How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
- karatestu
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How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
A question for all users of stepped attenuators, especially NVA users.
I was wondering how many steps on your stepped attenuators that you regularly use for everyday domestic listening and which ones - start, middle or end of the range ? Are there a significant number of steps that you don't use ?
Many thanks, Stu
I was wondering how many steps on your stepped attenuators that you regularly use for everyday domestic listening and which ones - start, middle or end of the range ? Are there a significant number of steps that you don't use ?
Many thanks, Stu
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- Fretless
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
In my NVA system the P50sa has (I think) 20 steps of which I really only use steps 6 - 10 with A40's and Cube 3's.
But I do tend to listen at fairly low levels in a smallish room.
But I do tend to listen at fairly low levels in a smallish room.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
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- Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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- karatestu
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
Thanks Fretless.
I too don't play very loud and have a small room so probably wont get anywhere near the last steps.
Stu
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- Dr Bunsen Honeydew
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
You will regret not having them.
- CN211276
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
I use all the steps between around 10 o'clock and 3 o'clock, depending on how loud I want the music and if no one else is in the house. The listening area is quite small. The DAC output is set at 2v.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
- karatestu
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
Thanks CN. My CDP also has a 2V maximum output.
Thanks for the warning. I am in two minds now. Thing is i only use a small part of the volume control now and i know that i will use more of it when i go to passive from my 3x gain active stage at the moment. Still, i cant see myself using the very highest resistor values. It all depends on the phono really i.e cartridge output and gain of phono 1. Trying them is the only way i suppose. I could always add more or alter resistor values if for example moved houses and the room became very much larger.
The thing that attracts me to building my own is that i can choose the values at each step. Some people's only complaint about stepped attenuators is that sometimes there is too much volume increase between steps. There are lots of resistor values in between the values used at HFC. I could give my self a finer control in my most used volume "area". Also having kids and people in the house some times i dont want the volume to be able to play too loud. If i limit the values to as loud as it will ever need to be then there is little chance of my kiddies or any one else sending my amps in to clipping or thermal runaway. A built in kid / idiot safety device if you like No blown amps or melted voice coils
Stu
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
I don't use anything past 1 o'clock on my P90SA.
- Hemmo1969
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
I use maybe 4 or 5 steps of the P50sa.... for both vinyl and digital use the range between 9 and 12 o'clock.
- karatestu
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Re: How manysteps on your stepped attenuator do you regularly use ?
Thanks George and Hemmo.
Having put a 10k in the series and 200R in the shunt position I am getting a better handle on this now.
I am having to think about the different recording levels of different CD's. Old Blue Note recordings have a lower level than this Chemical Brothers CD I have just put on. And it is good to hear from users that use vinyl as well as digital. I have a suspicion that most will have the attenuator further around the dial to get the same volume.
Stu
Having put a 10k in the series and 200R in the shunt position I am getting a better handle on this now.
I am having to think about the different recording levels of different CD's. Old Blue Note recordings have a lower level than this Chemical Brothers CD I have just put on. And it is good to hear from users that use vinyl as well as digital. I have a suspicion that most will have the attenuator further around the dial to get the same volume.
Stu
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