC goes throught he switch, there's less lead dressing problems and adding LED's for channel position is a breeze.

Cheers!

dnsey · 9th April 2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

even the switches on my ancient Pioneer receiver feel 10x better than the E-Switch.

That's another option, of course.

Find a scrap amp (or some other gear) with a switch you like, strip it out, give it a good clean, and there you go.

6th April 2007, 03:52 AM	#1
slowpogo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007	Quality rotary switch I'm looking for a rotary switch with a nicer feel than the standard Mouser/Digikey kind, E-Switch, Alpha etc. They "snap" into position with a fair amount of wiggle room once they're set. Who makes the kind of switch found in better audio equipment, the kind that feels "spring loaded," settles into position with a soft thwack, and doesn't wiggle?

6th April 2007, 04:41 PM	#5
mrshow4u diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2006	..I've had good luck with Grayhill. I remember them being fairly available. Newark, Digi-Key, Mouser. __________________ ".........These go to eleven"

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6th April 2007, 03:41 PM	#2
Minion diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	Maybe a Proper "Lorin Switch" would be what you are Looking for.....They are probably the best readilly available Rotary switches..... Cheers

6th April 2007, 04:22 PM	#4
QSerraTico_Tico diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Switchcraft, Shallco. Forget Elma and similar products!

7th April 2007, 12:40 PM	#7
dnsey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Shropshire, England	My choice is Radiatron. The 'vintage' ones are even better...

8th April 2007, 05:37 PM	#8
slowpogo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007	I'm going to try a Lorin and a Grayhill; they're not too expensive. When I turn the knob on my Alps Blue Velvet pot, it just feels nice...you can feel the quality, just the right amount of torque needed. When I turn the knob on an E-Switch rotary, it feels cheap and plasticy. I don't want to spend $37 on an Elma switch, which I'm sure is pretty nice, but even the switches on my ancient Pioneer receiver feel 10x better than the E-Switch. We'll see..

8th April 2007, 09:45 PM	#9
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Just to toss in my here, How about... cheapo rotary and relays for your audio signal? It's a little more complex, but for $20 worth of stuff, gives you similar performance of a $60 ceramic switch. It's been a system I've been switching to and because only low current DC goes throught he switch, there's less lead dressing problems and adding LED's for channel position is a breeze. Cheers!

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