Audible Ilusions Preamp

I believe I saw an ad for a 3A which said it was just before the current version and it had a non-stepped volume.I may be wrong about this confusing it with another piece but it is possible there are some out there with a continuous control.Think it may be worth a call to AI and ask.

One of the more musical systems that I have put together consisted of an AI 3A and L1, a McCormack DNA-1 dlx, CAL Icon Mk II, and ACI Sapphire III / Sub 1. The A3 had non-stepped volume controls, and as I recall 10 - 11 o'clock was the upper limit. The L1 has a master volume for both channels, and a volume control for each channel that allows gain to be adjusted. However, I found the 3A to be the better sounding preamp. Better transparency, and a more holograhic soundstage.

Have you thought of replacing the stepped attenuator with one with smaller steps? Does the preamp have a balance control? If so, you could take it and the present volume control out and put in dual mono ladder stepped attenuators with steps any size you want them--just less range if the steps are small. I could tell you how to calculate the resistor values for steps of 1 db, say--or whatever size you want. Maybe Arn Roatcap of Goldpoint (www.goldpt.com) would make you a pair of Elma ladder attenuators for this purpose. It might be more sensible than selling the preamp.