New Toy!

[walpurgis]

Nothing to get too excited about, but this arrived from China today:

http://i37.tinypic.com/2h7ewpu.jpg http://i37.tinypic.com/2lndamc.jpg

It's a dual mono stepped attenuator passive pre-amp (volume control), with selectable inputs and two sets of outputs and is supposed to be silver wired.

It looks well made, I shall have a peek inside and try it out tomorrow. My mate has just bought one and I was impressed with the sound quality with his EAR 861. We shall see!

It certainly looks OK for £65.

[Firebottle]

Is this the one Geoff?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Passive-Preamplifier-Stepped-attenuator-dual-mono-version-/190800671194?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item2c6c9b31da

Be interested in your findings,
:cool:Alan

[walpurgis]

That's the one. Looks OK doesn't it.

I've had dealings with Eric Yam the seller before and had good service.

I'll try the unit out today and report back!

[NRG]

Watch out for a HF roll off if you chose the 100K version, 100K will form a low pass filter with whatever cable capacitance you have after the passive-pre, maybe best to keep to 25K or 10K...

[walpurgis]

Watch out for a HF roll off if you chose the 100K version, 100K will form a low pass filter with whatever cable capacitance you have after the passive-pre, maybe best to keep to 25K or 10K...

I bought the 50k model. Having used and built a few passive pre's, I've found the 50k value works for me. There's no audible top end roll-off on my friend's 50k unit.

[Ali Tait]

What're the pots in it Geoff?

[Jonboy]

been thinking about a passive with multi inputs myself, interested to know what it sounds like myself

[walpurgis]

What're the pots in it Geoff?

Not pots. Stepped attenuators using multiple resistor arrays. Far better!

[walpurgis]

been thinking about a passive with multi inputs myself, interested to know what it sounds like myself

Ha, tried it out today. The thing's f***ed!

Instant full volume on the first click of the left attenuator and low output and hum on the right attenuator.

I've told the seller who was apologetic and polite and is sending me a whole new set of innards to install. I can actually sort it out myself in any case, but it may be handy to have the extra set of parts just in case. The item is worth what I paid in component value anyway.

Funny thing is my best mate's one of these works flawlessly. Pot luck I guess.

[walpurgis]

Well, it's all back together and sounding very good indeed.

Eric Yam the eBay seller could not have been more helpful. He sent me a complete, wired component set including back and front panels. All I had to do was pop the case covers off and switch everything over in one go, no soldering required, easy peasy!

So all is well now. Bit of a bargain really considering the sound quality. The initial problem was just one of those things and I don't blame the seller. I shall investigate the removed parts and find out what the cause was.