[fajimr]

I've got a T-amp project that needs a volume pot and saw this over in canuckaudiomart.  I've done a few searches here on pots and haven't really found definitive information on how to go about selecting.  Since I am in the area, shipping is certainly a plus with this. Thanks in advance:

here is the ad:
10k Alps stereo log. volume control with motor (5/9v dc) new old stock (no nut)
The perfect low cost one to built your passive volume control,use it with a serie quality resistor and your passive will be better than any preamp at 2000$
15$ each + shipping or much better : 50$ for 4 ,if you are a D.I.Y. 10/$100.

and the link: http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/47344-alps_10k_stereo_log_volume_with_motorpassive_preamp/

jim

[jules]

Jim,

I don't remember all the details on this matter but there are Alps pots and imitation Alps pots. The classic types were Alps Black and Alps Blue of which I think the blue was superior. The imitation one's are chinese I think ... a great price and possibly worth a go for that reason.

Anyone else know more on this?

jules

[mjosef]

I thought the Black Alps was the superior one?
The Blue ones are relatively inexpensive (usually around 15-20$), whereas the Black were much harder to find and runs closer to $30.

[jules]

aaagh ... you could be right 

might be worth googling, though there are refs to these pots on the Aspen site too.

jules

[Bill Baker]

I think (could be wrong) the Blues were the better one and are usually around $35 for the non-remote?

 Anyway, the the pot you mention in the first post has me confused. I have a two of them but they do not have the same pin-out arrangement as each other. Could they be imitations?

 For good quality yet affordable volume pots, I have never had any problems with the ALPS Blue or even the Noble and I have used nearly 100 of each in the past 18 months.

 I think they are both available from Parts Connection which is in Canada.

[acresm22]

I recall reading that the Alps Blue was designed as a lower cost (but still high quality) version of the Black Beauty. I'm quite sure the Black is considered the better of the two, though as mjosef says, hard to find.

[jules]

ok ... Michael Percy has 40mm dual,no longer in production Alps Black Beauties for $39. He also stocks a smaller motorized blue alps for $45.

It looks as thought the blacks are out of production and yes, they probably are the better switch [given there's the cost of a motor drive in the price above for the blue]

The imitations are interesting. I think they are nominally fake blacks but internally some of them use a fixed series/variable shunt or possibly even a ladder L-pad [saw a photo some time back but not sure of the detail now]. I don't think they're all the same though.

The claim that these pots jim is chasing are old stock is possibly a ruse based on the fact that if they are black, they should be old stock.

jules

[SET Man]

Hey!

    Yo! man! I see... we are talking about volume control here

    I thought we are talking about another kind of pot

   Just kidding guys

Take care,
Buddy

[mjosef]

Since the ALPs Black was discontinued some years ago, there is little info on them vs the Blue Velvet.
Here is some interesting reading on pots and stuff.
http://tangentsoft.net/audio/atten.html

[fajimr]

thanks everyone... for that price I'll give them a go.

jim

[markC]

Hey!

    Yo! man! I see... we are talking about volume control here

    I thought we are talking about another kind of pot

   Just kidding guys

Take care,
Buddy

So that's why your getting strange readings from your Hickok!