redddog:
I have heard some people say here (or was it homerecording.com I forget) that the Presonus wasn't entirely passive; however, after reading fairly detailed review on the Presonus I discovered it used resisters along with relays for attenuation. I guess it uses them in series , with an IC/firmware calculating which relays to turn on to get the appropriate volume attentuation. Seems better than the Goldpoint in that their series stepped attenuator can have up 24 resisters the signal goes through depending on volume level: e.g. at 50% volume level it is going through 12 resistors I believe. Whereas the presonus might only be going through 5 or 6 resisters. I dunno though.
Anyways, I have read here from a couple different people that have A/B's the Presonus to the Goldpoint and said the Goldpoint sounded much better. I don't know if this is accurate or not, but if it is perhaps the Presonus, even though it is using less resistors in series, might be using some other component in the signal path or cheaper relays or resistors? I'd really like to know how the Presonus "really" sounds as compared to a steppened attenuator like the Goldpoint. I need to decide on something soon.
Also, I have read here people recommending not to use the Presonus' remote volume control because the wires get extended to and from the unit going though another potentiameter, messing the signal. However, I find this hard to believe, after reading the detailed review. In the review it specified that the Presonus used resisters and relays for attenuation. This would then mean to me that the remote controller is just sending a digital signal to the IC controlling the presonus to activate the appropriate relays (just as the volume dial on the front also sends the same digital signal to it). Therefore, not in any way touching the analog signal. The remote must just be a digital controller similar to an IR remote; I no analog signals are going through it. So if anyone can clarify this, please let me know. =)
If there are any potentiameters in the signal path of the Presonus, I don't want it =P. Must be "stepped" for me. So if it has a *pure* resister/relay setup that would be what I would want (assuming it uses good resisters and relays of course). The following is a fairly recent DIY project on web I just found today which looks very nice (uses only resisters and relays .. nothing else in path.. no pots):
http://jos.vaneijndhoven.net/switchr http://jos.vaneijndhoven.net/switchr/design.html
Wonder how this sounds.
James