Suggestions for a passive volume control (remote)

Hantra · « **on:** 10 Mar 2004, 02:42 am »

All:

Does anyone know of any remote kits, or ready to use remotes that will control motorized pots? I want to do some type of passive device. Very simple, with one input, and one output, but I want a remote.

Any ideas?

Also, what about putting a nice transformer on the inputs? What effect would that have on the sound in a passive? Any?

Thanks!

B

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 02:45 am »

B,

What about the remote that John Chapman (bentaudio.com) sells?

I think it might also be available at diycable.com

George

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 02:56 am »

Would something like this one work? They used to carry several, but it looks like now they're down to just this one:

http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=CROBH12&product_name=OBH-12%20Remote%20Control%20Passive%20Preamplifier

Hantra · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Mar 2004, 03:02 am »

Hey Rob! That's not a bad idea! Seems that modding that would be cheaper than buying a remote kit from AES.

I didn't think about the Bent remote. . I'll check it out. Thx G!

wongstein · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Mar 2004, 06:35 am »

Hi Hantra,

I've been putting some thought into DIY volume controls for projects as well lately.

I opened up my Creek OBH-12 and took http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=2551">a few pics for you. There's some Omron G5V-2-H1 relays that handle the input switching and two wires that go t the motor on the motorized pot. The pot is pretty good, but at the price of the Creek, it's probably nothing special compared to the $100 pots you can buy. I bet you could motorize your favotite pot with some toothless belt pulleys, using light belt tension as the clutch so that you don't have to fight the motor when you turn the knob. I have no idea how much current is available to the motor, but I'm guessing that there's not enough to power a motor that would turn a 24 position switch like an Elna or what's in the DACT for instance. For that, you might need a stepper motor and a micro controller to ensure that the switch falls nicely into the detents.

There's certainly a lot of cases when a transformer would help with current and impedence problems but pots or resistors would hinder, for instance when driving longish cables as a passive preamp does. Ultimately, however, transformers do introduce a whole bunch of wire and a magnetic field to the signal, so they're not perfect. My impression is that where output impedence and current aren't such an issue inside a component, resistors are superior, and pots may not be far behind. There's a reason why there are so many output transformerless amp designs. Ultimately, I guess you'd just have to try them both in your circuit to know which sounds better.

A fixed transformer in conjunction with a lower-value pot sounds like a good idea to me if your source produces quality signal at higher voltages than you need. I was reading about the http://www.audiocraftersguild.com/RnD/RandD.htm">R&D for the X 3.24 DAC from Audio Crafters Guild and Norman Tracy writes that the Jenson transformer is pretty good.

Anthony

JoshK · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Mar 2004, 08:57 pm »

Then there is www.apoxcontrols.com but that might be a little too deep. Don't know. Certainly not cheap but maybe you don't need the input selector portion.

Dmason · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Mar 2004, 09:14 pm »

I am using the Bent Audio DaCT remote and it works fine. It is a very well designed retrofit.

JoshK · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Mar 2004, 09:25 pm »

The Bent one is probably the one I would go with since it doesn't get involved in the signal path at all, and is really nicely built. I played around with it some trying to see if I could put it into my purist preamp but didn't have enough room.

ghersh · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Mar 2004, 10:19 pm »

Quote from: Hantra

All:

Does anyone know of any remote kits, or ready to use remotes that will control motorized pots? I want to do some type of passive device. Very simple, with one input, and one output, but I want a remote.

Any ideas?

Also, what about putting a nice transformer on the inputs? What effect would that have on the sound in a passive? Any?

Thanks!

B

There is also 'little wonder' passive with remote. They have their own forum on harmonicdiscord.org.

never heard the 'little wonder', but it has an excellent reputation. Price is probably roughly the same as Creek.

JoshK · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Mar 2004, 11:12 pm »

I was not aware the little wonder had a remote. I have heard it before but this one was totally manual, no remote. Did they recently add a remote?

grub · « **Reply #10 on:** 31 Mar 2004, 04:52 am »

Josh, it's a new addition to the LW.

I've used a LW in the past and it was easily better than the Creek. It's a very well made and transparent sounding component.
-->grub

Mark_Walsh · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Apr 2004, 05:39 am »

Altronics in Australia have one. www.altronics.com.au

Described in Silicon Chip Magazine, just recently.

Just a thought

MW

WerTicus · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Apr 2004, 11:12 am »

just by looking at that pic wongstein (of the creek), you can see its filled with junk components.

That device would kill the sound no doubt about it.

However replace all those caps with film/ foil types and your in business.
Probably cost a bit to do that though!

actually when im giving my system a serious listen i just hook the player up directly to the amp by-passing my modified passive volume control, nothing in the signal sounds better than even film/foils in the signal.

naturally its bloody loud though

Jon L · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Apr 2004, 04:03 pm »

"My impression is that where output impedence and current aren't such an issue inside a component, resistors are superior"

You definitely have something there. The only remote-controlled resistor-based passive that uses nice parts(Vishays) is the Placette passive, however.

I, for one, would love to add remote capability to my EVS ultimate attenuators(Vishays again), but that would be difficult. But this way, you can bypass the chassis, wiring inside the chassis, one interconnect/connectors, etc.

JoshK · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Apr 2004, 04:23 pm »

What's your guys' thoughts on Dale's (Havardian) apoxcontrol optical based volume and relay switching? (www.apoxcontrols.com) It seems like it was really thought out but I know little of these things.

JohnR · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Apr 2004, 11:20 pm »

Quote from: Mark_Walsh

Altronics in Australia have one. www.altronics.com.au

Described in Silicon Chip Magazine, just recently.

Aha, good one! Hadn't seen that

I wonder if they can be ganged (to make a 6-channel one...)?

http://www.altronics.com.au/cat.asp?cat=11&grp=426&id=K5026

Dmason · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Apr 2004, 11:38 pm »

Alltronics has a six channel unit all ready to go. Six times more expensive as well. Looks like a good invention, both units designed and built in house, they tell me. I ordered the two channel one, it is meant to be used right off the main power rails ....easy!

JohnR · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Apr 2004, 11:46 pm »

Aha!!!! So they do.... with case and everything. I wonder if there's room in there to add a few more little boards. Will investigate, thanks for the pointers

http://www.altronics.com.au/cat.asp?cat=11&grp=426&id=K5600

JoshK · « **Reply #18 on:** 6 May 2004, 03:12 pm »

I'd be really interested to know if the 6ch remote volume has one or more inputs.