Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => BeePre => BeeQuiet attenuator => Topic started by: Doc B. on February 06, 2013, 08:12:11 AM

Title: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Doc B. on February 06, 2013, 08:12:11 AM
We just got this put together and photographed yesterday. The guys will be shooting the manual photos in the next week and we should be able to ship soon thereafter. This attenuator is really nice, a big "step" ;) up from the old Sweetest Whispers. The improvement in the already great bass response of the BeePre is pretty awesome. The switches are nice and quiet and the feel is very smooth.

It's two stereo controls - one has coarse 9dB steps, the other fine 1.5dB steps, for a total attenuation range of -52.5dB.

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/beequiet-stepped-attenuator-upgrade-for-beepre (http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/beequiet-stepped-attenuator-upgrade-for-beepre)

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bottlehead.com%2Fsc_images%2Fproducts%2F464_image.jpg&hash=9e0204efcb88c0fcee8cd782a976167bc75778b6)
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: xcortes on February 06, 2013, 08:57:45 AM
Looks great.

No changes to the selector switch right?
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Doc B. on February 06, 2013, 09:11:38 AM
Right, selector switch is unchanged.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on February 06, 2013, 11:24:06 AM
I just placed the first order for one.  :D
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: debk on February 06, 2013, 02:00:00 PM
Just order one also

Deb
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Alonzo on February 06, 2013, 03:28:28 PM
Me too. 
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: caffeinator on February 06, 2013, 05:30:16 PM
Yup...me, too...

And tell me you didn't call it the BeePree just so you could call it the BeeQuiet...

Which, btw, is just so cheekily clever it deserves some kind of award...
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: xcortes on February 06, 2013, 05:43:46 PM
C'mon guys. Don't tell me I'm the only Bee Preer that hasn't ordered the Bee Quiet yet!
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Alonzo on February 06, 2013, 05:55:19 PM
Not a  BeePree owner yet, this will give me some experiments while I save up my beer money:-)
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Bill Chase on February 07, 2013, 05:55:07 AM
Xavier, seems you might be... me too.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: xcortes on February 08, 2013, 12:50:57 PM
Nothing like peer pressure. Eileen: YGM!

I'm buying a Goldpoint selector switch too. Am I really supposed to build it stock first? ;^)
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on February 08, 2013, 04:55:40 PM
Nothing like peer pressure. Eileen: YGM!

I'm buying a Goldpoint selector switch too. Am I really supposed to build it stock first? ;^)

I knew it was only a matter of time  :). I too have a gold point selector switch and am considering the PS chokes outboard of the transformers. Some enjoy doing things in stages but I'm usually not one of them   ;)
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: xcortes on February 08, 2013, 05:11:04 PM
I also ordered the chokes.

Only need to order some caps. I'm thinking auricaps for the output. Don't know what to use for the cathode bypass but being only 16v I guess there's some exotic things possible? Of course Auricaps would also be nice there. And maybe mills 12w for the cathode resistors?

Edit: PE has the mills for 4.25 ea
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on February 08, 2013, 05:24:55 PM
I don't have the manual yet so I'm living through you and the current threads. I ordered 10uF and 0.22uF Audiocaps for this build. If they don't work well they have a place as crossover caps.

How much space is there between the lateral edges of the transformer holes and the edge of the top plate?  I'm wondering if I can squeeze in a Hammond 158m vs. the 157m and get a couple more Hennries out of it.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Grainger49 on February 09, 2013, 01:52:48 AM
I also ordered the chokes.

   .  .  .   Don't know what to use for the cathode bypass but being only 16v I guess there's some exotic things possible?   .  .  .   

There are still a few Black Gate low voltage caps floating about out there.  Michael Percy had some when I ordered upgrades for the Eros.  (A year + ago)
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: xcortes on February 09, 2013, 02:47:27 AM
Not on the catalog. I checked already. I also shoot him an email.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 09, 2013, 08:44:45 AM
Only need to order some caps. I'm thinking auricaps for the output. Don't know what to use for the cathode bypass but being only 16v I guess there's some exotic things possible? Of course Auricaps would also be nice there. And maybe mills 12w for the cathode resistors?

Edit: PE has the mills for 4.25 ea

If you plan to put in the stepped attenuator, I would wait to install any upgrade caps until that's in.  It will slightly alter the position of the coupling cap in the left channel if that capacitor is sufficiently large (I think more than 1.25" in diameter).

The cathode bypass caps that come with the kit are pretty exotic, though a higher end line of Nichicon capacitors has been released fairly recently (KA I think?).  YMMV on what fits, I spec'd in the manual that the top of the cap should touch the nylon standoff close by.  I think a little more diameter would fit, but probably not more length.

The Mills 8 Ohm/12 Watt/1% resistors are a nice choice, and actually a very easy retrofit once the kit is complete. 
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Alonzo on February 20, 2013, 07:56:16 PM
Any news on when these attenuator kits will ship?
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Doc B. on February 21, 2013, 05:10:17 AM
We are awaiting the indicator panels and Josh has been working to get the BeeQuiet manual processed. We hope to have it all wrapped up and start shipping them next week.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Doc B. on February 28, 2013, 07:37:29 AM
I think we (not really including me) will be packing up the first of these kits today.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: ditdah on March 01, 2013, 05:29:30 AM
Great!  looking forward to getting this installed...actually, looking forward to starting the build altogether.

thx for the update Doc!
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on March 03, 2013, 03:55:44 PM
Standing by and ready for the BeeQuiet.  Hope to see mine soon!
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: xcortes on March 08, 2013, 09:50:07 AM
Is the manual done?

Thanks
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: dw on March 08, 2013, 12:03:13 PM
I got my kit today. The manual looks fine.

-dw
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on March 08, 2013, 07:48:49 PM
I hope to receive the kit sometime soon!!!!!
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Paul Birkeland on March 09, 2013, 05:54:35 AM
For those awaiting their attenuator upgrade, I chose a very unusual, high quality switch that a few vendors have, but generally in very low quantities.  We will buy up what we can, and at the same time we will push on our primary parts vendors to keep these in stock for us.

-PB
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: dw on March 09, 2013, 12:43:51 PM
The kit went together fine. I think it sounds better than the stock pot.
Balance is fine. I really like the way this pramp is sounding!

-dw
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: dw on March 10, 2013, 04:21:00 AM
One small manual correction.  Page 14, last step. Change "fine" to "coarse".

-dw
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on March 20, 2013, 01:56:23 PM
Will these kits ship this week?
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Paul Birkeland on March 20, 2013, 03:32:43 PM
The remainder of the switches are scheduled to arrive on Friday, and shipment will follow with relative immediacy. 
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on March 20, 2013, 05:08:10 PM
Thanks PB!
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on March 22, 2013, 01:15:16 PM
I just received a 1 lbs shipping notice. Could it be the BeeQuiet? :)
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Paul Birkeland on March 22, 2013, 01:27:31 PM
I just received a 1 lbs shipping notice. Could it be the BeeQuiet? :)
And then some...
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on March 22, 2013, 01:35:01 PM
Oh Boy! Great news!
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: 4krow on March 29, 2013, 01:13:50 PM
What if I ordered this upgrade for say, the Quickie or just to fool around with. The quality of the switches are probably better than the ones I am presently using.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Paul Birkeland on March 30, 2013, 06:36:43 AM
Hello Greg,

The Quickie may be the one other kit where this could work reasonably well.  Since we have the recessed aluminum plate, you will get a good drilling template to modify the chassis, though I think you'd end up wanting to buy an 8" x 10" plate to make more room for everything.

-PB
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: 4krow on March 30, 2013, 07:38:59 AM
Or, or, I could just use the front of the chassis are? Hmmm, let me think about this some more.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: johnsonad on March 31, 2013, 06:42:09 AM
Great work on the BeeQuiet guys!  It was an easy build and fits perfectly in the BeePre.  The star resistor pattern was a great idea!   
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: chard on April 21, 2013, 08:20:14 AM
  Is there enough room in the Stereomour for the BeeQuiet attenuator?
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: Paul Birkeland on April 21, 2013, 08:56:23 AM
No, there is not enough room in the Stereomour for the BeeQuiet.

The Submissive, however, will work in conjunction with the Stereomour.
Title: Re: The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit
Post by: chard on April 21, 2013, 08:59:32 AM
  Thanks Paul