The BeeQuiet Stepped Attenuator upgrade for the BeePre preamp kit

[Doc B]

We just got this put together and photographed yesterday. The guys will be shooting the manual photos in the next week and we should be able to ship soon thereafter. This attenuator is really nice, a big "step" up from the old Sweetest Whispers. The improvement in the already great bass response of the BeePre is pretty awesome. The switches are nice and quiet and the feel is very smooth.

It's two stereo controls - one has coarse 9dB steps, the other fine 1.5dB steps, for a total attenuation range of -52.5dB.

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/products/beequiet-stepped-attenuator-upgrade-for-beepre

 

[xcortes]

Looks great.

No changes to the selector switch right?

 

[Doc B]

Right, selector switch is unchanged.

 

[johnsonad]

I just placed the first order for one. 

 

[debk]

Just order one also

Deb

 

[Alonzo]

Me too. 

 

[caffeinator]

Yup...me, too...

And tell me you didn't call it the BeePree just so you could call it the BeeQuiet...

Which, btw, is just so cheekily clever it deserves some kind of award...

 

[xcortes]

C'mon guys. Don't tell me I'm the only Bee Preer that hasn't ordered the Bee Quiet yet!

 

[Alonzo]

Not a  BeePree owner yet, this will give me some experiments while I save up my beer money

 

[Bill Chase]

Xavier, seems you might be... me too.

 

[xcortes]

Nothing like peer pressure. Eileen: YGM!

I'm buying a Goldpoint selector switch too. Am I really supposed to build it stock first? ;^)

 

[johnsonad]

Nothing like peer pressure. Eileen: YGM!

I'm buying a Goldpoint selector switch too. Am I really supposed to build it stock first? ;^)

I knew it was only a matter of time  . I too have a gold point selector switch and am considering the PS chokes outboard of the transformers. Some enjoy doing things in stages but I'm usually not one of them 

 

[xcortes]

I also ordered the chokes.

Only need to order some caps. I'm thinking auricaps for the output. Don't know what to use for the cathode bypass but being only 16v I guess there's some exotic things possible? Of course Auricaps would also be nice there. And maybe mills 12w for the cathode resistors?

Edit: PE has the mills for 4.25 ea

 

[johnsonad]

I don't have the manual yet so I'm living through you and the current threads. I ordered 10uF and 0.22uF Audiocaps for this build. If they don't work well they have a place as crossover caps.

How much space is there between the lateral edges of the transformer holes and the edge of the top plate?  I'm wondering if I can squeeze in a Hammond 158m vs. the 157m and get a couple more Hennries out of it.

 

[Grainger49]

I also ordered the chokes.

  .  .  .  Don't know what to use for the cathode bypass but being only 16v I guess there's some exotic things possible?  .  .  . 

There are still a few Black Gate low voltage caps floating about out there.  Michael Percy had some when I ordered upgrades for the Eros.  (A year + ago)

 

[xcortes]

Not on the catalog. I checked already. I also shoot him an email.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Only need to order some caps. I'm thinking auricaps for the output. Don't know what to use for the cathode bypass but being only 16v I guess there's some exotic things possible? Of course Auricaps would also be nice there. And maybe mills 12w for the cathode resistors?

Edit: PE has the mills for 4.25 ea

If you plan to put in the stepped attenuator, I would wait to install any upgrade caps until that's in.  It will slightly alter the position of the coupling cap in the left channel if that capacitor is sufficiently large (I think more than 1.25" in diameter).

The cathode bypass caps that come with the kit are pretty exotic, though a higher end line of Nichicon capacitors has been released fairly recently (KA I think?).  YMMV on what fits, I spec'd in the manual that the top of the cap should touch the nylon standoff close by.  I think a little more diameter would fit, but probably not more length.

The Mills 8 Ohm/12 Watt/1% resistors are a nice choice, and actually a very easy retrofit once the kit is complete. 

 

[Alonzo]

Any news on when these attenuator kits will ship?

 

[Doc B]

We are awaiting the indicator panels and Josh has been working to get the BeeQuiet manual processed. We hope to have it all wrapped up and start shipping them next week.

 

[Doc B]

I think we (not really including me) will be packing up the first of these kits today.