Goldpoint Stepped Attenuator Resistor Lists
The Goldpoint 24-Position Audio Taper:
The Goldpoint 24-Position taper is an audio taper which has been optimized for use with 24 position rotary switches. It is the taper used on all off-the-shelf Goldpoint stepped attenuator values: 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K, 100K, and 250K.
Shown here is the attenuation level for each switch position (in decibels), as well as the size of each step from one switch position to the next adjacent switch position: (see below for info about linear taper stepped attenuators.)
24 Position Stepped Attenuator Resistor Lists:
Note: R5 and R7 resistors are often the same values. This is NOT an error. As these are Series type stepped attenuators, the resistor values are added to each other in sequence. At position 7 we switch to a smaller 2dB step, whereas the step previous to it was a 3dB step. If you were to calculate the math, you would find that these are the correct resistor values.
The overall value or impedance of the stepped attenuator is shown at the top of each column, and the precise total value (all of the individual resistor values added together) is shown at the bottom of each column
To make your own 24-position stepped attenuators, use Goldpoint 24 position blank switches, such as the Goldpoint V24C (or V24C-1/4 or V24C-1/2) switches - which were designed just for this purpose.
For most applications you can use 1% tolerance, less expensive, easy to get resistors. Precision 0.5% resistors are appropriate for use on precision Balanced Line level controls. Metal film, carbon film, carbon composition, and bulk foil resistor types can sound slightly different - see resistor recommendations below.
If a resistor value is not available at the time you are buying resistors, you can use an adjacent (in stock) value resistor for that position - just be sure to that same alternate value for both channels of your stereo stepped attenuator.
Below: Resistor list showing where to place the resistors. The resistors are typically installed on the front side of the printed circuit board - so that they point towards the knob end of the switch. Shown below is the rear side of the printed circuit board - the side you solder to.


47 Position Stepped Attenuator Resistor Lists:
The Goldpoint 47-Position resistor lists yield 1.5dB of attenuation for every step.
This gives a total of 67.5dB of attenuation for our most common 47-Position units.
To make your own 47-position stepped attenuators, use Goldpoint 47-position blank switches which were designed for this purpose: Goldpoint P/N V47C-1 (mono), V47C-2 (stereo) or V47C-3 (quad). Pictured below is a stereo 47-position blank switch which has the through-hole resistors installed.

V47C
1.55" tall x 1.9" wide
[1/4W resistors ONLY]
V47C-SQ
1.3" tall x 1.35" wide
[1/4W resistors ONLY]
 
V47C Custom Blank Switch
(Exception: There are two additional (unusual/special) columns in the chart below for the 10K stepped attenuator value: 1dB per step and 0.5dB per step.)
- For the 1dB resistor list, you get 45dB attenuation (total).
- For the 0.5dB resisitor list, you get only 22.5dB attenuation (total).
Switch position #1 (full counter-clockwise rotation) is OFF (of course) = infinite attenuation.


Recommended Thru-hole Resistor types:
KOA Speer brand, MF1/4 and CF1/4 Series - The MF1/4 series are truly excellent sounding 1% Nickel Chromium (NiChrome) metal film thru-hole resistors. Although very affordable, we recommend them because of their clear sound quality, which likely won't be beat at any price. For resistor values of 10 ohms or higher, use the KOA MF series (1% metal film). For values below 10 ohms, use the KOA CF series (5% carbon film) (see bottom of this page for both MF and CF Series) - The resistor values are color banded - (see our Resistor Color Code Chart). Some stocked at www.mouser.com.
Vishay/Dale RN55 (1/4 watt) and RN60 or CMF60 (1/2 watt) - These NiChrome thru-hole resistors are used by many hi-end audio companies. They're very well built and offer excellent precision options, if desired. They are brown color with conveniently stamped alphanumeric lettering for the resistor values. (Mouser keywords: Vishay/Dale RN55D, RN60D, CMF55, CMF60) (available from www.mouser.com.)
IRC RC55 Series - The IRC RC55 series are 0.1% tolerance,1/4W, NiChrome thru-hole resistors. Their sonic qualities and clarity rival or surpass expensive, high-precision Vishay bulk foil or even Caddock non-inductive resistors. They're a great choice for balanced line stepped attenuators or any DIY application where you need/want real precision. They are black color with white alphanumeric resistor value lettering. (Mouser keywords: IRC resistors) (see bottom of this page - available from www.mouser.com.)
note: As a rule, stepped attenuators using ANY type of resistors generally sound better than any brand of carbon or conductive plastic potentiometers. Therefore, you can even use Xicon brand thru-hole resistors, which are 1% tolerance, Ruthenium metal film, in 1/4W and 1/2W sizes. These are cheaply made and possibly the least expensive thru-hole resistors you will find. Although their sound quality may be "mediocre", it is  nevertheless generally OK and acceptable. They are light blue/green color with color banded resistor values. (see our Resistor Color Code Chart) They are readily available and well stocked at Mouser.com. (keywords: 273-1K-RC) (available from www.mouser.com.)
How to Make Linear Taper Stepped Attenuators:
Note: To make a series type linear taper stepped attenuator, divide your chosen stepped attenuator value by the total number of switch positions minus one (in our case 24 - 1 = 23 - or - 47 - 1 = 46). This resistor value is then used for every resistor on your stepped attenuator.
Example: To make a 10K 24-position linear stepped attenuator using one of the V24C Custom switches, divide 10,000 by 23, which is 434.78 ohms. Using off-the-shelf common resistor values, use twenty-three 432 ohm resistors per channel (which makes a 9.936K stepped attenuator.) Or use 442 ohms, which makes a 10.17K stepped attenuator. (Fourty-six resistors are needed for a stereo unit.)
Example: To make a 10K 47-position linear stepped attenuator using one of the V47C Custom switches, divide 10,000 by 46, which is 217.39 ohms. Using off-the-shelf common resistor values, use fourty-six 215 ohm resistors per channel (which makes a 9.89 stepped attenuator.) Or use 221 ohms, which makes a 10.17K stepped attenuator. (Ninety-two resistors are needed for a stereo unit.)





IRC 0.1% Precision Nickel Chromium 1/4 watt Thru-Hole Resistors

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