alps blue velvet

[BrokenHill]

Counterfeits are a very real problem, I got one from ebay and it was crap.:thumbsdn:
The real Alps are super nice pots, I put one in a Eico HF-85 and the tracking
at low volume is awesome, sounds good too.

 

[Kegger]

I guess it depends on the application.

I used the Blue Velvet as a replacement for one of the Radio Shack/Alps pots, in my last 6L6 Magnavox conversion integrated amp. The Blue Velvet (100K) just KILLED the RS pot. Not only did it track better, but the sound was cleaner. Imaging was MUCH improved, probably mostly due to the fact that the two channels tracked so close to each other in level now...

I also recently put the same pot in as an upgrade to my "10-5" amp, I built about 5 years ago. Same result. Better imaging, better balance. It was replacing a standard CTS pot...

Of course, there may be something to be said about the pot being used on the OUTPUT of the line stage tube. I run my input straight into the tube, THEN use the volume control to attenuate the output of the preamp stage, before sending it into the power amp stage. So, the pot is driven from a relatively-low-impedance source (the output impedance of the 12BH7/6CG7/12AU7 tubes I use is somewhere in the 5K range, the way I use them). That could be the difference between my results, and what others have heard, in terms of sonic balance.

BTW: I've recently bought a half dozen of the RS 100K pots- from different RS stores- and unfortunately, I haven't found a SINGLE ONE that TRULY tracks well, all the way down. With most of the amps I build finding their homes with relatively efficient speakers (91dB and higher), this is a real problem. I've about given up using those...

Regards,
Gordon.

I replaced an "standard" older alps pot in a newer preamp with an blue velvet.

Man it was quieter, tracked better, had better low volume "accuracy" and the
top plus bottom end of the spectrum extended with the top getting smoother to.

Cheep/cheezy pots in your signal path are extremely degrading to the sonics there.

 

[maciek]

Alps

I bought mine from Angela instruments 22$ would it be fake?

 

[JohnMac]

I got mine from the same source. They where the least expensive. Anyone familiar with the company? I used them in a couple of PAS 3s and they sound very nice. Much better that the originals at least.

I used RS pots in two Maggie amps and the channel tracking in one is noticably off and in the other it seems fine. I don't think they were the RS "ALPS" though. The terminals are different.

J

 

[jaymanaa]

I bought mine from Angela instruments 22$ would it be fake?

I think you are fine, Angela is well known and respected in the tube world. The whole thing IMHO is to NOT have your signal go through any pot. This is why I use the Haller circuit and buy one very good 11k resistor for the circuit to go through. You still need a pot that tracks good.

 

[maciek]

pot

So should i use blue velvet since it is nicely tracking,then sound would depend on quality 11k resistor i would use,what are best choices for such resistor,any brands like riken ,takman or shinkoh?,thanks for advice

 

[TerrySmith]

Here's a pic of the RS 100k pots, new on the left, old alps on the right. I got two of the newer ones and both track poorly.

 

[GordonW]

Terry, the one on the left (that has "A100K X2" printed on it) are exactly like what I got from all the local Radio Shacks around here. There is no alternative to those in the RS stores- that's all they have in stock now, in 100K pots.

And yes, all of mine tracked poorly, too. I wound up buying some 100K Alpha pots from Mouser (3/4" diameter- bigger than the RS pots) and they tracked much better...

Regards,
Gordon.