Cheaper, good quality potentiometers

paulb · 24th August 2001, 07:12 PM

I'm tired of having to pay outrageous prices through only certain suppliers for volume pots. I would like to find something cheaper that is "almost as good".
Any recommendations on something other than Alps or the other expensive brand (the name escapes me at the moment).
How about Bourns or Panasonic conductive plastic?

dshortt9 · 25th August 2001, 05:22 AM

Check this link: http://hometown.aol.com/brigar2/brigar.html
They have nice 50k or 100k Alps pots for 1.95 and motorized Alps for 5.95. Buy a lifetime supply at these prices. I'm not sure of the taper, possibly someone can enlighten us from the product numbers.

tvi · 25th August 2001, 03:22 PM

<a href="http://www.farnell.com/australia/">Farnell (Aust)</a> has the Alps RK27111220k 20k dual listed for Aust$50.93, about half that in US$.
Farnell Part Number 642-990

The Noble conductive plastic on Polystyrene base is US$27.00 at The Parts Connection.

A few years ago an English parts supplier was recommending the Sfernice PA11 Conductive Plastic pots, saying it made Bourns, Spectrols etc. sound like they were mumbling into their beards. The PA11 looks like a typical square modular type pot (Bourns 91 Series) and was made for mixing consoles and other audio applications.

Never found the PA11 in Australia so can't comfirm or deny the claims of others. If you do find and try one please report back as to the sound.
<a href="http://www.vishay.com/doc?51031">PA11/PDF</a>

Regards
James

Geoff · 25th August 2001, 05:58 PM

James

If you are thinking of the same English parts supplier as I am, the recommendation was for the Sfernice P11, not the PA11, i.e. the cermet track device as opposed to the plastic film.

I have used a P11 for several years and agree that it is a significant improvement over the cheaper plastic film pots I have tried. I have not however compared it against the likes of a Panasonic EWC PA, since I consider the price of these devices to be somewhat excessive.

Geoff

AuroraB · 25th August 2001, 06:45 PM

Conductive plastic pots is very much OK in my experience.
If you can find a Bourns retailer ( I only use Bourns! )in your area, they should retail at appx. USD 8 each for singles, USD 13-15 for stereo.....At least that's what I pay here in Europe. Available both in lin and log, in the most usual values.

paulb · 27th August 2001, 04:52 AM

Thanks for all your comments. The Brigar prices sound too good to be true...I'd be buying 10 if I didn't have to bring them into Canada.
I'm probably looking for a major manufacturer that has a dealer here, it can be pricey getting stuff across our border. Digi-key has a great system, I don't know about others.
I may try a Bourns, and I really should try Panasonic, I work for them and probably owe some brand loyalty. Just wondering what people had tried.

tvi · 28th August 2001, 05:09 PM

Geoff your most likely right, I think remembered the Hype properly though?
Could it have been Russ Andress (RATA) that recomended them ?

Farnell list both P11 and PA11 as Vishay, the PA11 is only available in 10k log dual ganged for Aust$43.76
P11 lin dual are A$16.24 5k and 10k
P11 single Lin are A$10.01 100R, 500R, 1K, 5K, 10K, 50K, 100K, 500K, 1M
P11 single Log are A$11.89 1k, 5k, 10k, 50k

Now how do they compare with the expensive Panasonic/Alps/Noble/Cosmos Pots?
<hr width="95%" align=center>
For the ultimate I just found this 58 position switch
<a href="http://www.tachyon.co.jp/seiden/seiden.html"><img src="http://www.tachyon.co.jp/seiden/sd-sg1.jpg" alt=""></a>
<pre>SD-45/56/62/75 SG Series
Features
1. Dimention : 45 to 75mm diameter type
2. Durability : 50000 times
3. Step:
SD-45 enable to change 2 to 28 step.
SD-56 enable change 2 to 34 step.
SD-62 enable change 2 to 46 step.
SD-75 enable change 2 to 58 step.
4. 3 point support
5. Made in Japan</pre>
Its also made of Copper and weighs 1.5 kg

<center><font face="comic sans MS">Regards
James</font></center>

[Edited by tvi on 08-28-2001 at 12:17 PM]

Geoff · 28th August 2001, 06:39 PM

James

You are right about the source (Russ Andrews) and nearly correct with the hype. The full text was as follows:

"After a great deal of comparative testing we have finally found a superb metal film (cermet) potentiometer; the Sfernice P11. Available in a good range of values, single or ganged for stereo, this pot is sweet and smooth in the treble, detailed in the mid-band and very tight and clean in the bass. It makes conductive plastic types like Alps, Bourns, Noble and Penny & Giles sound as if they are mumbling along to the music."

As far as value for money is concerned, last time I priced the P11 here in the UK, it was a little under twice the price of an Alps 'Blue Velvet' and half the price of a Panasonic EWC PA. The situation could have changed now with the weak Euro (the P11 should be more competitive) and with Vishay's takeover (is there any specialist resistor manufacturer that they haven't acquired?)

Geoff

paulb · 28th August 2001, 07:44 PM

I can't find any mention of EWC pots on the Panasonic web site. Could somebody enlighten me as to where I might find info on them?
I can only see the EVJs, which might be what I want (cheap, pretty good?). Digi-Key has them. Anyone tried the EVJs?

Freddie · 28th August 2001, 09:11 PM

Check out: http://www.allelectronics.com

they sell for examle an ALPS DUAL 10K LINEAR TAPER MOTORIZED POT for $4. And they also have other cheap pots.

28th August 2001, 07:44 PM	#9
paulb diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Calgary	Panasonic EWC and EVJ I can't find any mention of EWC pots on the Panasonic web site. Could somebody enlighten me as to where I might find info on them? I can only see the EVJs, which might be what I want (cheap, pretty good?). Digi-Key has them. Anyone tried the EVJs?

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24th August 2001, 07:12 PM	#1
paulb diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Calgary	I'm tired of having to pay outrageous prices through only certain suppliers for volume pots. I would like to find something cheaper that is "almost as good". Any recommendations on something other than Alps or the other expensive brand (the name escapes me at the moment). How about Bourns or Panasonic conductive plastic?

25th August 2001, 05:22 AM	#2
dshortt9 diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Check this link: http://hometown.aol.com/brigar2/brigar.html They have nice 50k or 100k Alps pots for 1.95 and motorized Alps for 5.95. Buy a lifetime supply at these prices. I'm not sure of the taper, possibly someone can enlighten us from the product numbers.

25th August 2001, 03:22 PM	#3
tvi diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Moonee Ponds, Vic, Australia	<a href="http://www.farnell.com/australia/">Farnell (Aust)</a> has the Alps RK27111220k 20k dual listed for Aust$50.93, about half that in US$. Farnell Part Number 642-990 The Noble conductive plastic on Polystyrene base is US$27.00 at The Parts Connection. A few years ago an English parts supplier was recommending the Sfernice PA11 Conductive Plastic pots, saying it made Bourns, Spectrols etc. sound like they were mumbling into their beards. The PA11 looks like a typical square modular type pot (Bourns 91 Series) and was made for mixing consoles and other audio applications. Never found the PA11 in Australia so can't comfirm or deny the claims of others. If you do find and try one please report back as to the sound. <a href="http://www.vishay.com/doc?51031">PA11/PDF</a> Regards James

25th August 2001, 05:58 PM	#4
Geoff diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: UK	James If you are thinking of the same English parts supplier as I am, the recommendation was for the Sfernice P11, not the PA11, i.e. the cermet track device as opposed to the plastic film. I have used a P11 for several years and agree that it is a significant improvement over the cheaper plastic film pots I have tried. I have not however compared it against the likes of a Panasonic EWC PA, since I consider the price of these devices to be somewhat excessive. Geoff

25th August 2001, 06:45 PM	#5
AuroraB diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Norway, -north of the moral circle..	Conductive plastic pots is very much OK in my experience. If you can find a Bourns retailer ( I only use Bourns! )in your area, they should retail at appx. USD 8 each for singles, USD 13-15 for stereo.....At least that's what I pay here in Europe. Available both in lin and log, in the most usual values.

27th August 2001, 04:52 AM	#6
paulb diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Calgary	Thanks for all your comments. The Brigar prices sound too good to be true...I'd be buying 10 if I didn't have to bring them into Canada. I'm probably looking for a major manufacturer that has a dealer here, it can be pricey getting stuff across our border. Digi-key has a great system, I don't know about others. I may try a Bourns, and I really should try Panasonic, I work for them and probably owe some brand loyalty. Just wondering what people had tried.

28th August 2001, 05:09 PM	#7
tvi diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Moonee Ponds, Vic, Australia	Geoff your most likely right, I think remembered the Hype properly though? Could it have been Russ Andress (RATA) that recomended them ? Farnell list both P11 and PA11 as Vishay, the PA11 is only available in 10k log dual ganged for Aust$43.76 P11 lin dual are A$16.24 5k and 10k P11 single Lin are A$10.01 100R, 500R, 1K, 5K, 10K, 50K, 100K, 500K, 1M P11 single Log are A$11.89 1k, 5k, 10k, 50k Now how do they compare with the expensive Panasonic/Alps/Noble/Cosmos Pots? <hr width="95%" align=center> For the ultimate I just found this 58 position switch <a href="http://www.tachyon.co.jp/seiden/seiden.html"><img src="http://www.tachyon.co.jp/seiden/sd-sg1.jpg" alt=""></a> <pre>SD-45/56/62/75 SG Series Features 1. Dimention : 45 to 75mm diameter type 2. Durability : 50000 times 3. Step: SD-45 enable to change 2 to 28 step. SD-56 enable change 2 to 34 step. SD-62 enable change 2 to 46 step. SD-75 enable change 2 to 58 step. 4. 3 point support 5. Made in Japan</pre> Its also made of Copper and weighs 1.5 kg <center><font face="comic sans MS">Regards James</font></center> [Edited by tvi on 08-28-2001 at 12:17 PM]

28th August 2001, 06:39 PM	#8
Geoff diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: UK	James You are right about the source (Russ Andrews) and nearly correct with the hype. The full text was as follows: "After a great deal of comparative testing we have finally found a superb metal film (cermet) potentiometer; the Sfernice P11. Available in a good range of values, single or ganged for stereo, this pot is sweet and smooth in the treble, detailed in the mid-band and very tight and clean in the bass. It makes conductive plastic types like Alps, Bourns, Noble and Penny & Giles sound as if they are mumbling along to the music." As far as value for money is concerned, last time I priced the P11 here in the UK, it was a little under twice the price of an Alps 'Blue Velvet' and half the price of a Panasonic EWC PA. The situation could have changed now with the weak Euro (the P11 should be more competitive) and with Vishay's takeover (is there any specialist resistor manufacturer that they haven't acquired?) Geoff

28th August 2001, 09:11 PM	#10
Freddie diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sweden	Check out: http://www.allelectronics.com they sell for examle an ALPS DUAL 10K LINEAR TAPER MOTORIZED POT for $4. And they also have other cheap pots.