Potentiometer question

aragorn723 · 1374

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Offline aragorn723

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on: March 05, 2019, 10:23:39 AM
Is this potentiometer a good replacement for the stock Quickie pot?  How many steps does the Quickie pot have?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Valab-23-Step-Ladder-Type-Attenuator-Potentiometer-100K-Log-Stereo/303059622674?hash=item468fc2db12:g:GrkAAOxyg6pRFuuy

Dave



Offline FS

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Reply #1 on: March 05, 2019, 11:05:32 AM
I have put the exact same one into the Quickie, and it worked nicely. I have also installed the same in a Crack and a Stereomour. I like the Valab. Don't like the Quickie though, but for other reasons. Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question about the steps in the Quickie pot. Cheers, FS



Offline bernieclub

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Reply #2 on: March 05, 2019, 11:10:46 AM
If the pot is like all the other BH pots, there are no steps....it is continuous.
Bernie

Bernie Zitomer


Offline aragorn723

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Reply #3 on: March 05, 2019, 02:41:11 PM
I have put the exact same one into the Quickie, and it worked nicely. I have also installed the same in a Crack and a Stereomour. I like the Valab. Don't like the Quickie though, but for other reasons. Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question about the steps in the Quickie pot. Cheers, FS

Thats cool you have the same one.  How are the increments between detents?  Is there a large change in db if you click the volume up 1 decent?

Dave



Offline FS

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Reply #4 on: March 05, 2019, 04:20:28 PM
It feels right to me, not too much in between increments, but there is still way to go...I am at about halfway to two thirds on the Stereomour, similar with the Crack. These clicks/increments feel oddly satisfying... ;) Hard to describe it, and again, can't remember how it worked on the Quickie. If I regret anything about any of the Bottlehead kits then that would be that I got the Quickie. Well, and that I did not get that second Seductor  :(
Cheers,
FS



Offline Jamier

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Reply #5 on: March 05, 2019, 05:35:09 PM
FS,

     What issues do you have with the Q? Honestly, I really love mine, it is highly modded, but even stock I thought it was a very good pre, price not considered.

Jamie

James Robbins


Offline FS

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Reply #6 on: March 06, 2019, 07:30:00 AM
Hi Jamie,

Yeah, I know. Plenty of people love their Quickie. I just found that the batteries drain so fast, and so I did not buy into the argument that this is actually better. For me, having to get batteries all the time is a drag. I would get a power supply in a heartbeat if it were worthwhile. I don't need an off-the-grid amp, and while I agree that there could be noise coming from the power line to the house and from the wiring in the house to the audio equipment, I don't think that I could tell the difference. Hey, I am not even sure that I could tell a difference between listening to my CDs with or without  a DAC  in the signal chain in a blinded study!  ;)
I just like the tube sound.  ;D Since my power amp or integrated amp are already tube-based, I used a SS pre-amp, if I actually needed one. I now have a Smash, and I really like it. May try some inexpensive SS power amp mono-blocks behind that sometime. Cheers,
FS



Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #7 on: March 06, 2019, 07:49:46 AM
while I agree that there could be noise coming from the power line to the house and from the wiring in the house to the audio equipment, I don't think that I could tell the difference.
The noise issue with DHTs is mostly making filament power that's quiet enough.  The battery powered HV supply is just a bonus. 

In the BeePre, for example, we have a regulator, two transistors, five capacitors, and eight resistor per channel to get the filament power adequately quiet, but a battery is still quieter. 

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline Jamier

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Reply #8 on: March 06, 2019, 05:32:27 PM

[/quote]May try some inexpensive SS power amp mono-blocks behind that sometime. Cheers,


FS,

     I pair my Q with a pair of IQ Audio class D monos. It's a great combination and very easy on the electric bill. I bet it would be even better with a Smash in the equation.

Jamie
« Last Edit: March 06, 2019, 05:37:08 PM by Jamier »

James Robbins


Offline FS

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Reply #9 on: March 07, 2019, 04:43:32 AM
Hi Jamie,

Thanks for the tip. I looked up IQ Audio, but their amps don't really qualify for what I meant with "inexpensive"... :)
Cheers,
FS 



Offline Jamier

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Reply #10 on: March 08, 2019, 05:03:10 AM
Yeah, they aren't real inexpensive but certainly a lot less than many of the other choices. If I had it to do over I would build my own with somethng from Class D Audio.com or one of the other suppliers out there.

Jamie

James Robbins


Offline FS

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Reply #11 on: March 09, 2019, 01:47:08 PM
Hi Jamie,
If I may ask, what is your reason for choosing class D audio (the company and the amplifier class)?
Cheers, FS



Offline Jamier

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Reply #12 on: March 10, 2019, 05:27:55 AM
FS,

     I have no experience with Classdaudio.com, they just show up at the top of a google search.
I like Class D amps for their energy efficiency and running temperature. Where I live the summer days can get quite warm and using Class A amps of any variety is no longer an option. I usually switch away from tube amps in late spring, every year, and switch back in the Fall.

Jamie

James Robbins