What difference does Ohm's make in a Volume Pot and avoiding fakes...

[DaveFred]

Hello,

When looking at Alps Alpine RK271 series potentiometers for volume control of line in on a LM3886 chip power amp, what difference does 10K, 20K, 50K or 100K make?

Anyone know where to find a 10K version right now?

Mouser is sold out right now, Parts Express sucks shipping to Canada and I am trying to avoid a counterfeit one off Ebay.

Thank you,

David.

 

[rayma]

Most line sources (except tubes) will be able to drive even a 10k volume control well.
So any value 10k and up will work, although a lower value gives wider bandwidth.
Parts Connexion has Alps blue velvet in stock.
ALPS 10K Blue Velvet - STEREO Potentiometer

 

[nigelwright7557]

10k is good.
too low and you can load previous stage.
if the value is too high with control at full volume and nothing connected you can get lots of noise.
Try mouser

 

[wiseoldtech]

And Parts Express has them also.... for only $14.58, cheaper than PConnex by a few dollars.
ALPS 10KAX2 10K Ohm Audio Taper Stereo Potentiometer 6mm Shaft

 

[DaveFred]

Most line sources (except tubes) will be able to drive even a 10k volume control well.
So any value 10k and up will work, although a lower value gives wider bandwidth.
Parts Connexion has Alps blue velvet in stock.
ALPS 10K Blue Velvet - STEREO Potentiometer

Crap, I never thought of Parts Connexion.

And they also have the pot knob extension!

Thanks!

 

[tomchr]

Higher resistance -> higher noise. I'd go with the 10 kΩ as well.

Buy from an authorized distributor to avoid fakes.

Tom

 

[Mark Tillotson]

Higher resistance allows more pickup noise, not just internally generated Johnson noise, so the higher resistance pot may require better screening.