Simple mod that improves audio reproduction- remove the balance control and use two single ganged potentiometers.
I found the music is not "contorted" by adding or subtracting to what is on the recording.... The less components in the signal path, the purer the sound...
Regards,
John
Regards,
John
Why not omit the amplifier altogether? No components = perfect pure sound forever!knockbill said:
And now it's a pain in the butt to change volume and get a good balance.
Less is often more, but in some cases practicality rules.
Good idea... thats how it all started, but, you'll need headphones to hear it...
I'm quoting Eli Duttman, on my Philco thread....
Regards,
John
Pano, It is difficult for me to understand If you can't obtain good balance with two independent controls. Check the tracking on a dual ganged pots. they suck. Mike, If you want to know the answer to your question your welcome to find out for yourself.
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I hate to say this but..
Using two single volume pots has been standard audiophile on preamps for years and years....🙄
And using dual ganged independent pots with a concentric shaft...<<this is probably the best, however I think they are hard to get these days...
eg...
http://ampslab.com/Images/accessories/alps50ka2_thumb.jpg
Regards
M. Gregg
Using two single volume pots has been standard audiophile on preamps for years and years....🙄
And using dual ganged independent pots with a concentric shaft...<<this is probably the best, however I think they are hard to get these days...
eg...
http://ampslab.com/Images/accessories/alps50ka2_thumb.jpg
Regards
M. Gregg
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Nix the balance pot, sure. Dual mono pots for volume? Depends if you want to listen to music or play with your pre. I think it is a terrible idea. If your pot stinks, get a better one, or DIY a stepped attenuator, or do volume in the digital realm if a digital source.
Frankly I doubt you can get better balance by hand at every touch of the volume.
Frankly I doubt you can get better balance by hand at every touch of the volume.
Balance is important but you have to have the whole circuit balanced. The volume control is only part of the circuit, though most problems do come from there.
I've had twin volume controls, concentric volume controls and mis-matched volume controls, plus stepped attenuators. IMO they all have strengths and weaknesses. The big advantage of twins is I can usually find some suitable pots in my parts junk bin if I'm building something. Other than that, they're a minor PITA.
Stepped attenuators are probably the best way to go, though if cost is no object some will suggest transformers.
What I don't understand is why one would think a balance control is such a sin. Lots of excellent equipment has balance controls that aren't detracting from the performance in any meaningful way.
I've had twin volume controls, concentric volume controls and mis-matched volume controls, plus stepped attenuators. IMO they all have strengths and weaknesses. The big advantage of twins is I can usually find some suitable pots in my parts junk bin if I'm building something. Other than that, they're a minor PITA.
Stepped attenuators are probably the best way to go, though if cost is no object some will suggest transformers.
What I don't understand is why one would think a balance control is such a sin. Lots of excellent equipment has balance controls that aren't detracting from the performance in any meaningful way.
Hi Conrad, You are correct! We can't rely on our ears for sonic evaluation, yes? We may as well go back to the Julian d. Hirsch days where all amps sound the same with the same wattage and 1% distortion is inaudible.
It would be nice if people actually did rely on their ears, but mostly they rely on their eyes too. Is that better or worse than someone else relying on his brains?yero said:
I modified a friend PAS phono stage with dale 1% metal film resistors. When we listened to the preamp it sounded different. Reevaluating the mod I discovered an error. I installed one resistor with wrong value. I did not see that there was something different about the sound, I heard the difference. That not possible if we can't rely on our ears!
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Small frequency response errors can be relatively easy to hear. Putting a wrong value resistor in a phono preamp is likely to create a frequency error even if the resistor is not officially part of the RIAA network.
My point is that people who claim they can hear differences between components with the same value often seem to do this only when they know which component is which. They then often claim to hear implausibly large differences, which to me look like just another version of male bragging.
My point is that people who claim they can hear differences between components with the same value often seem to do this only when they know which component is which. They then often claim to hear implausibly large differences, which to me look like just another version of male bragging.
Hi Yero,
So if I understand you correctly, if I simply remove the dual volume control and the balance control in this preamp circuit, and replace them with two single controls, one for left volume and one for right volume, it will sound better?
Mike
So if I understand you correctly, if I simply remove the dual volume control and the balance control in this preamp circuit, and replace them with two single controls, one for left volume and one for right volume, it will sound better?
Mike
That particular circuit might sound better, as the balance control has been badly implemented - it will cut bass in the lower level channel. Also, that way of doing it can introduce interchannel crosstalk via the slider.
DF96
Yes I know that, I just would like to hear what the OP has to say. That circuit topology, believe it or not, was actually in a cheap Asian reciever from the 80's, i thought the schematic pasted inside was wrong, but they actually did it that way.
Mike
Yes I know that, I just would like to hear what the OP has to say. That circuit topology, believe it or not, was actually in a cheap Asian reciever from the 80's, i thought the schematic pasted inside was wrong, but they actually did it that way.
Mike
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