I installed the Academy Audio Muses digital volume control in the line stage. It had a Goldpoint 50k stepped attenuators. Now there is a difference -
the unit is really more transparent and refined. But I would like to know why this is so. I installed the kit for the remote convenience even without a led display. It is easy to install just replace 2 resistors connect and ready to go. Recommended.
the unit is really more transparent and refined. But I would like to know why this is so. I installed the kit for the remote convenience even without a led display. It is easy to install just replace 2 resistors connect and ready to go. Recommended.
In your case there is only little chance the input and output impedances of the different volume controls played a significant role.
That leaves us with the quality of the volume control itself. Resistors and contacts on one side, integrated resistors in a chip with electronic active switching on the other. I have never tried the MUSES but it seems you enjoyed a plus vs old school step attenuator.
The MUSES chip has its resistors on the same substrat and they are therefore perfectly matched, drift in a similar way vs temp, a kind of matching that is more difficult to obtain with usual resistors, not mentioning signal path length, soldering points etc.
Matching though would rather count for perfect log steps and canal matching rather than pure sonic quality, so the MUSES chip seem to have better sounding (to your ears) resistors in the chip than the ones in your Goldpoint (were these SMDs BTW?).
Another point worth mentioning is the contact /switch: solid vs electronic, suprised it could make a huge difference as the Goldpoint is reputed VG in terms of contact, privided it is a genuine one (don't know about Chinese copies).
On the potential downsides the MUSES is active, so eventhough you don't use its active output stage (I presume so!), it seems your PS (and the chip) does the job well.
Enjoy, whatever the cause
Claude
That leaves us with the quality of the volume control itself. Resistors and contacts on one side, integrated resistors in a chip with electronic active switching on the other. I have never tried the MUSES but it seems you enjoyed a plus vs old school step attenuator.
The MUSES chip has its resistors on the same substrat and they are therefore perfectly matched, drift in a similar way vs temp, a kind of matching that is more difficult to obtain with usual resistors, not mentioning signal path length, soldering points etc.
Matching though would rather count for perfect log steps and canal matching rather than pure sonic quality, so the MUSES chip seem to have better sounding (to your ears) resistors in the chip than the ones in your Goldpoint (were these SMDs BTW?).
Another point worth mentioning is the contact /switch: solid vs electronic, suprised it could make a huge difference as the Goldpoint is reputed VG in terms of contact, privided it is a genuine one (don't know about Chinese copies).
On the potential downsides the MUSES is active, so eventhough you don't use its active output stage (I presume so!), it seems your PS (and the chip) does the job well.
Enjoy, whatever the cause
Claude
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