What is this part called?! + some explanation needed

First of all:
Hi my name is aron and i found out about your forum something like two weeks ago..since then i got myself a couple of books about basic electronics and i think i make good progress.
BUT: reading about you guys building so much nice stuff i just cant keep my hands off of it..  :

my first project:
a passive preamp to control the level of my monitors (as i wanted to buy one anyhow)
what i´ve learned so far is that i wont go with any potientiometers as my stereo image might differ i also found out how high the impedance for the attenuator has to be (10k) (please excuse my possible misspellings its hard for me to learn electronics in english but i do because of the bigger support)
also i already found out about

http://www.goldpt.com/r_series.html to show me the resistor values needed

BUT! i just cant seem to find a part like this to build the attenuator

http://diyparadise.com/stepped_atten.html

he talks about some kit but the links are dead..i dont mind finding all the resistors myself but i just cant find something to mount the stuff on 

am i right that this blue part would be called encoder? or is that only something thats sends out a singel once
..
what i found so far is nothing more than this

http://www.reichelt.de/Rotary-Pulse-Encoder/STEC12E08/3/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=73923;GROUPID=3714;artnr=STEC12E08

but how can this be 24 steps if it only has 5 pins?!


i want the preamp to:
-be passive
-have 2 unbalance in and outputs
-use an attenuator (be controlled by 1 attenuator)
-use highquality resistors (thats why i want to build the attenuator myself)

can anyone recommend a starting point for the attenuator?

Do not mix up rotary encoders with rotary switches. Rotary encoders are a digital control (which is why it only has 5 pins). Encoders are not for switching analog signals.

Starting point will be a 4 pole 23 or 24 position rotary switch.  Don't worry about the brand or "quality" of resistors that's just a waste of money.  Get a collection of 1/4 watt metal film 1% resistors. 

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=350793446294&index=4&nav=SEARCH&nid=80588150387

This is the kind of switch you want except don't buy that one because it's huge!  I have a box of them and you need gorilla hands to turn them.

PRR once replied to a post I made not too long ago about making one of these, here's what he recommended I look at for some guidance.

http://www.proharmonic.com/articles/AT78_OTB.pdf

> PRR ... recommended...

Never saw that. Interesting.

PRR said:

> PRR ... recommended...

Never saw that. Interesting.

Click to expand...

You're right, it was the post right after yours. 
http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=47779.msg602179#msg602179
Either way you're always helping me out so you deserve some credit.

I've used these numerous times....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4P-23-Step-Rotary-switch-Attenuator-Volume-Control-DIY-/251036555941?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item3a72f1daa5

as well as for stepped monitor control.... the only slight bugger was fitting it into a 1u case.... but a little creative bending got it done.  And as millzners said, get 1/4w resistors.... anything bigger will be a mess

Cheers

Davo said:

I've used these numerous times....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4P-23-Step-Rotary-switch-Attenuator-Volume-Control-DIY-/251036555941?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item3a72f1daa5

as well as for stepped monitor control.... the only slight bugger was fitting it into a 1u case.... but a little creative bending got it done.  And as millzners said, get 1/4w resistors.... anything bigger will be a mess

Cheers

Click to expand...

Yeah those are the ones I wish I had bought, from that same Chinese vendor.  But for some reason I thought the Ukrane ones I linked to would be cool since they look old and rugged.  Which is all true but when you open the box and realize they're the size as a 24oz can of beer it isn't so cool.  And why buy one or two when you can get a great deal on 6 of them?

millzners said:

Which is all true but when you open the box and realize they're the size as a 24oz can of beer it isn't so cool. 

Click to expand...

LOL... great price though... didn't realize that was for 3 of them.  I'll look into those next time I throw some attenuators in an adequate size box