A question for the audiophiles

I need a reliable volume control.

The situation is this:
I listen music from my computer all the time. It either goes to speakers or to the headphones.

The headphones are just non-amplified sonys. The speakers are from creative labs and there's a woofer with a built in amp.

The sound is nice from either one of them, but the volume control for the speakers is a cheapo little thing which gives noise when adjusted and doesn't adjust nicely anymore.

I don't like having the headphones too loud and they're very low impedance. So I have to adjust the volume really low and that introduces noise of all kinds. So I'd be using the volume control for both.

Which one should I use? I would like one of those smooth ones, the kind you'd find in a stereo.

Thanks

Check out head-fi.org. Don't stay too long, or you'll be sucked into the hobby (as I have... but I love it. *hugs tube-amp and AKG cans*

I just want the volume control device...

Wait... that's what I said when I was buying the S1 IS.

It's inevitable anyways.

I use the volume on my keyboard but i've heard that these are really nice:

http://www.amazon.com …_11_1/103-5226821-5657414

Griffin Technology PowerMate 1040-PMT USB Multimedia Controller and Input Device (Aluminum, PC/Mac)

milleker wrote in post #2216411
I use the volume on my keyboard but i've heard that these are really nice:

http://www.amazon.com …_11_1/103-5226821-5657414

Griffin Technology PowerMate 1040-PMT USB Multimedia Controller and Input Device (Aluminum, PC/Mac)

That's not what I'm looking for. I want an impedance/resistor volume control.

would a passive preamp do what you want? If you do not want to spend a small fortune but want something good one based on an ALPS "Black Beauty" potentiomenter would be good or Noble or Bourns 91 Series are both less money but good. Match the impedance of the pot to the output impedance of what you are trying to control. Or use 50K as a catch all number.

I don't know what a passive pre-amp is.

That black beauty or bourns 91 look good. I'm gonna try and find something like that.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2216259
I need a reliable volume control.

The situation is this:
I listen music from my computer all the time. It either goes to speakers or to the headphones.

The headphones are just non-amplified sonys. The speakers are from creative labs and there's a woofer with a built in amp.

The sound is nice from either one of them, but the volume control for the speakers is a cheapo little thing which gives noise when adjusted and doesn't adjust nicely anymore.

I don't like having the headphones too loud and they're very low impedance. So I have to adjust the volume really low and that introduces noise of all kinds. So I'd be using the volume control for both.

Which one should I use? I would like one of those smooth ones, the kind you'd find in a stereo.

Thanks

I have a set of Altec Lansing 641's. IT is a subsat system with an external volume control. Works great, sounds great.

Alps Blue Velvet (ALPS RK27). This potentiometer is fabled. It's 50K.
Buy here:
http://tangentsoft.net​/audio/shop/

I'm pretty sure it's overkill for what you want, but it's the "best" in its class. I do think you could get away with a Panasonic EVJ though. Many people use it in headphone rigs -myself included.
http://rocky.digikey.c​om …e=US&V=10&M=EVJ​-C20F02D24
This one is 20K

If you're a gambing man you may want to try this:
http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.​asp?number=G13276
I've got some very high quality nobles from that grab bag, but the last time I ordered they were missing. You still may want to give them a try.

KevC wrote in post #2216323
Check out head-fi.org. Don't stay too long, or you'll be sucked into the hobby (as I have... but I love it. *hugs tube-amp and AKG cans*

I'll also second this. If you listen to music thru headphones all the time you owe it to yourself to upgrade.

You're a photographer so I guess you're use to you wallet taking horrible blows. KevC is very right. If you visit once you're doomed.

AKG 701 and this (especially since you use your computer as a source):
http://www.ecp.cc/HPDA​C.html
Pure listening bliss.

Samgoit wrote in post #2220217
Alps Blue Velvet (ALPS RK27). This potentiometer is fabled. It's 50K.
Buy here:
http://tangentsoft.net​/audio/shop/

Cool

Is it smooooth in terms of... err... tactile rotary experience?

Will I be able to just cut out the volume control for my speakers and solder this ALPS thing instead? With proper connections of course.

Thanks

head-fi is down right now

I'll take it as a sign and stay away. I need to drop about 20 grand on photo equipment first, then I'll be able to become an audiophile.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2220339
Cool

Is it smooooth in terms of... err... tactile rotary experience?

Will I be able to just cut out the volume control for my speakers and solder this ALPS thing instead? With proper connections of course.

Thanks

The Alps and the Panasonic pin outs are diagramed here:
http://tangentsoft.net​/audio/pancomp.html
Scroll down to "Potentiometers"

The Alps and the Panasonic both have a nice smooth resistance through the sweep.

Can you take a pic of the wiring to your pot. (I feel really funny asking that as you are a photographer). You should simply have to cut the old one out and solder a new one in given it's a dual taper pot. Be sure to label wires.

Going in is the minijack from the soundblaster

And it's going out to the amp in the woofer.

Yeah, I'm planning to do exactly that.

I'll probably put it into one of the missing panels in between the CD readers... and put the minijack in there too... maybe.