The ideal way? Buffer the volume control signal and use a dedicated half-and-half balance control, or make your own by using half the steps of a ladder attenuator.
Otherwise the hacked single pot with two series resistors works well enough for 99% of users. Buffering is critical for good response of passive attenuators.
Otherwise the hacked single pot with two series resistors works well enough for 99% of users. Buffering is critical for good response of passive attenuators.
I use active preamp. Could you post a schematic or link? How can calculate the resistors values?
Depends on how much balance trim you want.
https://i.stack.imgur.com/6kL0c.png
Thanks Rayma how do you calculate the 30K resistors? The 100K pot is lin or log? It's OK always 100K pot or depends the value of volume pot? Where to install: I guess before the volume pot right?
Just before the volume control. This circuit is for a linear balance pot.
Post your schematic and this will be easier, since the values depend on your circuit.
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proper way
Put a differential receiver in the front, pick unbalanced signal from it and regulate it under unbalanced manner as you wish, put a fully-differential amplifier as the last unbal->bal stage.
Ah, now I understand but I can't see the advantatge. Can be more simple two mono volume pots.
You'll never manage exact match unless it's two stepped attenuators.
There are preamps like that, FWIW.
stereo ( better ) or mono linear 500k pot. center to ground ends to L and R
Why 500K, could you elaborate how do you get the proper value?
The First Watt B1 with Korg Triode includes two separate, single-gang potentiometers for gain adjustment. One pot for the Left channel and another pot for the Right. Link to review including photos.
A diyaudio member inquired, "When you have dual mono pots without any clicks to ensure same setting of both pots, then you have to do the "tracking" by "eye and/or ear"?"
And Nelson Pass answered, "I would have thought, but I find that separately dialing them up makes you more aware of the balance. It doesn't bother me at all. Perhaps Mark Levinson's preamp had something....."
(Here is a link to his post.)
I've attached an image of the Mark Levinson preamp which I (MJ) think Nelson Pass is talking about. It has two balance pots and a volume pot.
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A diyaudio member inquired, "When you have dual mono pots without any clicks to ensure same setting of both pots, then you have to do the "tracking" by "eye and/or ear"?"
And Nelson Pass answered, "I would have thought, but I find that separately dialing them up makes you more aware of the balance. It doesn't bother me at all. Perhaps Mark Levinson's preamp had something....."
(Here is a link to his post.)
I've attached an image of the Mark Levinson preamp which I (MJ) think Nelson Pass is talking about. It has two balance pots and a volume pot.
_
Attachments
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Have a look at Douglas Self's book "Small Signal Audio Design". The 2nd edition has two full chapters about this (ch. 13 & 14), with large numbers of tables, graphs, formulae, and discussion. The publisher's website (Focal Press) has the book's Table Of Contents online and viewable; I took a screen capture image of one page, attached below.
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Have a look at Douglas Self's book "Small Signal Audio Design"....
+1 While not exhaustive, or "trendy", Self's SSAD is for-sure your First Stop for volume/balance networks.
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