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Remote control kits

Mikkel,
Thanks for looking into the clicking issue. I think you will LOVE the Aikido preamp and it will become your favorite. Watch that high voltage on the caps!!! OUCH!

Piero7,
As I recall from recently changing the load resistors (R27 & R28) as I lowered their value the ie: 100K lowered to 80K the overall volume went down, so the -63 dB setting is actually quieter. Hope that helps.

Ron
 
Yo Ron, thanks, I'll try.

I have changed the relays but... it's the same! Tried with my Aikido pre and mosfet ampli. The click is still present! 🙁
 

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I have added a condensator to the end of the remote controller. Now I have transformers on the input side and two caps on the output side of the attenuator. There's no way to get cc thru the controller. The click is already present. Changed the load resistors and no way to get volume zero. 🙁


I also have another small problem, it's no longer linear the attenuation... I have some step to loud and the next under load... And the encoder sometime wont work, but with the remote yes. Argh!!!!
 
I had the same problem with the non-linear volume. It would be quieter at -28 than -33.....weird. I change the load resistors to a higher value and volume control is again linear. (with clicks!) annoying.
I started with 60K load resistors and changed to 80K then 98K and now quality Dale 100K . I cannot reach 0 volume either, but am OK with that as it's quiet for phone calls.
If I could change the board out and still retain my volume display I would, I don't care about remote control anymore. I just want the display and NO clicks.

Ron
 
Mikkel,
Thanks for looking into the clicking issue. I think you will LOVE the Aikido preamp and it will become your favorite. Watch that high voltage on the caps!!! OUCH!
I finally had time to build my Halfkido, and it's working fine. So I'll try getting some testing done with a relay board tomorrow.

I don't know if it will be my favourite though - my favourite is usually no line stage. I don't need extra gain - usually less 🙂

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen
 
I finally had time to build my Halfkido, and it's working fine. So I'll try getting some testing done with a relay board tomorrow.

I don't know if it will be my favourite though - my favourite is usually no line stage. I don't need extra gain - usually less 🙂

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen

I'm using the Aikido tube Preamp for the 2nd and 3rd harmonic value, not the gain.
Agree most of the time, no line stage is best. My system sounds too accurate without the tubes!!! Nah, just poorly recorded CDs. 🙂

Ron

Ron
 
What is the best way for the VolControl2 to control a string of 12 LDR optocouplers in parallel, each with it's own trimming multi turn pot. I am looking to generate a single bus of variable constant current or voltage with up to 200ma total with digital read out?

You can get a constant voltage easily. You can connect a '595 shift register to the output, and get a 64 step 0-5V voltage or a 100 step 0.67-4.55V voltage using a R-2R resistor network (available ready made, or use 1% resistors). To get higher current, you can use a power op-amp as buffer.

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen
 
64 steps

You can get a constant voltage easily. You can connect a '595 shift register to the output, and get a 64 step 0-5V voltage or a 100 step 0.67-4.55V voltage using a R-2R resistor network (available ready made, or use 1% resistors). To get higher current, you can use a power op-amp as buffer.

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen
64 steps would work. Do you show a schematic with the 595?
 
Hi Mikkel, any news??
Yes, I finally got it tested yesterday. I tested the preamp with a 10k and a 100k attenuator. In both cases I get soft clicks at every 4th step, and a worse click at the centre step in this setup. But the clicks are not loud - much lower than the signal level. Are the clicks you get bad?

I think the only thing I can do is mute the signal while the volume is changed - if that is what you would like? I think Ron's setup includes a mute relay. If it does, can you mute and un-mute without clicks?

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen
 
Yes, I finally got it tested yesterday. I tested the preamp with a 10k and a 100k attenuator. In both cases I get soft clicks at every 4th step, and a worse click at the centre step in this setup. But the clicks are not loud - much lower than the signal level. Are the clicks you get bad?

I think the only thing I can do is mute the signal while the volume is changed - if that is what you would like? I think Ron's setup includes a mute relay. If it does, can you mute and un-mute without clicks?

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen

Mine has not a mute relay 🙁 And what about to reach volume zero?
 
Mine has not a mute relay 🙁 And what about to reach volume zero?

The mute relay can be added. Do you need lower than minimum volume also? A mute relay would give you "volume zero", but do you need something between -63dB and mute also?

If you connect a mute switch as shown on the drawing (between the output of the linestage and the output connectors), can you switch it on/off without clicks?

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen
 

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I have had my Relvol for ~2 years and I use it every day, it is 100% reliable and Mikkel is amazing to deal with; I am very happy with product and service.

Personally, I don't think those clicks are ever going away. I have 0 dc offset, one source (with output caps) and nothing I have tried rids me of the small pop through the speakers on every step, it is small and light; annoying and not damaging.
I would imagine most of the relay based ones do this but people don't like to talk about it (because they have bought it!)

The volume/muting issue is very clear before you bought it, at least it was for me, I knew I wouldn't have silence.
 
Annoying??? Mosquitos are annoying. Had I know that clicks and pop were the "Norm" I would have made my life saner and used a rheostat. Pops are embarrassing.......!
I made this $600 tube amp / SS amp and other than the clicks and static it works great.............? Hard to be proud of your DIY work when it sounds like CRAP!

I know I left my hammer around here somewhere......
What to replace the attenuator with is the only question now.

Mikkel, you have been a great guy to buy from and work with. Don't take it personal. We LIKE you!
Too bad the "Pops" can't be fixed..... sad......

Ron
 
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