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DACT versus Alps on Reference?

post #1 of 9
10/14/05 at 1:50pm
Thread Starter 
My Reference is on route to Justin to have its gain dropped to 3x/9dB but I keep getting that nagging feeling that an Alps maybe a better choice.

With the DACT and a presumed gain of 8x/18dB I listened on notch 5-6 for most music and notch 7 for low volume music. So we decided on 9dB which puts me into the +-2dB steps instead of +-4dB while still providing enough gain to cap the Dynalo potential output of 4.5V. Technically on 0dB material 2x/6dB gain comes pretty close at 4.34V but older -3dB recordings tap out at 3.25V even with 3x gain. So that's the thinking behind the 3x/9dB choice.

Problem is I wonder if its still too high a gain to ensure I'm operating in 2dB steps ALL THE TIME. And frankly notch 5-7 represent -42dB -> -34dB which even with unity gain would be -24dB -> -16dB. In my head I don't want to gimp the output potential, but in my application that's hardly a concern.

What to do, what to do. I can either stick with the 3x gain and DACT plan, switch to 3x and to an Alps or drop down to unity gain and keep the DACT. Opinions?

Oh the Tri-Vista/Reference/Senn 650 is the system I'm sticking with for reference. The Tri-Vista puts out a healthy 2.17Vrms and the Senn 650 is rated at 103dB@1mW, I listen at 70dB@1cm(.5in).
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post #2 of 9
10/14/05 at 1:51pm
See if he can get Cosmos pots... SFT put one in my Dynahi and it has very nice tracking. From some listening he has done they are a fair bit better than the Alps Blue Velvets.
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post #3 of 9
10/14/05 at 2:03pm
You could always have that ridiculous brass Alps pot that Headroom offer put in...
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post #4 of 9
10/14/05 at 3:49pm
Thread Starter 
That Alps costs more than what I paid for the Reference

A gain switch would likely be the best option. But doing a real gain switch and not an inline attenuator might be cost prohibitive.
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post #5 of 9
10/15/05 at 12:09am
I would use a volume control in the bypass mode. This use the volume control only a shunt to ground and there is one resistor in the signal path. The quality of the volume control doesn't make much different only the resistor in the path makes the difference and you only use one per channel. Few have used this but I can state that it works very, very well.

John in Jishou City, China
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post #6 of 9
10/15/05 at 12:48am
I'd keep the DACT if you can, for it's superior channel matching and transparency.
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post #7 of 9
10/15/05 at 1:16am
I had this same problem with my v2-se. I never could get the stepped attenuator Headamp uses the right volume.... even with a gain switch. I ended up with the normal pot.


Mikhail at Singlepower/ Gold Point now has an attenuator with a very slow taper that is usually at 12:00 with a standard 2v source output. This is the only one I have been able to set the volume right with. All the others have steps that are to large.


I dont know what it would cost you but tkam is correct..... the stepped attenuators are more transparent and have almost perfect channel matching. Maybe Justin could get you one?
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post #8 of 9
10/15/05 at 1:34am
You could also get a 41-step SA installed instead. I had them installed on mine to avoid the exact problem you're having now, especially since I have rather (volume) sensitive ears. Also, if I'm not mistaken, there's a company that makes a 42-step SA, but I can't remember the name. I still miss the smooth rotation of pot, though. If I had limitless disposable income, I'd have two stereo version of Alps RK50's installed but I don't.
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post #9 of 9
10/15/05 at 1:49am
If you can have a gain switch, a DACT would be better. Even though your volume range is more limited, the silky smooth action of the DACT and sound quality are great.

If you spend money on any upgrade for an amp, the volume control is one of the first places you should spend it. It makes the most difference in sound between amps than even most boutique electronics parts.

-Ed
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