Volume remote control unit

[oldstyle]

Hi, there

I guess any guys have wife or girlfriend would have similar experience. I just built a tube amp and a pair of high sensitive speakers. They work pretty well. But my wife do not like them to sit in living room as our major audio system. Because its volume controlled by a pot not a remoter. She cannot tune the volume in sofa when she is watching DVD.

Are there any easy solution that I can add remote volume control to my tube amp without jeopardizing the tone too much?

Thanks,

Ted

 

[Peter Daniel]

The easy way would be buying remote control kit, but it's not the cheapest way. Check the last page of this catalog: http://www.percyaudio.com/Catalog.pdf

 

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

I've never had to adjust the volume after beginning a movie.

I think the best solution is to get rid of your wife. Not only would it solve the problem but it would probably improve the overall tone around the household.

 

[Peter Daniel]

get rid of your wife

Who would be doing the cooking then?

 

[Bill Fitzpatrick]

In the new static free environment peace of mind would prevail. Cooking skills would then come easy.

 

[Peter Daniel]

Maybe that is something worth consideration.

 

[oldstyle]

Thanks. I will try to convince her. mi Meanwhile, I will try to alter some RC toys. I have worked on some remote control model autos when I was a kids. There were some divices turnning a potentiometer to adjust the speed. Similar mechanism might be able to apply here.

 

[NickC]

warning rc circuits normally operate on rf. means you will get some rf pollution then. go for infared. u could buy the ir kit. the kit acts like a routing station. receives info from the remote. with the info turn's on a particular relay. so with multiple relays turn on differently hooked up some h-bridge and use a stepper motor couple to the volume pot. And u could adjust your volume like a pro smallest step size for the stepper motor 1.8 degrees.

 

[Ken L]

has anyone actually done this?

I've got the same problem!.

Not the wife part.

I'm the one.

it's a pain in the """""" to keep getting up to adjust the volume when different cd's, etc. play.



Later


Ken L

 

[fcel]

Creek Audio OBH-10 Remote Volume Control

How about replace/rewire your amp's VR with this http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/p...H10&product_name=OBH-10 Remote Volume Control

Since you're a Diy'er and this thing does cost some money, you might not want to go this route but I'm sure your wife would love this little gadget.

 

[Ken L]

I think I'll have to go the stepper motor route

I'm using a shallco switch going through Sowter stepped transformers for my volume control and I don't want to put anything additional in the signal path - using hard wired silver cable in and out of the preamp.

Ken L

 

[oldstyle]

Man. It's quite expensive. Seems I should devote some time to build one and sell it online

 

[cowanrg]

if it was reasonable, i would buy a few

you can get the alps motorized pot on allelectronics.com for like $5. order a hundred of them, put together some circuit boards, and you are set!

Man. It's quite expensive. Seems I should devote some time to build one and sell it online

 

[mrfeedback]

She Who Must Be Obeyed....

"She cannot tune the volume in sofa when she is watching DVD. "

I thought most DVD players have remote controlled variable audio output level ?.
If your does not, then maybe an upgrade to one that does would be a fast, cheap and easy way to domestic bliss.
And you would have more time for cooking up audio instead of cooking in the kitchen.

 

[Lligior]

here is an RF remote schematic I ran across a few days ago...
i make no guarantees, as I haven't seen the data sheets of the ICs but the part count does seem quite reasonable. Hope this works out for you, as I would like discover a cheap way to add a remote too.

http://www.citycom.gr/electronics/downcircuits/morecir_3.htm
the number of the circuit on the page is 37.

then you would have to get a digital volume control chip but they are common

 

[herm]

I have also been researching and found this:

http://www.rentron.com/remote_control/IR-D14.htm

Looks like all you need is this chip, the IR sensor, and
a SONY remote.

I was thinking of using it to drive a motorized pot such
as this:

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=MPOT-10K

Depending on motor power needs, interposing relays may
be required...

herm

P.S. Is linear taper going to be too frustrating?

 

[Lligior]

thats the neatest and easiest solution i've seen. Adding a remote for that price is great. as for the linear pot problem...
http://sound.westhost.com/project01.htm
This page gives a solution.

Remote here I come!

 

[Ken L]

that does look good, Herm

that's looks like it will match my stepper motor

good link

Ken L

 

[herm]

I bought one and it's on it's way. I'll tell you more when I get it.

Lligior;

That "Better Volume (and Balance) Controls" by Rod Elliott
looks like just what I needed! Thanks for the link.

-herm

P.S. I am headed to Washington DC and Chicago all
next week, so it may be a while before I get back to you ...

 

[Lligior]

herm

No thank you, I also have the remote IC on the way. Im just thinking maybe the output pulse is too long but thats easier to fix than it would be to build the remote sensor and decoder. Even if it dosent work exactly I've still got the trusty old knob.