Transformer volume controls?

There was a time I was seriously interested. But then I dedicated myself more and more to headphones instead of speakers (primarily due to a tinnitus, which is much better controllable through headphones). Unfortunately the Stevens & Billington design isn't suitable to headphones. I tried the ASL Reference tools, a cheap 4-step transformer, with my HD 650, but it has much too low efficiency to allow for sufficient volume level, at least with most recordings. After all it offered an impression of the transformer sound. And as promised, it's indeed somewhat more organic than the alternative 500-ohm potentiometer, which in turn is clearer and a tad more transparent and dynamic -- both connected to the line outs of McCormack UDP-1 and Bel Canto DAC2.

As I see it, in uncritical configurations a resistor-(potentiometer-)based attenuator is more true to the signal, at the expense of a certain coldness and analyticalness -- at least with all solid-state output stages I've tried. Which is where the merit of the transformer comes into play: Similar as an additional amplification stage (in the form a of an active preamp) it adds some friendly distortion to the signal (induced by the transformer cores), but in a less obvious kind and therefore maintaining most of the micro-information sacrificed by the active variant, possibly even enhancing it. Transformer-based attenuators are certainly an interesting field, and if I was more into speakers these days, I would experiment with one myself. But so far I think my 10-kOhm Alps potentiometer is unbeatable when it comes to mere accuracy, except for a stepped-attenuator solution -- which I had before, but swapped against the pot for comfort reasons, without essential loss in terms of sound quality.
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The "Music First" passive preamp works with S&B transformers and has received nothing but praise, also from more serious publications than 6moons.



http://www.mfaudio.co.uk/passive_pre.htm

They also do a step up transformer for MC cartridges:

http://www.mfaudio.co.uk/mcstepup.htm

I read somewhere that the next generation will be all silver wound (as opposed to copper wire)

NO Volume control is unless you are using a 20/5 watt ohm rheostat.The S&B Trafos like all other such devices is fully meant to "front" an active stage as a replacement for other methods of volume control.
There is much to recommend the method and not too many rerason not to other than cost

Thorsten Loesche's company.

He has not only been the major proponant of this method for a veeery long time,has not only posted his personal designs on the internet for all to see and copy (as I have) but from what I can tell works closely with S&B in the design stage of the actual raw parts (the trafos).
It is nice to see someone who has shared his designs freely for so long finally get a shot at some monetary returns for his valuable input to high end audio art.I hope he kicks a*s in the high end market just because

ASL are offering a device which more or less fits Jazz' description:



It costs $150. http://www.divertech.com/aslreferencetools.html


Edit: Just became aware that he actually mentioned that very thing. Well, at least there's a pic so ppl can see what we're talking about.

Nice to see a picture of the Reference Tools.

There is also a DIY kit that is very similar to the Music First passive amp for about half the price from www.diyhifisupply.com. I am constantly considering to order that soon but then postpone it because I am reasonably satisfied with what I have.