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Originally Posted by just.sounds  But what i do believe is that some analog stages react better to a trafo attenuator than a resistor based one.
But i'm up for the challenge. If you can provide a sample of a piece of music raw and with a trafo attenuator in a loop with a much used converter like a digi192 or Lynx aurora clocked internal. I can do the same with my resistor network (wich is fully balanced) with buffer amp (and maybe without if you would really like) and we can hear the difference! |
You likely know this, but just to clarify a bit for the thread's sake (and sorry Jeffrey for the slight detour) -- these TVCs are simply used for voltage conversion and impedance transformation, without power/heat losses. Easy loads on source/target combination. Each tap is wired to a separate switch terminal. There is no hum, no ground loop noise. A black background. Completely open and fast sound.
In contrast to resistors/pots which vary power by changing both voltage and current via losing electrical energy to heat. And causing impedance mismatches and frequency response variations along the way. I see you have a buffer amp, and think that is probably a good idea.
I don't design them but these guys and others do:
Stevens & Billington Intact Promitheus Sowter
There is starting to be lots of information out there on transformer volume controls, several high end audio designers are using them in their 'preamps' now. I bought a fairly basic lower cost single-ended model, easily sounds better (or rather, doesn't sound) than the active/resistor/pot devices I have used.
But you are right, as with any passive attenuator, the specific characteristics of the source and target, plus cable construction and length, will determine just how well *any* passive devices will work in a given system. With my Lavry DA going to Bel Canto power amp with Teflon Belden cables it is an easy match. As it likely is with most modern converters and amps.
I have recorded loops with other resistor/pot controllers and been planning to do it for this new TVC. But the only ADDA converter I have now is Lavry Blue so don't know if you can get access to one of those. And it ideally should be done using broad spectrum generic sustained tones at various levels. But music can probably serve
Steve