There is a Vishay P11 volume pot in my McCormack TLC-1 deluxe preamp. It does what thirdicomplex said (only one channel plays when near full attenuation), but otherwise has seemed excellent to me. I was very surprised when I first saw it there, as it was so small and was sitting in a full sized chassis (some versions of this preamp have a P&G pot there).
Don’t know the english word for it but that happens a lot with those small potentiometers. Maybe because mechanical tolerances count more with small size?!
I've bought the ALPS RK097 from Mouser. I may have a couple floating around if you need some. I use the 10 kΩ, log/volume taper in my TCA HPA-10.
Tom
Tom
That's an article from 2012. DAC nowadays can reach 0.0005% THD+N and below.
Using a 10k pot will add noise and thus increase THD+N.
The Alpha is different to the ones supplied with Chinese kits and Joe Rasmussen used them.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...uctance-current-amplifier.239321/post-6016477
I replaced all the pots supplied in Chi-Fi line level unassembled kits such as tone controls and sub controllers.
Can't find that exact type made by Alpha over here.
Edit: I found a local distributor that has listed many types by Alpha. Sent them an email.
Edit: I found a local distributor that has listed many types by Alpha. Sent them an email.
Last edited:
The ones in Australia have ALPHA moulded in the back plate and Joe had a thread about it.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-photo-ignore-my-ugly-pinky.39258/post-455108
They are on the Jaycar UK site but I imagine they ship from Australia so would be too expensive.
I mostly use Bourns now as I had a stock of them.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-photo-ignore-my-ugly-pinky.39258/post-455108
They are on the Jaycar UK site but I imagine they ship from Australia so would be too expensive.
I mostly use Bourns now as I had a stock of them.
Attachments
That one looks like a copy of RK097. The ones available here are called RD901. That thread is from 2004, I can imagine Alpha to have newer series of potentiometers with the same pinout.
I do not like that "Chi-Fi devices" get characterized pretty negative in a rather generic fashion: "Better volume potentiometers for Chi-Fi devices".
Especially it shouldn't be done by a forum moderator. (Who'll be in the position to remove my post!)
Reading generic stuff like
Anyhow.
There've been huge developments in China during the last couple of years. Topping, SMSL, Gustard, Sabaj, Soncoz,....
"Many" ChiFi devices are nowadays pretty high up in the ranks of the technical spec battle. You can read more about it over at ASR.
"Many" ChiFi devices also use digital volume controls. There are digital volume controls that are provided by the DAC chip manufacturer
(e.g. ESS Sabre). Some other manufacturers provide DSP based solutions. Today you'll mostly find 32bit and 64bit VCs.
That'll allow roughly for 6bitx6dB=36dB rather lossless digital VC for a 32bit-VC.
Digital volume controls - if done right - outclass analog pots on many aspects. That's a known fact.
After all, what matters is a proper DAC >> amp >> speaker integration. The DAC output level needs to match the gain level of the amp to comply
to the speaker sensitivity.
"Many" systems I have seen fail on that part.
Some DAC manufacturers offer a combined digital/analog level adjustment. They offer a resistive base level adjust e.g. -3/-6/-12dB
which is still better than a classical pot. And on top offer a quality digital volume control to cope with the rest.
Further, amps like the Purifi amp offer gain adjust on the input stage to allow for a better DAC-amp-speaker integration.
I e.g. use 0dB pre-gain on my Purifi to keep the losses associated to the digital VC to a minimum.
Of course there'll be some bad apples out there in the industry. If you buy $20 equipment probably not much can be expected.
If you step over these bad apples simply name them. Tell us. That'll help the folks around here.
I btw. also own a Gustard DAC. I consider its price/performance ratio excellent. And I haven't experienced a single hiccup in 18 month.
And, just to mention it, I doubt that DIY on digital equipment leads to predictable results. Most people simply do not have the equipment
and skills to verify the result of any DIY effort in the digital device domain. Yeah. I know. Listening tests can and do say a lot.
The designer and founder of Soncoz once mentioned that a single properly hand-soldered joint he applied to fix something was messing
up his device specs.
Enjoy.
Especially it shouldn't be done by a forum moderator. (Who'll be in the position to remove my post!)
Reading generic stuff like
I'd consider an insult.
Anyhow.
There've been huge developments in China during the last couple of years. Topping, SMSL, Gustard, Sabaj, Soncoz,....
"Many" ChiFi devices are nowadays pretty high up in the ranks of the technical spec battle. You can read more about it over at ASR.
"Many" ChiFi devices also use digital volume controls. There are digital volume controls that are provided by the DAC chip manufacturer
(e.g. ESS Sabre). Some other manufacturers provide DSP based solutions. Today you'll mostly find 32bit and 64bit VCs.
That'll allow roughly for 6bitx6dB=36dB rather lossless digital VC for a 32bit-VC.
Digital volume controls - if done right - outclass analog pots on many aspects. That's a known fact.
After all, what matters is a proper DAC >> amp >> speaker integration. The DAC output level needs to match the gain level of the amp to comply
to the speaker sensitivity.
"Many" systems I have seen fail on that part.
Some DAC manufacturers offer a combined digital/analog level adjustment. They offer a resistive base level adjust e.g. -3/-6/-12dB
which is still better than a classical pot. And on top offer a quality digital volume control to cope with the rest.
Further, amps like the Purifi amp offer gain adjust on the input stage to allow for a better DAC-amp-speaker integration.
I e.g. use 0dB pre-gain on my Purifi to keep the losses associated to the digital VC to a minimum.
Of course there'll be some bad apples out there in the industry. If you buy $20 equipment probably not much can be expected.
If you step over these bad apples simply name them. Tell us. That'll help the folks around here.
I btw. also own a Gustard DAC. I consider its price/performance ratio excellent. And I haven't experienced a single hiccup in 18 month.
And, just to mention it, I doubt that DIY on digital equipment leads to predictable results. Most people simply do not have the equipment
and skills to verify the result of any DIY effort in the digital device domain. Yeah. I know. Listening tests can and do say a lot.
The designer and founder of Soncoz once mentioned that a single properly hand-soldered joint he applied to fix something was messing
up his device specs.
Enjoy.
You assume too much and being offended (certainly for others) is simply a choice. Woke is a worldwide cancer that only destroys. It came from the anglosaxon areas only to be pushed in Europe as well. It improves NOTHING as it is just about words and not about any content. I worked in China and I know not a single Chinese tech will take offense as they simply know what ultra cheap stuff and the issues mean. You get what you pay for.
If Chi-Fi devices (which are the ultra cheap devices) would be so bad then one would not buy them at all. It is the niche of ultra cheap devices with many a design omission. It is a sport for some to solve that design omissions, no more no less.
If Chi-Fi devices (which are the ultra cheap devices) would be so bad then one would not buy them at all. It is the niche of ultra cheap devices with many a design omission. It is a sport for some to solve that design omissions, no more no less.
Last edited:
Jean-Paul, are you sure the scratchiness you describe isn't caused by the fact that most of these cheap amps use a 'law fake' linear pot arrangment? The extra current through the wiper is known to cause scratiness. My BRZ MA12070 amp had that problem until I swapped in a log pot and deleted the shunt resistors.
Oh that can be but what current exactly? It is found in various devices that identify themselves as "unrealistic priceworthy audio devices produced in a beautiful country far away in the East".
It doesn't change the need for a quality real logarithmic potentiometer in the same physical format. Which one did you use?
It doesn't change the need for a quality real logarithmic potentiometer in the same physical format. Which one did you use?
Last edited:
The additional current from the shunt resistor from the wiper to ground.
I agree that using a higher quality pot is the best solution. I haven't had any problems using the fake RK097 pots though. I just buy a bunch of them since they're dirt cheap, then sort through them for one with acceptable channel tracking.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2251832601318607.html
I agree that using a higher quality pot is the best solution. I haven't had any problems using the fake RK097 pots though. I just buy a bunch of them since they're dirt cheap, then sort through them for one with acceptable channel tracking.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2251832601318607.html
Isn't that the ultralow current hat normally goes through the potentiometer but now partly through the wiper? Wimpy stuff if so.
When Ali is buying these from the same producers as where the manufacturers of devices that identify themselves as "unrealistic priceworthy audio devices produced in a beautiful country far away in the East" obtain them then the circle is round. No offense intended against triangles, rectangles, squares or any other shape. One also does not know if one will receive the same double plus good ones you got as ungood versions may today be produced in a garage a few blocks away. As a square thinking CIS male person without a womb (he/him) I better look for A branded stuff that simply functions OK for a long time I think.
When Ali is buying these from the same producers as where the manufacturers of devices that identify themselves as "unrealistic priceworthy audio devices produced in a beautiful country far away in the East" obtain them then the circle is round. No offense intended against triangles, rectangles, squares or any other shape. One also does not know if one will receive the same double plus good ones you got as ungood versions may today be produced in a garage a few blocks away. As a square thinking CIS male person without a womb (he/him) I better look for A branded stuff that simply functions OK for a long time I think.
Last edited:
Well, let's not forget that we're trying to put lipstick on a pig here. Even with the most botique rouge paste apllied, if you close your eyes, it still smells like a pig. I like to think her squeel sounds a little sweeter though.
Also, I'm a quasi-metrically ungendered biological mass that identifies as a dodecahedron. Please address my angles accordingly.
Also, I'm a quasi-metrically ungendered biological mass that identifies as a dodecahedron. Please address my angles accordingly.
Dear quasi-metrically ungendered biological mass that identifies as a dodecahedron, you are not implying an animal identifying as a pig to be an ungood and in your opinion unpleasant smelling lesser value (albeit in your personal opinion possibly nicer squealing) creature are you? I take offense if so.
Enough of this, being woke costs too much words and time and we gain NOTHING. Back to potentiometers please. To prevent anyone taking offense I rename the devices to Che-Fi (Cheap Fidelity).
Enough of this, being woke costs too much words and time and we gain NOTHING. Back to potentiometers please. To prevent anyone taking offense I rename the devices to Che-Fi (Cheap Fidelity).
Last edited:
Today I got the offer of a German distributor that 2 x Alpha 25 kOhm miniature logarithmic stereo potentiometers with metal 6 mm shaft will cost me 38 Euro.
Last edited:
Around here if you get such a deal, you might think the fellow expecting the money to be holding a handgun pointed at you!