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Valab stepped attenuator?

post #1 of 8
3/30/09 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking at getting a stepped attenuator to use with my Jaycar amp I've just finished building and came across this one on eBay:
DACT Type 23 Stepped Attenuator Potentiometer 50K 2a3 - eBay (item 270361166816 end time Apr-18-09 12:55:45 PDT)

Has anyone had any experience with attenuators from them? Are they any good, or not worth it?

This one is definitely more appealing to me because of the cost, I don't really want to be spending towards $100 AUS for an attenuator. I'm not looking for something amazing, but want something decent that will sound good and be better than a potentiometer.
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post #2 of 8
3/30/09 at 8:13pm
I buy them in quantity usually and stick them on every amp. For the price, they're fantastic. Build quality is decent, but not great. Though as I said - for the price, they're fantastic.
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post #3 of 8
3/30/09 at 8:16pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks. Looks like I'll be getting one.
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post #4 of 8
3/30/09 at 8:17pm
They do sound good, but i have found the leads a bit of a challenge to wire easily. Pity the ones I purchased did NOT have those leads pre-soldered.
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post #5 of 8
3/30/09 at 8:40pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I've just bought one so I guess I'll see how I go with the leads when it gets here. For the price I'm not too fussed if it's a little tricky to work with.

Now to get onto the other Jaycar amp upgrades
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post #6 of 8
3/30/09 at 9:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by elliot42 View Post
Now to get onto the other Jaycar amp upgrades
I’m having a jaycar shootout in a couple of weeks, nickyboyo has made a fully modded (Alex) version vs my stock. I’m let you know, our impressions. Nickyboyo sounds really excited about his modded version, and from what I gather is mighty impressed.

Good luck with your build Elliot.
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post #7 of 8
3/30/09 at 10:27pm
They are good bargains, I opened on up and there 2 little piece of folded conductive tab which are in slits; on the top and bottom; and it moves as you turn the dial. It seems as long as that tab makes connection between the resistor network on the bottom and signal out plane, it should last a long time. I agree its a challenge to get the wires soldered on the tabs, especially when the grounds need to be connected. FYI, the signal in wire starts on the second tab, took my couple hours troubling shooting to figure that out; as its clearly shown in the picture.

-oh, he seems to be reliable vendor too. Mine got lost and he replaced it. Took a month for shipping to u.s.
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post #8 of 8
3/31/09 at 1:09am
Thread Starter 
I finished it last night and it sounds pretty good with all stock parts. It looks pretty good too and I'll get some pics up in the sticky thread soon.

I'd like to AB a stock and modded amp to see the difference, but that might not happen if I get a hold of parts for upgrades. From what I've read the upgrades seem well worth it so the desire to AB them is more just a curiosity to see how great the improvements actually are.
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