Metropoulos Forum

I think V1 is going bad. I hear static til about 4 then it sounds fine. Does that sound like a bad pot to you all? George what's the difference between the Clarostat audio pot and the others you sell for Volume controls? Just quality?

Jeff

The Claorstat is miltary spec and uses conductive plastic. It is also sealed.

The Alphas are open framed (meaning dirt can get in), and use typical carbon traces. They have to be cleaned at some time in their life and will wear out sooner. Like 100,000 cycles compared to 1 million with the clarostats.

FWIW I use the Alphas for repairs and builds with a clear conscience. The Claorstats are great, but awfully expensive.

George

George,
I replaced my bad pot with the Alpha, but the knob won't fit. Are the ones you sell made for the Alpha's?

Jeff

Actually, either way you look at it, the pot still has to be cleaned periodically whether it's sealed or not. The friction caused by pot rotation will wear off the resistive material, causing filings to build up in the pot, which will make it dirty and crackly. Granted, yes it will last longer, but it will still need to be cleaned at some point in it's life.

Jon

Yes that is a good point. Might as well go with the cheapies and put up with cleaning them once in a while.

I did go with the Alpha's. I guess I should have worded my question better. The nobs on the pots that came with the amp don't fit the alpha's. So George, what tone nobs that you sell fit the alphas? You have two types.
Another question. What do you use to clean the pots?

Jeff

The conductive plastic pots are sealed and don't have to be cleaned. They are good for 1 million cycles. Basically, they are militry spec.

The set screw knobs are for the Alphas. Sometimes there is some extra plastic in the hole, you have to clear it out.

George