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Parasound's Hint 6's new volume control provides huge sonic advances?

Promotional language for the (relatively) new HINT 6 says this: "New Burr-Brown Volume Control:
The Parasound HINT 6 is packed full of technical advancements. The new, upgraded volume control replaces the original model's motorized potentiometer and sliding mechanical contacts with a Burr-Brown electronically controlled analog resistor ladder volume control. Technical advancements in the new volume control offer a more distinct sound stage by increasing the dynamic range, lowering the noise floor, improving left-right separation and maintaining absolute left-right channel tracking at any volume level."

I'm not a skeptic, but am trying to learn.

QUESTION: How does a volume control affect so many elements important to the sound?

I almost never look to the details of how an amplifier's volume control is designed. Is it this important?
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georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The Lightspeed Attenuator, made by George, was probably the best volume control I have had in my system.
Thanks for the rap.

 
Im not sure why it isn’t still talked about and used by some of you
Haven't sent one out of Australia since the start of Covid Feb, we shut down with the "Covid thing" very early with imported/exports parts to make them with, and with the export of the final product.
I still won't send one OS as the last one took 4mts to get to the new owner in the US, he was happy in the end but quite upset during the delay.

Cheers George     
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,277 posts
 
NP George.  Still to this day I think your pre’s are the best sounding pre for that kind of $ and I love the idea of no bs straight signal idea.  It worked very well with my Classe CA150, my Classe CA250 and parasound z dac.  
The Lightspeed just got out of the way and I had no issues what so ever with dynamics or lack of meat on the bones, per se.  


nutty
2,906 posts
 
I'd like to offer a different take on the volume mechanism. I am a huge fan of Ayre Acoustics. They have developed the VTG - Variable Gain Transdonductance Volume Control for their preamps. No resistors in the signal path. Silver to silver self cleaning contacts. Very high tech. I do own the Ayre C-X7eMP and the K-5xeMP and love them! However I have a local Ayre dealer in Cincinnati, OH. and have listened to much of Ayre's equipment over the years. 

Ayre has begun doing zoom videos with three their top technicians where they have a cold beer and discuss different aspects of their gear. I've attached a link to the newest on their top line volume controls. 

https://youtu.be/HR414rhDmQM

N

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
No resistors in the signal path.


Must have something? Unless it uses the constant (high) "output resistance" of the stage before the volume as part of a divider to get shunted to ground.

Cheers George
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Reading an Ayre VGT circuit description here
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/90-ayre-acoustics-kx-r-preamplifier-and-mx-r-mono-amplifiers in the paragraph that begins "First, in a traditional preamplifier, " it sounds like they have an input buffer before a gain stage that follows the level control. YAWN.

If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh!t.
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