Fixed and variable outputs

Jul 11, 2009 at 5:30 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 4

dex85

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hi, i understand the fixed outputs are preferred from cd player/dac when there are means to control volume by other equipment in chain like amp, pre-amp, etc...

on the other hand, lets say cd player has both fixed and variable unbalanced outputs - would there be any difference between fixed output and variable at 0 db? anything that could result in different sound?
 
Jul 11, 2009 at 5:56 PM Post #2 of 4
Quote:

Originally Posted by dex85 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
hi, i understand the fixed outputs are preferred from cd player/dac when there are means to control volume by other equipment in chain like amp, pre-amp, etc...

on the other hand, lets say cd player has both fixed and variable unbalanced outputs - would there be any difference between fixed output and variable at 0 db? anything that could result in different sound?



The only difference I can think of off the top of my head would be the load seen by the CD player's output.

For the fixed output, the load it sees will be whatever it's connected to.

For the variable output at 0dB, it will see the resistance of the pot it's using for attenuation in parallel with the load it's connected to.

However depending on how the CD's outputs are wired up, that may be the case for both the fixed and variable outputs, i.e. if the fixed output is tied to the top of the pot and the variable output is taken from the wiper.

k
 
Jul 12, 2009 at 6:52 AM Post #3 of 4
thanks. is it safe to say that resistance of the pot shouldn't degrade sound in any meaningful way? i've heard people saying that bad implemented variable outputs could butcher the sound, so i was wondering what could be the reason of it (besides traditional audiophile paranoid talk
biggrin.gif
)
 
Jul 12, 2009 at 7:09 AM Post #4 of 4
Quote:

Originally Posted by dex85 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
thanks. is it safe to say that resistance of the pot shouldn't degrade sound in any meaningful way? i've heard people saying that bad implemented variable outputs could butcher the sound, so i was wondering what could be the reason of it (besides traditional audiophile paranoid talk
biggrin.gif
)



Should be ok at 0dB (i.e. no attenuation).

k
 

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