If I put my notes here, I might be able to find them again later!
Fascinating: SMT attenuator retrofitted into ALPs case
Posted 17th December 2011 at 03:08 AM by rjm
https://www.icl.co.jp/audio/att.htm
Less than 3,000 yen, too. Pity it's only available as 100K types, but for tube amps this is a pretty handy little part to have around.
Less than 3,000 yen, too. Pity it's only available as 100K types, but for tube amps this is a pretty handy little part to have around.
Total Comments 3
Comments
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Afaik, ALPs has always made step attenuators with SMT resistors and even ceramic substrates... the top of their line of course.Posted 19th December 2011 at 02:54 PM by bear
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Some digging revealed that no, Alps do not and never did make stepped attenuators in the RK27 form factor shown. These are most likely Chinese-made "replacement".
The idea is that they are drop in replacements for the commonly used Alps pot. Though whether they actually sound better or not, and whether they are more reliable or not, is somewhat of an open question.
Having used the Alps pots shown, my own experience is that even a simple home built stepped attenuator sounds better - even as it may be less convenient - and I have recently used stepped attenuators exclusively in my own equipment.Posted 20th December 2011 at 12:17 AM by rjm
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Ah I see what you are saying... I understand that the little SMT resistors have issues even at line level, too low in power. Might be neat if paralleled or higher power SMTs were used... but then only if one needs the smaller form factor I would think...
Interesting though.Posted 20th December 2011 at 12:53 AM by bear
