Volume control : - pot' or pot' variable feedback resistor (gain) ?

[ash_dac]

Hi,

I need to build a volume control.

Which is the common apporach use a pot' feeding a fixed gain amplifier or no pot with pot' variable feedback resistor (gain) ?

Also reliable brands for pot's ?

ALPS, Noble. any others ?

[mrshow4u]

You can do it either way. I've seen Music Fidelity (UK) use the two-wire variable resistor in a feedbak loop to adjust gain. I worry about changing the GBP or frequency response with gain setting. I personally, don't like that approach and would rather use a fixed gain stage feed a potentiometer and take the attenuated signal off of the wiper.

P.S. Spectrol makes good pots too. (pricey!)

[Leolabs]

Or go for stepped attenuator,a little bit expensive but sounds great.

[georgehifi]

Hey Ashley, build yourself one of these, you'll never go back to a mechanical pot again.

Lightspeed Attenuator a new passive preamp

Cheers George

[Leolabs]

Hey Ashley, build yourself one of these, you'll never go back to a mechanical pot again.

But can it beat the stepped attenuator in term of measurement(like distortion)???

[georgehifi]

Originally posted by Leolabs


But can it beat the stepped attenuator in term of measurement(like distortion)???

Your ears will tell you, yes, yes and yes

Leo read the whole thread, all 17 pages, the answer is there.

Cheers George