Why do we need attenuation?

[terrybooth]

The volume control, why?

You don't get it with live music. You might wear earplugs took a rock concert, but that's all about amplification and, more likely, noise.

If you have a theoretical perfect source, why do you need to change it?

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

It is just voltage, how much do you want. Do you want to go deaf and have your ears bleeding as happens to some musicians and roadies. If you are taking about acoustic instruments, well under normal circumstances if the level is recorded at line level and 0db gain then there is no need in your domestic environment to have less, then no need to control levels, but I doubt that would be a normal situation.

[terrybooth]

I'm talking about domestic hi-fi and line level inputs and passive preamps I think.

I'm thinking that a passive preamp does source switching and input attenuation, but, assuming for a moment that you need only one input there only reason I can think of for meeting attenuation ideas that the line input levels would produce dangerous output volume levels.

I've been playing at zero attenuation all evening and it sounds good so far.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Do what sounds best.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

I think the lack of understanding here is that a volume control is attenuation.

[Lurcher300b]

You don't get it with live music.

But you do. Look at any live desk. That row of sliders along the bottom, they are all attenuators. Each of the amps on stage and in the PA will have one or more volume control. In the case of a guitar amp often three one after the other. Even for acoustic music, the players will play louder or quieter depending on the venue and crowd size.

[terrybooth]

You don't get it with live music.

But you do. Look at any live desk. That row of sliders along the bottom, they are all attenuators. Each of the amps on stage and in the PA will have one or more volume control. In the case of a guitar amp often three one after the other. Even for acoustic music, the players will play louder or quieter depending on the venue and crowd size.

Sorry, should have been a bit clearer. As the listener at a live event, I don't have much control of volume levels other than moving around the auditorium or sticking something in my ears. What is presented to a domestic hi-fi as line level, I'm assuming , is a product of that ( of the studio equivalent) and the volume has already been tempered to a safe level (again an assumption) so why do we need to add gain or attenuation if we want accurate transcription of what has been recorded?

[terrybooth]

I think the lack of understanding here is that a volume control is attenuation.

Very probably. But I can't understand how a passive volume control can do anything but attenuate a signal (I probably need to remember my physics).

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

I think you have confused us with your wording. *I think* you are saying you can listen to a source with the volume full up. Well that is just chance, you will get others that make you run for the volume control, as I said it is just a question of voltage.

[slinger]

My neighbours don't wish to live next door to a series of rock concerts.
Sometimes it's good to listen quietly; while reading for instance.