Alps blue velvet - Affects sound?

[mtheshark90]

For those that have installed a blue velvet into their crack, is it true that soundstage is affected? I can't think of a reason why it would be, but I've read a couple of posts claiming that sound quality is somehow changed.

Anyone experience this? I would like to order a blue velvet from mouser since it receives such good reviews, but just want to make sure I know what I'm getting first.

[calmiswar]

Recent builder here who built with the Alps blue, I've never used the stock pot. So may not be able to help you much here but all I can say is that the Alps blue(along with everything else) sounds pretty special, tracks very nicely and has a nice premium feel to it when you adjust the volume.

One more thing, if you yet to purchase the Alps blue, purchase this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japan-Alps-Blue-Velvet-100K-Volume-Control-Potentiometer-Tube-Amplifier-/361490171877?hash=item542a7e47e5:g:NggAAOxyn~pR0kbS. Comes with lugs and not PCB pins, MUCH easier to work with.

[mtheshark90]

Good find with the lugs. That definitely looks like the way to go. Though I've heard of counterfeits out there, just have to be careful.

EDIT:
Just found this on ebay, the label has the serif font so it seems legit. Apparently knock-offs will use a different font type.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-1-ALPS-100K-A-Log-Potentiometer-Attenuator-Stereo-RK27-100KA-100KA-/272524643885?hash=item3f73bc0e2d:g:AG0AAOxyfS1R0W~e

[ideal.hat]

For me, the biggest upgrade with having an ALPS Blue pot is the balance between channels on low levels.
With the original pot, my L channel was higher then the R channel at low levels. It seem to even out once I started to increase the volume.
After I installed the ALPS, I do not notice any difference between R/L at low levels, so I am very happy with it.

Regarding the premium feel. My ALPS does not feel that premium.
It has a physical resistance at few spots around the clock.
nothing to worry about, but the feel could be better.

[Leland Hankins]

I have never been a fan of the stock pot, IMHO the Alps blue velvet is not much better but I have never had one that was out of balance, not so with the stock pot.

In 80% of my builds I use Khozmo 48 stepped dual mono attenuators, I consider the volume control as one of the most critical components in a build.

Between these two levels there is the Audio Note 100K pot, in fact I really do not hear much difference if any between the Khozmo attenuators and the Audio Note pot.  It is twice the price of the Alps but definitely worth it.

Another area that I consider critical is the quality of the wire from the inputs to the pot, personally I recommend teflon coated silver wire.

Cordially,
Lee Hankins

 

[ideal.hat]

I have never been a fan of the stock pot, IMHO the Alps blue velvet is not much better but I have never had one that was out of balance, not so with the stock pot.

In 80% of my builds I use Khozmo 48 stepped dual mono attenuators, I consider the volume control as one of the most critical components in a build.

Between these two levels there is the Audio Note 100K pot, in fact I really do not hear much difference if any between the Khozmo attenuators and the Audio Note pot.  It is twice the price of the Alps but definitely worth it.

Another area that I consider critical is the quality of the wire from the inputs to the pot, personally I recommend teflon coated silver wire.

Cordially,
Lee Hankins

Excellent information LH.. My eyes are now fixed on Audio Note 100K.
I can buy it here in Europe for 26 Punds.. Not too bad at all.

[Chris65]

Excellent information LH.. My eyes are now fixed on Audio Note 100K.
I can buy it here in Europe for 26 Punds.. Not too bad at all.

The TKD 2CP-601 also looks interesting for not much more (although PCB pins not lugs).

[Paul Birkeland]

If you have the low level channel imbalance, the stock pot can simply be padded down to get more usable range out of it.

-PB