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McIntosh C20 volume pot/

97.95.43.235
Posted on May 14, 2017 at 05:15:55
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 As most of you know,sourcing a volume pot for MAC C20 preamp can be expensive and a chore.You can now get an original style one made HK or China for 259usd.It also has the on/off switch,just like the original and the 289usd Gold Point version.
I have an idea that may or may not work.Since the C20 is a four gang pot where it has two 100k log taper pots for the first 2 sections and it has two 1M linear taper pots for the back 2 sections.None have loudness taps to contend with on the C20.
Has anyone tried to take a 4 section Alps pot apart and put in a section of a different value? If we could do this for C20s,people's prayers would be answered.Only thing you would forfeit is the on/off switch as Alps pots don't have them on this type.This pot isn't the value needed but I want you to see the architecture of the pot.You may have to source two pots to get a mix of values.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

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RE: McIntosh C20 volume pot/, posted on May 14, 2017 at 08:46:24
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Mike aren't those pots interlocked or waffers on a single shaft?

Even if you took a few pots, disassembled them, took the waffers out, reattached them to a single longer stem, bla bla bla.... I think you're still in the ball park of the Goldpoint in time and materials.

Besides in the end the GP is a better pot.

 

RE: McIntosh C20 volume pot/, posted on May 14, 2017 at 09:14:00
dls123
Dealer

Posts: 1214
Location: Beautiful B.C.
Joined: April 15, 2003
 The gold points work fine, but you only want to install them if you are rebuilding the power supply anyway because you have to move one lytic can underneath. McShane has the really good F and T axials so it is easy to do and they fit just fine under the deck. I have rebuilt 3 or 4 of them this way. The gold point sounds better than any pot, but of course it is only 23 steps or so and they really gouge for the part. I should talk to Arek at Khozmo to see if he wanted to make one with 48 steps. Problem is that there is not enough market for them. You might sell 10-20 a year, but not hundreds. He would probably have to charge $250 - $300 just like gold point. In the end I think the gold point is the best option. An on/off switch doesn't belong anywhere near the signal path in my opinion anyway. Most people have some sort of power device where they can switch the system on and off with one big switch anyway.....

 

RE: McIntosh C20 volume pot/, posted on May 14, 2017 at 09:32:58
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Doesn't GP offer a 48 step attenuator now?

 

RE: McIntosh C20 volume pot/, posted on May 14, 2017 at 15:44:58
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Charlie
Not really because two quad gang alps post may cost 80 dollars but that's a far cry from 259usd and 289usd.The Alps are very good pots.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

Here is your i meg linear taper pot that we need for the rear sections., posted on May 14, 2017 at 20:23:38
Michael Samra
Dealer

Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005
 Don
It's been a while.The reason I mention this is because it's an economical way to make a high quality pot for about 60 bucks if we can change the sections.As good as the Gold Point is,it is very costly and does require physical modification.They do have an original Chinese or Japanese made copy for 259usd but, that's a lot of money for that because this would be much better quality than the original.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

 

RE: Here is your i meg linear taper pot that we need for the rear sections., posted on May 15, 2017 at 07:22:08
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Mike, do you have a few extra we can "trash"? Usually those waffers have some sort of interlocking groove. However the back case is closed. If you cut open the back on one see if there is any way of connecting the shafts????

Then connect the casings.

If you have a few extra I'll give it a go. It doesn't need to be the exact values since it's only an experiment in connecting the casings. But remember they may not survive the operation.

 

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