2. amps-preamps
  3. 1026061997

Matching preamp inputs.

I run a Rotel 940 AX tuner and a Bel Canto DAC-1 into my Cary SLP-98 preamp. When I am listening to the tuner I have difficulty with fine adjustment of the volume. Microscopic turns of the control produce large changes in volume. I have no such difficulty with the DAC. It would seem that the solution would be:

1) Get a tuner that is better matched to the preamp.

2) Attenuate the tuner output using a passive preamp or some sort of in-line attenuator.

I don't want to go option 1 because I live in an area with really bad reception and I don't want to spend a lot of money just for listening to the news on NPR. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can get better control of the tuner volume with a minimum of expense?
Thanks.
abysmillard
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
You can also look for an Onkyo Integra T4017, T4087, or T9090 tuner. They all have a variable output adjustment knob on the back.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
As did my old NAD 1155...
tom_nice
387 posts
 
If you can solder, you could build a fixed attenuation network (one for each channel) either into an interconnect cable to be used with the tuner or inside the tuner. At a guess, you might try an 8K ohm resistor in series followed by a 2K ohm resistor to ground. You could try this just by holding the resistors in one of the tuner's RCA jacks and touching them appropriately to the pin and shell of an IC going to the preamp. Or solder together a little external network with RCA jacks. Much cheaper than buying a passive preamp, and it will sound better too, if you get it right.

Your DIY cable might not be a great IC, but I take it that you don't have much quality to lose in your FM sound.
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