Goldpoint SA4M-47 passive 'preamp' winging its way to Marco Towers...

[awkwardbydesign]

If I understand it correctly, what you now have is a high quality switch, with a pair of "better" series resistors, plus the original shunt resistors and all their original solder joints and pcb track?
All of which can have an effect on the sound, so separating out their influences will be tricky. I don't say impossible, just difficult. Switches in particular can make quite a difference. And believing the shunt components are out of the signal path could get you into trouble; look at the effect cathode resistors can have, and the equalising L,C and R shunt parts in my speaker crossover have to be the best I can afford, or they mess with the sound!
And your passive attenuator may sound better at a lower setting because there are less parts in the shunt path. With a TVC, for one example, there is less in the signal path at higher settings.
Just something to consider if you are trying to understand why it sounds better.

[Marco]

Yup, thanks for that, Richard. I get where you're coming from and agree, especially with this bit:

And your passive attenuator may sound better at a lower setting because there are less parts in the shunt path.

That and the fact that, as Alan says:

So at position 47 on the dial (max volume) there will be 47 resistors in series making up the Y arm of the attenuator. Each click down from max will remove one of these resistors from the chain.

...there are more resistors in line with the signal, the more the volume is turned up, makes me want to achieve my preferred listening levels lower down, not higher up on the dial! I don't want to be cranking it up past 12 noon, unless I'm playing back music recorded at a very low level, as it will sound WORSE.

That's an important point to remember, and is why I've chosen 20K series resistors, precisely to obtain that effect. In that respect, most of my listening will be carried out between 1 and 10 on the dial

Marco.

[awkwardbydesign]

...there are more resistors in line with the signal, the more the volume is turned up, makes me want to achieve my preferred listening levels lower down, not higher up on the dial!

That's an important point to remember, and is why I've chosen 20K series resistors, in order to obtain that effect

Marco.

I think he meant in parallel (shunt) with the signal, rather than in line (series). This what I meant about the difficulty in understanding exactly what is having a particular effect!

[tubehunter]

No Alan is correct

The GP is a series attenuator not a shunt type originally.

I've connected the in and outputs to ground and connected the original ground to the output side of the z series resistor.

Creating a shunt type attenuator.

Happy days

[Marco]

I think he meant in parallel (shunt) with the signal, rather than in line (series). This what I meant about the difficulty in understanding exactly what is having a particular effect!

Lol - I'm confused now (not difficult when it comes to these things), but regardless, I'm entirely satisfied that I've gone the right route! One listen to my system now confirms that

Anyway, Duncan has also now confirmed that Alan's earlier outlining of what's going on is correct. As I suspected, he also said that he's uncertain about the resistors in 'Y' affecting sound quality, and that the jury is still out on that!

Marco.

[Marco]

No Alan is correct

The GP is a series attenuator not a shunt type

Ha - you beat me to it, mate!

Marco.

[Marco]

Lol - I've just noted your edit:

The GP is a series attenuator not a shunt type originally.

I've connected the in and outputs to ground and connected the original ground to the output side of the x series resistor.

Creating a shunt type attenuator.

Happy days

Indeed... I'm dancing with joy because my system sounds fooking amazing!!

Marco.

[awkwardbydesign]

Oh for heaven's sake! Someone draw me a circuit diagram of what it was, and what it is now! All these words are giving me a headache, I have a wife for that!

[Marco]

Just been having a further think about this:

I think he meant in parallel (shunt) with the signal, rather than in line (series).

Even if that's the case, and *if* the shunt resistors [illustrated in the 'Y' arm of the diagram] do influence the sound (and I suspect they do to some degree), then it still makes sense to have my preferred listening levels located at the lower end of the dials [1 to 10], than further on, for the very reason you're referring to, and in terms of the point Alan was making.

Marco.

[Marco]

In other news, according to Chris, I'll soon have an LDR winging its way to me, so it'll be very interesting hearing how that compares with the Goldpoint (and Croft)... Nice to have so many good choices!

Marco.