Thoughts on Stepped Attenuators?

[RFP]

My recently-departed Sonic Frontiers SL-2 preamp had a stepped attenuator (stepped volume control) and I loved it. It had a precise, super-high-quality feel; performance too. Perhaps it’s my present state of geezerhood, but I can’t get that “feel” out of my mind.

I wonder if anyone has made any serious project to construct (or purchase) a stepped attenuator and installed it in a Fisher receiver (400, 500, 800). I know space is a huge consideration, but is it a show stopper.

Maybe I should just go think about something else

 

[Buck Rogers]

I'm using one of these precision wire wound pot... Amazing sound!

75K X 3 Three turn.

Yeah... It's big. but it tracks perfectly at very low levels.

 

[RFP]

Buck! That’s very interesting… what are you using it in?

I haven’t looked at the “specs” of the Fisher 500C volume control pot yet, so I really can’t talk about this intellegently. That said, I think it’s likely one for a Fisher receiver would have to be custom assembled from a switch and a bushel of tiny resistors. At least that construction would allow for the Loudness Control tap to be made. Of course, “size matters.”

Surely someone has done this.

 

[Buck Rogers]

Custom build from 1997, Pot install not shown...

Do you have a Fisher at this time?

Oh yeah, That three gang pot is 4 inches long!

 

[Buck Rogers]

These are small and cheap 20$, Should fit a Fisher... Easy to add a tap

 

[RFP]

Thanks for the reply! Yep, I have a 500C that has had Dave Gillespie’s magic touch(es)! It’s magnificent.

 

[gadget73]

Size is a problem, and most of the time I find the stepped pots don't put the level exactly where I want it. Its too loud or too quiet. Need a lot of steps to make it not overly granular and those are big and not-cheap.

it does fix the chronic off value pot issues though. Can also tie in the loudness stuff at the appropriate spot easy enough.

need to figure out something for the power switch to.

 

[Buck Rogers]

Ugh... Forgot about the power switch, Always hated power switch on volume control because it's such a high failure part.

OH... I can plug my extra SA 600, 200 watt lamp and turntable right into my receiver, How handy... Poof...

Agreed on stepped volume controls they are a non-starter for me.

Idea... How about adding a remotely controlled volume control into the Tape Loop?

Receiver stays stock and you finally get that remote control you always wanted!

Remote volume control

Example 2.

Internal remote

 

[RFP]

Well, Gadget, it’s probably only a fascinating idea, and I have no issues at all with the volume control on my 500C… actually my volume control is very seldom ever turned (I have a convenient switched outlet built in to my equipment “rack”).

What’s left of my mind seem to always keep trying to think of ways to improve almost everything. ‍

 

[gadget73]

just because its not broke doesn't mean you can't still fix it

 

[RFP]

Yep, Gadget… actually my life’s credo has been, “if it aint broke, I’ll fix it ‘till it is!”

 

[fred soop]

Size is a problem, and most of the time I find the stepped pots don't put the level exactly where I want it. Its too loud or too quiet. Need a lot of steps to make it not overly granular and those are big and not-cheap.

it does fix the chronic off value pot issues though. Can also tie in the loudness stuff at the appropriate spot easy enough.

need to figure out something for the power switch to.

Maybe the output (or input) of the stepped attenuator could be passed through a low value pot for fine adjustment.

 

[gadget73]

functionally yes but at that point is there any real reason to have the stepped attenuator instead of just using a pot? And then where do you put a second control? Be easier to use a control with mre steps, or just use a regular pot.

 

[eduarsan1]

My recently-departed Sonic Frontiers SL-2 preamp had a stepped attenuator (stepped volume control) and I loved it. It had a precise, super-high-quality feel; performance too. Perhaps it’s my present state of geezerhood, but I can’t get that “feel” out of my mind.

I wonder if anyone has made any serious project to construct (or purchase) a stepped attenuator and installed it in a Fisher receiver (400, 500, 800). I know space is a huge consideration, but is it a show stopper.

Maybe I should just go think about something else

Hello, check this thread for the "stepped attenautor" in my 400 amp , for know about my attempt in the fishers amps that I have, it was unsuccessful due to the stretched space on it and the poor support in the only feasible real option (Goldpoint Level controls), I was thinking to use a single channel military pot and made one, using a ADC chip (ADC0820) and CI with mosfets (CD4066) a stepper attenuator with the resistor in SMD config by channel. For now is on hold but thinking in made it soon.

Regards from Colombia

Luis Eduardo