Rothwell attenuator question
The output of my CD player is a bit too high for my integrated amp meaning the volume control on the amp only works over a small range before being too loud. I am led to believe this may be causing some distortion to the music, although that is not immediately obvious.
The general recommendation is to use in-line attenuators like Rothwell, but I have a spare passive volume control that I could put in line before the integrated. Is there anything that I should be aware of with this approach? This would only be a temporary fix but it might give me a handle on whether permanent changes are needed.
Source
SW1X Universal Music Server UMS I Signature with Power Supply Unit PSU I Signature
SW1X USB II
SW1X DAC III Special
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport
Amps
Pre amps -- Hi fi Collective twin mono ladder stepped attenuator, with Charcroft Z-foil and silver wired. And First Watt B1 active no gain buffer.
Power amps -- Welborne 45 SET monoblocks 1.8W / Decware Taboo 6W / Elekit 300B TU-8600SVK plus further improved components 9W / ICE Power 1000W
Speakers
Highly modified Endorphin P17 open baffle speakers containing both vintage and modern alnico drivers and paper cones. All silver wired - 8" Cube Audio FC8 full range drivers and vintage 15" Altec VOTT 416 bass drivers. All sat on Townsend Audio Podium seismic isolation platforms.
BK Electronics XLS400FF Sub.
Cabling
Silver mains cables, interconnects and speaker cables by SW1X
Headphones
HRT HeadStreamer and SennHeiser HD650 headphones