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A few questions regarding the Elma Audio Series A Stepped Attenuator

post #1 of 10
8/3/10 at 5:57pm
Thread Starter 

Unlike the similar Goldpoint, the Elma isn't really labeled in a way that makes things immediately apparent.

 

 

Elma-Back.jpg

 

 

My concern is the direction of the resistors (ie: should the lowest value start at 1 or 24). My assumption is that position 1, where the wiper is most counterclockwise, is where the lowest value resistor would go. I'm fairly certain that C is the ground, A is input and B is output FWIW.


Edited by HiGHFLYiN9 - 8/3/10 at 7:42pm
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post #2 of 10
8/4/10 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 

Asked the people at Elma, the assumption above was correct. Yet another conversation with myself on HeadFi ;) 

 

 

nekkid

Elma-Side.jpg

 

 

All resisted up with Kiwame two watters

Kiwame-Stepper.jpg


Edited by HiGHFLYiN9 - 8/4/10 at 5:53pm
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post #3 of 10
8/4/10 at 5:56pm

wow! that looks awesome...bet it sounds awesome too.

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post #4 of 10
8/4/10 at 6:01pm
Thread Starter 

Hopefully! I'll find out whenever I finish my Bijou :)

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post #5 of 10
8/4/10 at 6:22pm

Note: From the pic they’ve used some sort of isolation (coloured black) from the resistor leads, just is case you hadn’t noticed – it would be a good idea. Good Luck. 

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post #6 of 10
8/4/10 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 

Hi John, that's mine, I just put it together an hour or so ago. Usually, the build has both resistors facing downward, but the Kiwames are a little too large and the leads on the tops of the resistors would touch the soldered leads on the other board. So I have one set facing upward. Since the piece on the top is metal, I put a piece of electrical tape around it to avoid any potential shorts.

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post #7 of 10
8/4/10 at 6:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HiGHFLYiN9 View Post

Hi John, that's mine, I just put it together an hour or so ago. Usually, the build has both resistors facing downward, but the Kiwames are a little too large and the leads on the tops of the resistors would touch the soldered leads on the other board. So I have one set facing upward. Since the piece on the top is metal, I put a piece of electrical tape around it to avoid any potential shorts.


How much did the whole thing set you back?

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post #8 of 10
8/4/10 at 6:50pm
Thread Starter 

Well I picked up the blank stepper for around $70 from a gent who was selling it on DIY Audio, I think they normally go for $90 at Percy. The resistors, 48 of them, were about $50. So $120, 2 hours of elbow grease, and some time to figure out a decent log of values (it's not linear, it bows in the middle, if that makes sense)


Edited by HiGHFLYiN9 - 8/4/10 at 6:53pm
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post #9 of 10
8/4/10 at 8:44pm

Looks great. The Kiwame resistors are indeed really fat. They sound great for the money though.

You might want to try another boutique resistor, Riken which I found, sounds excellent, especially in tube amp.

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post #10 of 10
8/4/10 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HiGHFLYiN9 View Post

Hi John, that's mine, I just put it together an hour or so ago. Usually, the build has both resistors facing downward, but the Kiwames are a little too large and the leads on the tops of the resistors would touch the soldered leads on the other board. So I have one set facing upward. Since the piece on the top is metal, I put a piece of electrical tape around it to avoid any potential shorts.


Silly me then, nice job HiGHFLYiN9, great photography as well. Congrats.

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