Will a Valab stepped attenuator (ladder-type) fit a Quickie?

[adamct]

Has anyone tried fitting a Valab stepped attenuator (ladder-type) in a Quickie? Any issues (other than possibly widening the hole in the chassis board)?

Best regards,
Adam

[Paul Birkeland]

Hello Adam,

There's a good chunk of room around the volume control in the Quickie, I wouldn't imagine that it would present any issues.

If you do need to drill out the chassis, just be sure to support the bottom of the plate with a piece of wood (and leave the paper making on until you're finished).

-PB

[adamct]

Thanks, Paul. Especially for the tips about supporting the plate and leaving the paper on. I hadn't thought about either of those.

Best,
Adam

[adamct]

To follow up on the above, fitting the VALab ladder-style stepped attenuator was easy as pie. I had to widen the hole for the shaft a tiny amount, but it was really minimal. And the anti-rotation pin from the VALab attenuator fits perfectly in the pre-drilled hole in the chassis.

As a side note, the VALab attenuators seem to be of excellent quality, especially for the price ($25). I'm very pleased with the purchase.

Best regards,
Adam

[earwaxxer]

I would be curious to hear how you like the sound of that pot. That price is outrageously low. Its one of those things you could buy and experiment with. I do like my TKD, but, as well all know, I cant leave well enough alone for long.

[adamct]

Eric,

First impressions of the VALab pot are very positive. Most importantly, I don't feel like I'm losing anything (and instead feel like I am "gaining" a lot - hahahahahahah  ) by putting the Quickie before my Decware Taboo.

For $25, I frankly don't see how you can go wrong. I like the TKD I installed in my Crack, especially since the Crack has so much gain in my system that being able to adjust it on a continuous scale is helpful, but I would choose the VALab over the TKD in just about any other system (and in fact, I have 3 more of them, for installation in my S.E.X. (when it gets here), my Smack and whatever Bottlehead kit I decide to build next... 

For pics of the VALab in my Quickie, see here.

Best,
Adam

[pushbroom]

hey adam, any chance you could comment on the step values, ie is the range acceptable?  i noticed that the other pots/attenuators this ebayer has listed do not have the green phoenix blocks attached, was that your mod?  seems i recall this same ebay seller being the subject of some controversy a few years back on the head-fi forum...i think he was advertising a higher quality cap in his DAC than was actually used or something of that nature

[adamct]

No, the green terminal block was attached to all 4 of the attenuators I bought. I can't say I was thrilled. I would have preferred to solder the wires in, but after some back and forth with a friend who has the same attenuator, I can see why they added it, and it certain does make installation a breeze.

FWIW, VALab is pretty well known and liked. I'm not aware of the specific controversy you are referring to, but they are not some random fly-by-night operation that popped up on ebay yesterday and will be gone tomorrow. That doesn't mean they are beyond reproach, but I certainly feel comfortable buying from them.

I was concerned about the step range, but I actually find it to be more than acceptable. I don't know if this is because they have a good log taper, or if it is because 24 steps is just inherently enough. At first I did find the stiffness of the attenuator a bit annoying, but I just installed a larger (48mm diameter) solid aluminum knob, and that improved the ergonomics tremendously. Now adjusting the volume is a breeze.

Let me put it this way: if I had to do it over again, I would have installed the VALab attenuator in my Crack, too, instead of the TKD volume pot I have in there now, even if there wasn't any difference in cost (the TKD cost 4x what the VALab cost).

[Paul Birkeland]

The VaLab attenuators are pretty good, there's no controversy there, but I would stay away from their grid chokes (for now at least).

-PB

[pushbroom]

thanks for the info.  i'm seriously considering one for my q 1.1 build

[adamct]

For $25, I don't really see what you have to lose. Go for it!

[mortron]

Is the ladder preferred to the unit with SMD resistors? I am having trouble figuring this out. As well, does the KOA brand of resistor make a big difference?

[galyons]

Is the ladder preferred to the unit with SMD resistors? I am having trouble figuring this out. As well, does the KOA brand of resistor make a big difference?

I prefer the 1/4 watt resistors to SMD.  I have 2 Goldpoints, (1 is in the Quickie), with SMD's.  Hard to make a direct comparison, but I tried both in the Crack and, to me, the P2P resistors were a bit clearer with slightly better timbre.  But in reality, once you have listened for awhile, the differences disappear.

KOA is a huge Japanese resistor maker.  Their Speer division makes Kiwame resistors  which are well regarded for use in tube equipment.  That said, IMO the spec "1/4W 1% 25ppm" is more important than the brand, (as long as it is a quality manufacturer such as Vishay/Dale, Welwyn (UK), KOA Japan, Takman Japan).

Cheers,
Geary

[coca]

Where can one purchase the VALAB attenuator.

Bernie.

[galyons]

eBay!  Just search for Valab attenuator.

Cheers,
Geary