2. amps-preamps
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amplifier with volume control

I began my journey with an active preamp then switched to a placette passive which was more transparent but sucked the life out of my system (but I was using longer interconnects to monoblocks).  I have one source (a computer with a usb dac) and am now running direct to my amplifier which sounds much better than my previous 2 configurations. I am using a digital volume control and my thought is to change to an amp with a built in volume control - like an audion - or have a tech install one on my amplifier. My question is how is an amp with a volume control different - if at all- from a passive (simple pot in a box) connected with short interconnects to an amplifier?       thank you
majorc
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
I would hope that, all things being equal, that having the attenuator built into the amp would be an improvement over a separate passive box with the additional interconnect.
Nope. Bypassed many an input level control in studio amplifiers because they are redundant and color the sound.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
I keep forgetting that if you have a cheap passive with some suspect pot, all bets are off.

In the studio I used channel matched Penny & Giles. Don't recall the cost but it was a lot.

For my last HiFi stepped passive built a few years back, silver contact switches, precision, matched low inductance resistors, high quality internal interconnect and top flight connectors.
mglik
908 posts
 
I used to be the one US dealer for the British TVC company Music First. Transformer Volume Control done to a high level with Stevens and Billington transformers. The Reference-$18k, Baby Reference-$8k and Silver-$10k are excellent. Especially the Silver. Surely, the transparency and clarity are superb. The Reference tranny uses about a mile of copper wire!
However, now use a top line Atma-Sphere MP-1. There is no comparison between great TVC and great active. The best TVC sounds threadbare. Only a great active preamp creates great music.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The best TVC sounds threadbare.
The Music First Reference tranny uses about a mile of copper wire!
And that’s the problem with TVC’s the mile of thin wire, they ring are coloured to the max, nowhere near transparent, even less transparent than active preamps.
A good passive kills them, and direct source to amp is even better, if they aren’t "bit stripping"

Cheers George
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 
I'll second the van alstine set 120...great reviews...I think I'll try one for sh*ts and giggles....
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