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I'm planing to replace the low quality volume pot in my AURA VA 100 Integrated amp with a better Volume control. Looking on the web and some parts catalog I found a few interesting volume controls. The Noble and Alps pots and the stepped attenuator from Sonic Frontiers, Elma and Goldpoint.
Which Volume contro do you think will give me the best improvement. And how big is the difference between those two pots and the the stepped attenuators?
Also, in the archieves I found some commends people made using the stepped attenuators, they reported a "soft popping sound" or something similar when switching from one step to another. Is this normal with a stepped attenuator or does this happen only in some rare occasions.
Your opinion is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Build one myself using DACT attenuator and selection control.
http://www.AudioAsylum.com/audio/cables/messages/6114.htmlAs for popping sound - no problem here.
1. All my "system" is connected to the same power source. All my input ground are connected directly to my output ground.
2. I also ground the "body" of the attenuator and selection control to the chassis.Can't help you with Aura.
You can also get a kit from bottlehead.com. I haven't used it but it certainly seems like a great deal.
Huge range of choices. I use a Dact attenuator in a passive box (www.aloha-audio.com), it's very nicely made and certainly sounds better than the commercial passive I used before (but there is also a lot less circuitry). I'm not familiar with your amp, but at a certain point you will be spending money without realizing any benefit.As far as popping, this is not normal. As Hans says attenuators should be "make before break" ie never go open-circuit while switching . (Not all applications want this, so just any switch may not work as an audio attenuator...) Also, I think DC across the attenuator would cause this but that is definitely not normal.
Also check out the Michael Percy catalog (linked from the front page of this site) he carries several kinds.
JohnR
I like the Tokyo Ko-on Dempa stepped attenuators available from Percy...These can be modified a bit for increased performance...
The 'pops' should not occur if the stepped uses 'make before break' type contacts. I have no such problems with the stepped attenuator I bought from Sonic Frontiers, which I am very happy with.
As for comparisons between a bunch of different attenuators, I just don't have time for, all I can say is the stepped from Sonic Frontiers is jolly good compared to the alps I used to have.
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