[Porksoda]

So, I bought one of those $20 23-position 4-pole Alps switches a little while ago, and I have been trying to populate it. I got through the first two decks, and have come to realize that the contacts are basically ruined. Some solder got into the contacts, and while the switch will still turn, it is rough and uneven.

However, I still have 2 decks left!! So, I decided I should order the resistors for a series attenuator, and just go with that. So I am wondering to myself what the differences between ladder and stepped attenuators are.

After thinking about it, with the ladder attenuator, the impedence cuts down by half when it is between two positions, but you get a smooth transition in volume, whereas with series you get a jump in volume but a constant impedence.

Other than that, the only difference I can think of is that the signal passes through more resistors with the series. How big of a differece does this actually make in sonic quality?


Thanks!

 

[Tomo]

Hi,

Ladder attenuator requires (as you already know) 4 decks. 2 decks per channel. Wherever you are in the rotation, a PAIR of resistor is connected. So if you had 23 posititions, you will probably need 46 resistors (2 resistors per position per channel. So you need 92 resistors.)

Series attenuator operates exactly like NORMAL potentiomenters. Many resistors are connected in series and you are connecting those connections to the rotary switch tabs. The difference is that you have NO promise that there will only be two resistors connected in the signal path. You might have 40-something resistors connected in series (!).

Euphonics-wise, the difference is pretty subtle. (unless of course the resistors are crap) I find a series attenuator quite satisfactory. (Plus I am too darn lazy to solder over a hundred resistors. It got intolerably boring after 30.Had to take Chocolate Break in the middle.)

Tomo

P.S. I am no Euphonics Specialist, but I looked for sonic differencials. I think you might get much better result from "resistor swapping" the stepping attenuator.

 

[Edwood]

You could always make a four channel series attentuator, and build a nice dual mono/balanced amp around it.

-Ed

 

[Porksoda]

Too late. Two of the decks are definitely ruined

 

[Edwood]

Yeouch.

Stereo Series it is, then.

-Ed