Cable attenuators - PC to amp

[dave2010]

Recently I heard a presentation of some music played on a PC through an amp. At one point this was terrible, and eventually I pointed out that the levels on the amp needed to be up, and the volume levels on the PC needed to be down.

The input overload distortion was considerable before this, and only slight afterwards.

Many people don't understand this, and while not exactly "hi-fi", they make systems sound far worse than necessary because of their lack of knowledge.

I assume the output from the laptop PC was via the headphone socket. It occurs to me that the problem could at least have been made less likely if there are attenuation cables for linking PCs to amps. This would not be an excuse for ignorance, but might actually be helpful, as presumably a 3-6dB attenuation (maybe even 10 dB) would make it much harder for the PC to drive the amp into input overload distortion.

Alternative "solutions" to this problem based on DA converters, various digital cables etc. would cost more, and almost certainly not be taken up by punters who only do this kind of connection infrequently.

Are there any ready made attenuator cables for this purpose available cheaply?

PS: I think the cables need to be around 4 metres long. Presumably an easy DIY job for anyone with knowledge, but many people might simply want an off-the shelf solution, say £9 from an Amazon seller!

PPS: A cheap audio attenuator box, if such exists, might also be acceptable.

[johnwhit]

Recently I heard a presentation of some music played on a PC through an amp. At one point this was terrible, and eventually I pointed out that the levels on the amp needed to be up, and the volume levels on the PC needed to be down.

The input overload distortion was considerable before this, and only slight afterwards.

Many people don't understand this, and while not exactly "hi-fi", they make systems sound far worse than necessary because of their lack of knowledge.

I assume the output from the laptop PC was via the headphone socket. It occurs to me that the problem could at least have been made less likely if there are attenuation cables for linking PCs to amps. This would not be an excuse for ignorance, but might actually be helpful, as presumably a 3-6dB attenuation (maybe even 10 dB) would make it much harder for the PC to drive the amp into input overload distortion.

Alternative "solutions" to this problem based on DA converters, various digital cables etc. would cost more, and almost certainly not be taken up by punters who only do this kind of connection infrequently.

Are there any ready made attenuator cables for this purpose available cheaply?

PS: I think the cables need to be around 4 metres long. Presumably an easy DIY job for anyone with knowledge, but many people might simply want an off-the shelf solution, say £9 from an Amazon seller!

PPS: A cheap audio attenuator box, if such exists, might also be acceptable.

I believe Russ Andrews does attenuated cables, but they won't be cheap. He certainly does attenuated Kimber PBJ's as I've seen them. I sometimes attenuate the output of my CDP depending on the recording, I can go to -12db.

John

[dave2010]

I believe Russ Andrews does attenuated cables, but they won't be cheap. He certainly does attenuated Kimber PBJ's as I've seen them. I sometimes attenuate the output of my CDP depending on the recording, I can go to -12db.

John
Some firms offer phono plug style attenuators - such as:

http://www.goldenjacks.com/ (may be £24 plus shipping)

http://www.ekmpowershop16.com/ekmps/shops/rothwellaudio/in-line-attenuators-2-p.asp Rothwell - about £40 - delivery in UK probably free.

I wonder if there are switched attenuator boxes available?

PS: There are so called "passive preamps" - seem more like attenuators to me - and some are expensive (ludicrously so?).
There are some here - http://www.goldpt.com/sa2.html

http://www.goldpt.com/

At that price some of us would consider getting the soldering iron out for a DIY job.

[Peter Stockwell]

Flashback can make attenuated cables, if required.

[UV101]

See here :D

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showpost.php?p=413003

[dave2010]

See here :D

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showpost.php?p=413003
Thanks. I was rather thinking that a bag of cheap carbon resistors from Maplin would be good enough for my purposes. It might introduce a small balance error between left and right channels, and the more accurate resistors would minimise this chance, but since the main point is to reduce the chance of input overload distortion which would have far greater deleterious effect I'll probably do that first.

You may be right that once the resistor values have been checked (the calculations in the page you linked to are correct - I checked with a spreadsheet) and tested, that using better quality resistors could be worthwhile.

I suppose it depends on whether one can get the exact values easily and cheaply. If the store is near by this should be simple, but mail order may mean that the cost of delivery exceeds the item cost considerably. I think that 5% tolerance wouldn't be a disaster.

[Reffc]

I now make attenuated Interconnects using high quality low noise metal film resistors, quality Furutech coax OFC cable and high quality gold plated locking RCA connectors. £60 to £65 depending on resistors used (ie attenuation needed) per stereo metre which is a bargain IMHO!

Attenuation levels offered are from -10dB to -23dB.

Happy to help if I can.