View Full Version : Stepped attenuators, passive preamps and TVCs
I'd be equally unable to design or build either of them, so cannot comment!
Never mind, I hear you're good at selfies.
Marco.
Tell you what Marco, for everyone contributing to this thread, there will be hundreds reading it. They will judge for themselves. So you'd better hope that your repeated smears, without a single scrap of evidence, go down well. I find that most people are pretty perceptive...
I thought you were away?
Like I said earlier: 'He who protesteth the most often has something to hide'.
Marco.
Never mind, I hear you're good at selfies.
Marco.
I've taken precisely one selfie, for my student card. It looks like it was taken in the twilight by someone with the DTs.
Yes, that's just artistic licence.
Marco.
I thought you were away?
Like I said earlier: 'He who protesteth the most often has something to hide'.
Marco.
I get it...you can attack me with a series of personal claims; but if I dare defend myself I have 'something to hide.' The more I defend myself, the more guilty I become! Great stuff from the forum owner. really classy.
Anyway, never mind that, when can I come and visit? :)
Marco.
Marco, people can disagree, that's normal, indeed it can be part of the fun. But when you start accusing them of being dishonest, of secretly supporting commercial interests, then things change.
If you knew me, you'd know how false those accusations are...and how much I cherish my independence of view. I would never lie, or distort, to serve any commercial interests.
Your problem is that you can't be both moderator of the forum and a highly opinionated 'member.' You can't be centre forward and the referee. Not if you value the long term health of your forum.
Lol - you're really comical, you know that? How often do you feel the need to say goodbye before you actually piss off? :D
I fully accept what you're saying, Pete, but it's simply not how you come across.
You come across as if you have an agenda. Mark also remarked on that. It's also how you are on pfm, and I've noticed others there pulling you up for the same thing. I can't help how the 'real you' doesn't seem to be the one we see. However, if you want to change that perception, then I suggest that you forget about me, and alter *your* attitude.
So is the trip off? I was rather looking forward to seeing Sussex.
Marco.
awkwardbydesign
09-09-2015, 22:35
Any chance we can get back to the subject of this thread? I was finding it interesting.
Indeed. Your wish is my command. Any further off-topic remarks will be removed. Looks like it's time to zip it now, Peter...
Marco.
Anyway, back on-topic. Personally I'd put the Goldpoint (shown here: http://www.goldpt.com/sa4.html), or Chris' LDR, up against any of these ridiculously priced passives, as the money has been spent where it matters, not on superfluous frippery, which for me is what it should be about.
Marco.
Just to throw up an alternative quality stepped attenuator I have used on my Aspen GK2 pre amp, how about the TKD C series. Details here, http://www.tkd-corp.com/products/att/pdf/type-cs-e.pdf My spec is the 2P65CS with 65dB max attenuation and 40 steps. I find the taper works really well to obtain any desired listening level. :)
TKD are fairly well known for high quality potentiometers as well but their stepped attenuators look like compact audio jewellery IMHO. Not cheap but they have good cred being used in the Lamm L2 Reference Preamp amongst others. With my setup, I also used some Naked Z foil TX2575 resistors for pre-attenuation as I had a bit more preamp gain than I needed and the combo provides a superb volume control. I'm not anti passive but I do prefer the sound of an active pre in my setup.:D
awkwardbydesign
10-09-2015, 08:13
Going back a bit, I'm confused by Marco's use of the word "gain". As in not wanting to alter the gain with an attenuator. Isn't that what any attenuator does? Or have I muddled my terms?
That was me earlier, Richard, unfortunately not expressing myself properly. Gain, of course, has nothing to do with it. What I meant was matching listening levels (in terms of loudness at any given point on the volume control) obtained between using my valve preamp and any passive device I bought.
Marco.
awkwardbydesign
10-09-2015, 10:13
Ah, now I understand! But on that, won't an active pre with gain always have a different setting from an attenuator with none? Although I bought additional transformers for my (basic) Promitheus TVC to add an optional 6dB of gain via the second set of output sockets. I don't use them at the mo, as it's not needed now.
Ah, now I understand! But on that, won't an active pre with gain always have a different setting from an attenuator with none?
Yup, which is why it was a daft thing to put. I now know better! :)
Marco.
Sovereign
11-09-2015, 09:29
Personally I'd put the Goldpoint (shown here: http://www.goldpt.com/sa4.html), or Chris' LDR, up against any of these ridiculously priced passives, as the money has been spent where it matters, not on superfluous frippery, which for me is what it should be about.
Marco.
I also made one of Chris' LDR pre amps, I made it dual mono design with dual power supplies. I have to say I love the immediacy it brings, speed and huge open audio window. I also have a Croft Epoch pre that I have always fancied tweaking the heck out of it and seeing how it compares to the LDR. So I plan to send my LDR pre amp to Jo (Black Adder) who has a seriously modified Croft and seeing what she thinks.......Watch this space.
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?36255-Building-a-new-reference-LDR-pre-amp
awkwardbydesign
11-09-2015, 09:37
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?36255-Building-a-new-reference-LDR-pre-amp[/url]
Now that will be interesting. I've never had any top line equipment for direct comparison, far too poor. Which is why I have usually built my own! Although it probably costs just as much in the end, at least my wife doesn't see big purchases. :D
The Black Adder
11-09-2015, 13:55
lol, ta, James ;)
Well, I'd be all to pleased to give you guys some feedback although my Croft is currently a bit poorly, so she's up with Glenn for a new valve base... lol - Poor fing.
Sovereign
11-09-2015, 14:03
My pre amp is even further away as its in New Zealand with Chris Daley, I guess it will be back with me in a couple of weeks:wave:
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