Remote Control Volume Kits
zingo
Posts: 11,258
I really like the idea of building my own preamp (most likely tube), but having remote control for the volume is a must for me. The Grounded Grid kit is well priced, and has nothing but high praise, but no remote control; same with about everything else. I emailed Bruce to ask him for any suggestions, but he just said it depended on what was available. There are plenty of cheap remote control volume kits on ebay, but if I were to build the Grounded Grid or something similar, having a cheap pot in the circuit really defeats the purpose. Has anyone used one of the kits from Bent Audio? Kits from anywhere else? Bent has a really nice looking remote control kit for a GoldPoint stepped attenuator for $200; not including the attenuator. Pricey, but a remote control GoldPoint inside a Grounded Grid seems like a killer combo.
Tell me what you've used and how well did it work; thanks!
Tell me what you've used and how well did it work; thanks!
Post edited by zingo on
Comments
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Jake, have you investigated this any more? I am considering adding a remote to the amp (The Commander) I have that you use to own. It currently has a non remote ALPS in it and was thinking of seeing if I could replace it with something with a remote and maybe a little better.
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If you like the ALPS pot, a remoted controlled version from Bent Audio is a great option. The remote control GoldPoint is still one of these best options in my mind, and the fact that you can buy the attenuator and the motor separately help with the high price tag. I'm currently eyeing the Khozmo attenuator which also has a remote controlled option. So far I've found that there is no cheap option for good attenuation that is remote controlled.
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I was hoping that maybe there was a step in between. Figured if I was going to go through the effort of replacing the current ALPS I would see what else was out there and at what cost. Did you have a link for the khozmo or should I let google be my friend?
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"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Remote is a must-have for me. A guy modded my Carver C-1 to use remote for volume control.The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
Thorens TD320
Modified Carver C-1
Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects -
There are many remote control kits and some other nice looking ones, but not all of them can be controlled without the remote as well, which removed those as options for me.
The remote ALPS is very good as I've had them in all my favorite gear, but my current speakers are especially sensitive, and aren't working well with my manual ALPS, so I know the remote controlled isn't an option for this application. -
You probably just need to swap out the Alps for one of a different value."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Good question, I don't know but hoping someone will chime in that does. And if it is possible give details.Can't you add another power supply just for the remote motor and circuit?, Make it completely separate from the pre-amp circuitry. -
A circuit for the remote control system will have to be added for any remote kit you add. Sometimes you can find an appropriate voltage in the preamp, and sometimes you have to add an additional power supply.
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I think stepped attenuators tend to be more accurate than even good pots as you have a specified value for each step, which can had better left/right tracking. I even have a cheap SMD based stepped attenuator that tracks better and is more balanced then my ALPS.
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Thus a big reason for their existance.I think stepped attenuators tend to be more accurate than even good pots ....
It is virtually imposible to have near perfect tracking over the full rotation of a dual ganged pot, even good ones.Some ofcourse are better than others, I have found Nobles to be generally better than the popular Alps "blue velvets" in this regard. I have not tried the spendy TKD and Penny & Giles but would expect them to track reasonably well but not within the small fraction of a db possible with a stepped attenuator. -
FTGV, have you come across any other options that might be a little less expensive then the one Bent Audio?
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Only some asian ebay sourced kits using the motorized Alps.IIRC in the $50ish range.FTGV, have you come across any other options that might be a little less expensive then the one Bent Audio? -
I'm using this right now on my B1 buffer, and can't do better for 3x the price. No remote, but certainly works well until I get something with a remote.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=221001259535&index=2&nav=SEARCH&nid=91821281365 -
Thanks Jake. Might look into that further. I see that it comes in the 100k also which is what I would need.I'm using this right now on my B1 buffer, and can't do better for 3x the price. No remote, but certainly works well until I get something with a remote.
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=221001259535&index=2&nav=SEARCH&nid=91821281365
Or (showing how little i know) would it be better to get the 20K and add a few resistors to get to the 100K? -
That looks good for the money and ideal for setting levels on an active crossover.I purchased a SA from the Valab ebay store and found it worked great for a time but after about a year of use the contacts on the switch started to deteriorate badly.I guess I should'nt expect Electroswitch qualtity at the price I paid.It would have been better suited for use where it would be set and forget instead of the main level control on my preamp wre it see's heavy usage.
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Just a suggestion, with the old refurbished Krell with no remote volume I am back to this.:cheesygrin:Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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I am sure glad I was drinking anything when I saw that other wise I would need a new monitor.. Very Funny.SCompRacer wrote: »Just a suggestion, with the old refurbished Krell with no remote volume I am back to this.:cheesygrin: -
LOL Rich.
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FTGV, was hoping you might help me out on the 20K+resistors vs 100k. How far off the mark am I?
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The Chinese sourced attenuators with descrete resistors also work very well, and usually have decent switch quality.
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You will want to match the value of you current pot, unless there is something specific you're trying to accomplish.
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Did you have a link for the khozmo or should I let google be my friend?
http://www.khozmo.com/products_dale_shunt.html
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Assuming this is directly at the input of the preamp the 20k will mean the source will be seeing a lower impedance load and the preamps input stage will see a lower source impedance.Neither is usually an issue and you may find that the relative pot setting will be a bit different for the same volume level.Another thing to remember is that stepped attenuators depending upon unit, only have 20 some discrete volume steps spaced approx 1-1.5 db apart,there is no in between fine adjustment.FTGV, was hoping you might help me out on the 20K+resistors vs 100k. How far off the mark am I? -
Thanks for the link Jake.
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FTGV, it been a while since I looked into this and may not have had a good understanding of it then. A while back you may recall you helped me with this amp when it developed a hum. It ended up that I had messed up the ALPS pot and had to replace it and the hum went away. The reason I bring that is it was at that time I looked into replacing the ALPS pot with a SA but ended up deciding against it. Anyway my question which probably has an obvious answer is what if any relationship is there to the resistance amount (20k vs 100K) and the steps? For some reason I got it in my head that with a 20K SA you would have more smaller steps than with a 100K.Assuming this is directly at the input of the preamp the 20k will mean the source will be seeing a lower impedance load and the preamps input stage will see a lower source impedance.Neither is usually an issue and you may find that the relative pot setting will be a bit different for the same volume level.Another thing to remember is that stepped attenuators depending upon unit, only have 20 some discrete volume steps spaced approx 1-1.5 db apart,there is no in between fine adjustment. -
There is not a specific link between attenuator resistance and steps as that is set by the manufacturer. I don't mind less steps on mine, but some people like smaller amounts of change on their volume.
