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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?
128x128hilde45
lemonhaze
416 posts
 
Then there is the system employed in 'The Truth' where there are no capacitors, resistors nor potentiometer in the signal path except for the photocell. I have built line-stages using the very good DACT pot and Guido Tent's switched relay system which is also very good with accurate channel tracking etc. but The Truth reveals the two systems mentioned to colour the sound. It is simply the cleanest way to control volume that I have heard. The improvement over the DACT is much greater than the DACT is over other pots like Noble or Alps

The much lower noise floor produces detail I did not know was there. Of course everything else is improved. Imaging, bass weight, huge dynamics and overall clarity and purity of notes. Terence Blanchard's trumpet is now awesome.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
Photocells are semiconductors & thermally sensitive.

It is very difficult to ascribe sonic purity to a particular attenuation method as the surrounding circuitry and packaging all affect the sound.
lemonhaze
416 posts
 
@ieales, you state: Photocells are semiconductors & thermally sensitive. So what exactly are you saying? You saying I don't or shouldn't prefer the photocell system?

In all your above posts you have criticised whatever has been mentioned, so please tell us what perfect attenuation you use.


ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
In all your above posts you have criticised whatever has been mentioned, so please tell us what perfect attenuation you use.
There is no perfect attenuation.

I use a self designed and built for my gear discrete matched 1% resistor silver contact stepped 0 to -22dB attenuator. Maximum 1dB step error is 0.05dB. L/R tracking is nearly perfect.
http://ielogical.com/assets/Audio/PassiveLC1.png & http://ielogical.com/assets/Audio/LC1.png

It may suck everywhere but here.

All pieces affect and are affected by to what they are connected.

There is no free lunch.
drowe
34 posts
 
For me, the real improvement in the volume control in the Hint 6 (and the companion P6 preamp) is the numeric readout in the display. I can't stand preamps or integrateds with no readout, those which use a little light dot on the dial to indicate volume. 
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