[robertsong9]

Looking to make my own passive attenuator and I'm looking for a good stepped pot. Ideally it will be under $100, and silent when turning. I'm guessing 100k will be about right. Open to any suggestions regarding a DIY passive attenuator. Thank you.

[Folsom]

DACT on eBay for $10-12 from China. You can't beat it until you start spending $150+. It makes regular old pots sound like trash, even the revered ones.

[wushuliu]

DACT on eBay for $10-12 from China. You can't beat it until you start spending $150+. It makes regular old pots sound like trash, even the revered ones.

Yep. The SMD DACTs on ebay are a stone cold bargain. Been using them for almost 10 years now.

[FullRangeMan]

Do you mean say $1000, have fun:
http://www.khozmo.com/

[Freo-1]

Do you mean say $1000, have fun:
http://www.khozmo.com/

I use his shunt attenuator in this Thomas Meyer 6AH4 DIY preamp: (Works great).  This has the REX upgrade, and cost about 220.00 at the time. 

[robertsong9]

DACT on eBay for $10-12 from China. You can't beat it until you start spending $150+. It makes regular old pots sound like trash, even the revered ones.

Yep. The SMD DACTs on ebay are a stone cold bargain. Been using them for almost 10 years now.

Hmmm thanks. So this is as good or better then the Chinese EIZZ pots you think?

[robertsong9]

Do you mean say $1000, have fun:
http://www.khozmo.com/

Nah. This is temporary most likely. May come in handy sometime down the road too.
The Khozmo is going in my SP-14 tube preamp that I'm working on.

[FullRangeMan]

I use his shunt attenuator in this Thomas Meyer 6AH4 DIY preamp: (Works great).  This has the REX upgrade, and cost about 220.00 at the time. 

Nice assemblage, why do you use the shunt type?
Any special reason?

[Freo-1]

Yes, the sound quality from the shunt type is excellent.  Only two resistors used at any one time.

[FullRangeMan]

Nice, I dont remember what type I had bought

[FullRangeMan]

Just checked  I have bought the shunt type also.

[borism]

I used the Valab 23 step ladder style attenuator in building a Bottlehead Crack headphone amplifier:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Valab-23-Step-Ladder-Type-Attenuator-Potentiometer-100K-Log-Stereo-/282570171337?hash=item41ca7ea3c9:g:-McAAOSwr~lYn5nQ

It is only $28 and works great.

[Folsom]

I used the Valab 23 step ladder style attenuator in building a Bottlehead Crack headphone amplifier:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Valab-23-Step-Ladder-Type-Attenuator-Potentiometer-100K-Log-Stereo-/282570171337?hash=item41ca7ea3c9:g:-McAAOSwr~lYn5nQ

It is only $28 and works great.

Sadly those bodies induce something not very desirable. The DACT is superior.

[FullRangeMan]

What would be the more suited type to a power tube amp?
(shunt, ladder etc)

[robertsong9]

Thanks for the DACT suggestion. I have one coming from China. 

Anybody know where I can find a small metal case with 4 rca jack holes on the back? I'm having no luck on ebay so far. I pretty sure I have seen them before.

[FullRangeMan]

Look at Good Componet, Clark will help you:
http://www.goodcomponent.com/products/metal-enclosures/transformer-covers/black-metal-vintage-power-amplifier-transformer-protect-cover-enclosure-case-150140140mmgdtc0018-1101.html
Avoid RCA connectors solder the own cables in the volume pot. w/Silver no lead solder, your ears will thankyou.

[KR500]

I used the $12 stepped DACT on my last amp build and am very pleased with it . I'd like to replace the ALPS pots on my 2 tube amps with DACTS