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stepped attenuators

Stepped attenuators are new to me and I must say that I'm impressed. I recently acquired a new Burson PI-160 and it leaves the older unit (which I have) in the dust. Burson says that the signal is at its weakest when going through the volume control and tried and tossed out a remote in favor of the attenuator. I can see why. I have all the detail, dynamics, nuance, tone, sound stage, etc. at lower settings that I no longer have to crank it for things to get lively. Its like each setting is all that Burosn intended (hardwired, if you will) allowing all the signal to come through undistorted. I know there's more to this unit than the volume control but I feel it must have a huge influence on the sound quality.
How do you feel about them?
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rcprince
3,070 posts
 
T_bone--that really is an early one! They did change over time, not only did they become stepped attenuators, but they also replaced the balance control by using a separate attenuator for each channel, which is a better way of doing balance between channels in my view. I recall visiting Victor Goldstein when he was still the US importer of Jadis, and he showed me the version of the attenuators they used in the JP80 after the one I got, they were actually set up so you could turn both of them with just one knob (you could operate them separately by pulling out one of the knobs). It was a very large and elaborate assembly. You might check with Jadis to see if they have someone in Japan (I think that's where you live, if I recall) who could replace your volume/balance control with a current one, though the price was not cheap even when Victor was showing it to me.
mitch2
3,976 posts
 
Rgs92, simply order a pair of Rothwell in-line attenuators for 10dB attenuation - they come in either rca or XLR versions. I would place them between your preamp and amp - at the input to your amplifier. There are a couple of reviews you can google.

Regarding stepped attenuators, I have had several on preamps I have owned over the years and greatly prefer these discrete resistor volume controls to the rather inexpensive and not very accurate Alps volume pot. Unfortunately, even manufacturers of expensive preamps use the Alps because it is the least expensive and easiest method of implementing remote volume control. More recently, there are manufacturers offering relay activated discrete resistor volume controls that are set up for remote operation.

For those replacing a pot with a discrete resistor stepped attenuator, I would stick with the same impedance value but you could change the gain. I believe Goldpoint offers this option by adding a single resistor to their stepped attenuators. Check out the Goldpoint website or call them for more info. Also, the Bent Audio guy and others now offer motorized options for DACT and Goldpoint attenuators that might be worth checking out if you need a remote. Like G_m_c, the first to respond to this thread, I am very happy wiht the DACT attenuator in my TEAD Vibe preamp.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
What Mitch2 said.
rgs92
974 posts
 
Preamp: Apex Pinnacle (a combination preamp & headphone amp).
The Rothwells didn't sound too good to me.
The Goldenjacks are somewhat better, but still are not for me. They mush images together and take away some of the (very valuable) roundedness and palpability of images that I find with high end tube preamps. They just flatten things.
I had a similar thread here and I apologize for taking up the commenters' time if they tried to help me out before.

It seems that outboard attenuators in any form affect the purity, texture, and image density found in a high end preamp with high end ICs.
(At least that's what I am finding).
No free lunch.
I have no problem with stepped attenuators as long as there are enough steps.
Thanks for everyone's help.
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