Looking for a good quality RCA switch box

[mhardy6647]

Okay. Nobody asked for it so I am going to build a very nice switchy-switchety box.

Four inputs, and one output. Or should it be two (selectable) outputs?

Swiss switches and Western Electric wire, of course. And a cool vintage chickenhead knob... obviously.

Suffering succotash -- Swiss switches...

 

[mhardy6647]

... for some reason, an email I got from AES today made me think of this thread...

Knob - Aluminum, Set Screw, Chicken Head | Antique Electronic Supply

Solid aluminum knob with a classic chicken head design. This knob has an infilled indicator line and counterbored base to hide potentiometer nuts. Fits 0.25” (6.35mm) shafts. Height: 0.54 in. (13.72 mm) Length: 1.25 in. (31.75 mm) Fits ¼" shaft with set screw

www.tubesandmore.com

 

[Rudy]

I'm following along--I like watching works in progress. 😁 I only need two inputs these days, so I already have double what I need!

I wish I'd had a drill press back in the day, though. My own homebrew projects could have looked better.

 

[S0und Dragon]

This is so timely for me. Looking forward to getting one in 2026!

 

[mhardy6647]

I'm following along--I like watching works in progress. 😁 I only need two inputs these days, so I already have double what I need!

I wish I'd had a drill press back in the day, though. My own homebrew projects could have looked better.

I have one -- in my case, it doesn't help all that much.

Me and tools... kinda puts me to mind of the line from Bruce Cockburn's early hit (yes... small but sincere, in the US, that is) Wondering Where the Lions Are

Young men marching, helmets shining in the sun,
Polished and precise like the brain behind the gun
(Should be!) ...

In other words (and, again, in my case), the fine-ness of the tool is rendered kinda rough by the brain behind it. 🤦‍♂️

 

[theflattire]

I would go with two outputs but wired in parallel so like a tape out.

 

[Redboy]

This is so timely for me. Looking forward to getting one in 2026!

heeeeeyyyy... is that a dig at my project timelines? 🫤

🤪

 

[mhardy6647]

heeeeeyyyy... is that a dig at my project timelines? 🫤

🤪

I've got unfinished projects that will be old enough to vote in the upcoming election.

 

[Redboy]

I would go with two outputs but wired in parallel so like a tape out.

That's easy enough... but potentially problematic. If you have devices connected to both sets of output, their input impedances are paralleled.

 

[Rudy]

I've got unfinished projects that will be old enough to vote in the upcoming election.

Some of mine can collect Social Security in a few years...

 

[S0und Dragon]

heeeeeyyyy... is that a dig at my project timelines? 🫤

🤪

What’s that old saying? Do you want good, cheap or fast?

 

[mhardy6647]

What’s that old saying? Do you want good, cheap or fast?

Dude, I couldn't manage any one of those three with one of my exercises in futility craftsmanship.

 

[S0und Dragon]

Dude, I couldn't manage any one of those three with one of my exercises in futility craftsmanship.

So bad, expensive and slow…..got it!

 

[Redboy]

Might finish it today.

Maybe.

 

[Fran604g]

Might finish it today.

Maybe.

View attachment 72922

Looking forward to your final analyses. The thing I've always wondered about with any switching device is the introduction of a "pop" that is transmitted to an amplifier and through the speakers.

 

[mhardy6647]

Looking forward to your final analyses. The thing I've always wondered about with any switching device is the introduction of a "pop" that is transmitted to an amplifier and through the speakers.

I can only offer a datapoint.
I don't think my paleo-Redboy switchbox pops much if at all. Certainly not objectionable (i.e., I've never noticed it).




Note to self: Time to get out the Windex and clean the grunge off the faceplate...

 

[Redboy]

Looking forward to your final analyses. The thing I've always wondered about with any switching device is the introduction of a "pop" that is transmitted to an amplifier and through the speakers.

Yeah, I think it's always a good idea to mute the amp before switching between sources.

The source selector in this project is a "make-before-break", or shorting switch. As the switch contact moves from one pad to the next, it is momentarily in contact with both pads. You shouldn't get that "pop" in this case. However, the mini toggle is non-shorting (break-before-make) and you'd be more likely to hear the pop there.

So Mute first...

 

[Redboy]

Hey, I think it's done!

 

[S0und Dragon]

Hey, I think it's done!

I’m gonna be needing one of these….thanks

 

[Fran604g]

Hey, I think it's done!

That's just cool!