evilcthul
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If you're going to spend that much and don't mind stepped volume controls, why not get a Transformer Volume Control?
For my *final* amp, how important is a stepped attenuator?
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zzz
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tkd can still be had for about $270-$280 from percy and used to cost about $250 from taiwan. don't know what the price there is like now.
s&b volume transformers are $200 a piece (2 for stereo) + ~$100 for switch + soldering 80 wires onto a small switch. only 20 steps (0, -3, -6, -8, -10, -12, -14, -16, -18, -20, -22, -24, -26, -28, -30, -32, -34, -40 & -46 dB), though if one goes through the pain of making such thing, adjusting the gain of an amp to hit the sweet spot should be considered a trivial operation. according to the specs I've seen, these transformers get brighter with rising attenuation.
s&b volume transformers are $200 a piece (2 for stereo) + ~$100 for switch + soldering 80 wires onto a small switch. only 20 steps (0, -3, -6, -8, -10, -12, -14, -16, -18, -20, -22, -24, -26, -28, -30, -32, -34, -40 & -46 dB), though if one goes through the pain of making such thing, adjusting the gain of an amp to hit the sweet spot should be considered a trivial operation. according to the specs I've seen, these transformers get brighter with rising attenuation.
evilcthul
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zzz
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it's the same thing (s&b transformers, seiden [not shalco as I said before] switch), only with a chassis and in kit form.
evilcthul
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True, but it's easier to put together in kit form and looks reasonably good etc...
If you're crazy I think there are also Silver Rock silver wire TVCs but the price on those is exciting to say the least.
If you're crazy I think there are also Silver Rock silver wire TVCs but the price on those is exciting to say the least.
sacd lover
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Since we are talking stepped attenuators and some of the issues with gain matching, check out the in-line attenuator thread started by Orpheus in the tweaks section. This looks like just what we need to curb the high output on our sources or preamps.
tom hankins
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sacd lover: Your the 2cnd person today to lead me to that thread. It's good. Rega's here.
pigmode
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I have direct experience with a DACT 2/alps conversion, and have had steps in other components in the past.
A DACT2 will not make a good amp awesome, and the lack of it will not make an awesome amp good. It's an incremental tweak. IMO, the steps will fubar you no matter what optimizations you make. That recording are mastered at varying levels practically assures this.
The last thing I would worry about is steps vs. pots. Parts quality, topology, and power supply are what matter most.
A DACT2 will not make a good amp awesome, and the lack of it will not make an awesome amp good. It's an incremental tweak. IMO, the steps will fubar you no matter what optimizations you make. That recording are mastered at varying levels practically assures this.
The last thing I would worry about is steps vs. pots. Parts quality, topology, and power supply are what matter most.
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