The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    If you can get past how ugly it looks:
    https://www.markertek.com/product/a...xlr-a-b-switcher-stereo-input-signal-switcher

    A 4x1 switch for just a little more:
    https://www.amazon.com/Kramer-Electronics-VS-4X/dp/B002MVYLX2

    More expensive, but this company has a good reputation:
    http://www.goldpt.com/sw2x.html


    Edit: a couple of cheap choices:
    https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Audio-Switcher-Selector-Splitter/dp/B07875KC4F/
    https://www.amazon.com/Sescom-SES-XLR-AB-Balanced-Passive-Switch/dp/B007MHJV9K
    (some bad reviews)
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2019
  2. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Thanks guys.

    Looks like these, or nothing:

    http://www.goldpt.com/sa2x.html

    https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Audio-Switcher-Selector-Splitter/dp/B07875KC4F/

    The nobsound box looks horrid. The gold point is... well, it's gold point. $$$. I'll keep looking, but the gold point might be what I go with. I'm fairly confident that it would be the most transparent sounding device I could add to the chain.


    Or I could suck it up and build my own. That's starting to look like a very attractive alternative.
     
  3. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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  4. lcmusiclover

    lcmusiclover Friend

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    Similarly priced alternative to GoldPoint:

    http://mockingbirddistribution.com/hattor-audio/mini-passive-active-pre/

    My comments:

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...trol-for-dacs-sources.860/page-20#post-250126
     
  5. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Cheap ass: https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Audio-Switcher-Selector-Splitter/dp/B07875KC4F I have not listened to it but will not recommend it.

    Stupidly expensive proaudio kit that costs more than the Gungnir Multibit: http://www.goldpt.com/sa2x.html I use these, reccomended.


    EDIT: Looks like I got sniped above. I actually think there's a market for a lower priced audiophile version of these things. I have been looking, I consistently see this question out there. Hmmm...
     
  6. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    One more option, on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-3-IN-3-1...Stereo-Passive-Selector-Switcher/273769724344

    However, he's only looking for a switch function, no need for an attenuator.
     
  7. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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  8. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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  9. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    The $400 SW2X model is a switch (without attenuator) and better match for his needs.
     
  10. lcmusiclover

    lcmusiclover Friend

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    I hadn’t noticed that one. Probably significantly better than the Nobsound or Douk switch/splitters, for only 8 - 10X the price. Still seems like an inflated price given the (presumed) BOM.
     
  11. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I'm trying to price out the parts to DIY that unit. Even if I got a Goldpoint switch (even at $100 for the switch alone) and purchased and assembled the rest myself, it should be cheaper. *Should be.* Shipping and other misc stuff may creep the price up to the point where I'd be better off just buying the unit straight away.

    I haven't had time to complete the material list online. It's been too nice of a day to waste staring at product pages. =)
     
  12. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Welcome the to the insides of a goldpoint SA2X. This one contains the balanced switch we are discussing, along with a 24 step 4 channel attenuator which we have decided OP doesn't need.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The selector switch is goldpoint branded, their part no. 4P-2T-1D (4 poles, 2 throws, 1 deck ). They sell it on their site for $75 + 12 shipping. The only other audio grade rotary switches I have seen are from DACT (CT3-5-8/wire) and ELMA ( who I highly suspect built this switch for goldpoint. There may be others, I haven't seen them. You could of course purchase something cheaper, which would work but the point was not to buy crap.

    Other parts are

    • One set of Inputs (Neutrik NC3FAH), one set of Outputs (Neutrik NC3MAV), total $7.94 plus shipping at mouser
    • Wire: High grade, silver-plated copper, multi-stranded, with Teflon jacketing, $0.10 if you buy in bulk\already have it, $10 if you have to buy a spool
    • Chassis: Aluminium clam-shell, 1/4" front and rear panels, goldpoint part EN1-C, $68 to you with plain milled plates
    • Aluminum Knob: $15 bucks retail
    • Purpose-built PCB board

    So: Total retail cost of the parts you can buy, $166.04, say $200 with all the shipping and any tax.

    Purchase the final product from goldpoint, pay a $225 (with shipping) premium and get a top end product.

    Buy the parts you need retail. You don't have a board, you need to drill a 1/4 in hole in the front chassis plate and bunch of holes in the back, rip apart a spare headphone cable, and solder the who thing together. Final cost in $$ to you is 200, plus however many hours you need to build it. You have a reasonable facsimile at say 98% the performance if you dont solder like shit.

    Or, only buy the switch and the Neutriks. Skip the chassis. Put it in some old box with an old knob and old wires. Maybe $105 to you plus the labor, sounds 95% as good as long as its shielded some way.

    I hear the complaint about 'markup from wholsale BOM prices' but I cant buy wholesale so it means nothing to me.
     
  13. lcmusiclover

    lcmusiclover Friend

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    Well, I’d have to correct/retract that comment. I had no idea the input selector would be that expensive. 2X BOM doesn’t seem inflated.
     
  14. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Yeah this actually made the cost of the Goldpoint seem justified for me.
     
  15. Biodegraded

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    For me, it would justify buying the Mackie (and cables if necessary) :rolleyes:
     
  16. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    not to quibble too much, but that's BOM at parts retail. Wholesale (or, what Goldpoint is paying for the parts) is likely roughly half that, but either way, nobody is getting ripped off with the Goldpoint.
     
  17. lcmusiclover

    lcmusiclover Friend

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    This.

    Whether it’s 2X retail or 4X wholesale, still seems much more reasonable than the 8 - 10X I was assuming in my first post.
     
  18. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    Do you have access to Schiit gear to try before you buy? I'd give the Lyr3 a listen too, if you can. You might like it even more then the Mjonir 2. If you were a planar guy I wouldn't have said boo, but your sig has the HD800 in it so maybe...
     
  19. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    If it doesn't alter the sound, sure. I remain skeptical.

    (Sorry, I haven't had good times with mackie)
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2019
  20. GTABeancounter

    GTABeancounter Friend

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    I'm flying to Seoul on business this afternoon and then to Singapore later in the week. I'll have at least half a day in each destination to do a bit of shopping. Any recommendations for audio shops I should check out?

    FWIW, At this point the only thing I really need would be a set of wireless IEM's for working out (paired to an iwatch series4). I like the RHA TrueConnect but they are on back-order pretty much everywhere.
     
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