Bottlehead Forum
Bottlehead Kits => Crack => Topic started by: bmwr75 on October 29, 2012, 09:15:45 AM
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Hello Fellow Crack Addicts,
I've installed the Speedball and 100uF metalllized polypropylene capacitors as upgrades. Am running an E80CC driver tube and JAN 5998 power tube.
Have noticed a channel imbalance at the very low end of the volume knob range. What is a recommended volume potentiometer upgrade? Would be great if you also know where to order it from.
Thanks,
Scott
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I think most members, including Doc and Paul recommend the Alps blue. I used them in my Crack and Stereomour and I like the result.
Mouser sells them cheaper. Buy a few to save on shipping.
If you go with stepped attenuator, you can't go wrong with Goldpoint or DACT.
I have a DACT waiting for the SEX.
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Anybody got a Mouser part number for the ALPS Blue pot? Or, the specifications I can search on to narrow down the number of items returned in a search.
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Is this the correct ALPS Blue pot?
http://angela.com/alpspotentiometerbluevelvet100kstereo.aspx
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Yes, it is for printed circuit boards. But you can just wrap the wires, crimp them on and solder.
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Doc should definitely include the Alps blue in the Crack kit... I mean they can't cost more than 10 bucks?
Edit: Nevermind... they cost $18 online... although they are barely $9 around here locally :\
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They aren't all that expensive, but where do you draw the line? Somebody who wants to put in a Kosmo, Goldpoint, etc. will want to buy the kit without the Alps to save money, then we get into some serious packing and inventory issues.
The supply of these controls is also not super consistent, fakes are abundant, there have been some dimensional changes that would be problematic for the long term supply of our kits. To get good units, it's about $17 per pot, and I wouldn't feel confident that we could order 100 at a time from any of our regular suppliers.
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Well, of all things in the kit I think the cheapest investment for improvement is definitely the Alps Blue pot. It was annoying how the kit alpha pot had a non-linear gain at low level and that Alps pot made all the difference. For less than $20 bucks, it is as good as you can get I suppose. The next step up from that would be the step attenuators and TKD pots but there's absolutely no reason to put those in the kit if they can't offer a significant improvement from the Alps. From the stock pot to the blue however, it was a big difference. Only problem I had was the long pot shaft
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Here's the link:
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=RK27112A00AKvirtualkey68800000virtualkey688-RK27112A00AK
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I ended up pulling an Alps pot from eBay like this one (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-X-ROUND-SHAFT-ALPS-RK27-SERIES-100K-STEREO-LINEAR-CONTROL-POT-/300752762959?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item460642f84f):
Note the wire eyes on this model. Works great.
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Well, of all things in the kit I think the cheapest investment for improvement is definitely the Alps Blue pot. It was annoying how the kit alpha pot had a non-linear gain at low level and that Alps pot made all the difference. For less than $20 bucks, it is as good as you can get I suppose. The next step up from that would be the step attenuators and TKD pots but there's absolutely no reason to put those in the kit if they can't offer a significant improvement from the Alps. From the stock pot to the blue however, it was a big difference. Only problem I had was the long pot shaft
I couldn't agree more. Not to mention they can go "scratchy" after a few months.
They are standard on my 2 Schiits and Woo 6.
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Sorry - dont mean to be a party pooper, but I personally like the TKD plastic log taper over the Alps.
I have several Alps Blue Velvet pots, one of them in my stock Quickie, one in a t-amp. I think the TKD sounds better, for about the same bucks. I would say, buy both of them and see which one sounds the best. I would be curious to hear how that pans out. In the mean time, I'm sticking with my TKD.
http://www.partsconnexion.com/controls_pot_tkd.html
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Only problem I had was the long pot shaft
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My Dremel made short work of that. ;)
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I have several Alps Blue Velvet pots, one of them in my stock Quickie, one in a t-amp. I think the TKD sounds better, for about the same bucks. I would say, buy both of them and see which one sounds the best. I would be curious to hear how that pans out. In the mean time, I'm sticking with my TKD.
Those are around $40 bucks... not cheap anymore to be included in the kit really
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And......................... there you have the reason Dan doesn't put an Alps Blue in the kits.
Everyone has a favorite pot, so Dan uses a good (not great) pot and anyone who likes something different will swap in their favorite.
Same thing for film output caps.
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Never said a thing about film output caps, they defeat the purpose of the Crack kit to begin with
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Well, it's also keeping cost down. But makes sense, use what works, keep cost down let the DIY'er, DIY.
By the way, the Alps is available with different length shafts. The ones I got from Mouser did not need cutting. Mouser had, at the time I bought, more than one version of the 100K duals.
Im afraid that, personally, I wouldnt hear much if any difference between the Alps and TKD (the basic model atleast). The "better" TKD is close to $100. The basic model is over $40, 3.5X what I got the Alps for. Doesnt mean it's not worth it to others. Just personally, I've been happy with the Alps, tracks well, sounds fine and is inexpensive. For me, the PEC at around $35 or so would probably be what I would try if I were to change. Supposedly a very nice pot for the price if you get a "good" one. The IF is the problem I think. Ive read that SOME can be scratchy and poor low level trackers.
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Never said a thing about film output caps, they defeat the purpose of the Crack kit to begin with
How so? You mean including them with the kit would defeat the purpose of the Crack being a budget kit? I would agree 100% with that.
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Never said a thing about film output caps, they defeat the purpose of the Crack kit to begin with
Nick,
What I was referring to is older posts where posters wanted Dan to include boutique film caps in other kits. With the large value in the Crack it has never been suggested, IIRC. You probably haven't seen those, sorry for the confusion. It was more for guys who have been here longer.
These tweaks are left to the individual as a personalization of the stock kit.