I replaced the volume pot on my tube preamplifier.

@mulveling  It's certainly an eye-opener for sure. Most manufacturers are component lazy, compromising their product sonically and economically. 

Thanks @viridian. I've played a bunch of tracks to get a measure on the changes. Everything is louder–much more dynamic, music soars–it's almost unsettling, deeper bass, sweeter highs, more air, hidden instruments and voices revealed. 

@mulveling  It’s certainly an eye-opener for sure. Most manufacturers are component lazy, compromising their product sonically and economically. 

Agree! I’m normally a fan of "affordable, but reliable and sounds good" parts (like resistors, caps), and get a little hesitant to just blindly go in for exotic $$$ parts which can sometimes change the sound a little too sterile, bright, or analytical IMO. But the Alps Blue is defintely NOT a good sounding part in a very critical position; most of its alternatives sound better :) 

So you went from ALPS with wipers to discrete ?  How old were the originals?

@erik_squires  No. There’s not enough room to fit a discrete unit. The TACOS are carbon wipers whereas the Alps were plastic film. And, truth be told, I’m somewhat frugle in wringing out the best bang for the buck.