Just curious.
Context: I don't really need a preamp for my system. Everything has high enough output (and drive current) that a passive attenuator is all I need. I can even bring the gain down a bit on the output of my sources. Would it make the most sense to let the line-level signals pass unattenuated to the amp and attenuate with transformers between the amp and speakers?
I've read about vol pots before, in and after a preamp circuit. I have read about tvcs in the same location. I have mocked up different scenarios and can't hear a difference (that I can't rationalize as psycho-perceptual). Even with quality transformers vs quality preamp/pot (or even resistor based stepped, series, pass shunt, etc), I think most would agree (and has been well documented) that given the perfect storm of drive current and voltage amplification, no attenuation has the most merit in terms of maintaining electrical headroom, matching impedance between devices, inserting as little noise as possible, etc.
Is attenuation after the amp a better option? Could be a transformer or resistor based attenuator. Could be talking about ones used for whole-house distribution. It could also be high end esoteric. Consider merits of circuit physics only.
I have used light-dependent resistors in preamp circuits, but couldn't get the devices to match enough (always ate at me as I listened) and don't want to buy 5oo of them to test and sort. If I could easily get some that are matched, I might consider using them at the preamp level. However, they still present as resistors when providing any attenuation. Super easy to implement in any number of schemes with an Arduino controller, however. Active volume control with digital or analog opamps isn't really an option as I'm looking for less, not more.
System:
Rod Elliot zen pre-amp as the output on my cd player (among others);Pass Labs aleph clone used in balanced config, 22k input impedance; Theil cs2 speakers.
The amp might run a bit cooler with the input at max as more dissipation through the speakers and less through the heatsinks. If I recall from when I built it many years ago, it is a constant current sink. Any reason this would stress out the amp any more with the transformer on the output?
Context: I don't really need a preamp for my system. Everything has high enough output (and drive current) that a passive attenuator is all I need. I can even bring the gain down a bit on the output of my sources. Would it make the most sense to let the line-level signals pass unattenuated to the amp and attenuate with transformers between the amp and speakers?
I've read about vol pots before, in and after a preamp circuit. I have read about tvcs in the same location. I have mocked up different scenarios and can't hear a difference (that I can't rationalize as psycho-perceptual). Even with quality transformers vs quality preamp/pot (or even resistor based stepped, series, pass shunt, etc), I think most would agree (and has been well documented) that given the perfect storm of drive current and voltage amplification, no attenuation has the most merit in terms of maintaining electrical headroom, matching impedance between devices, inserting as little noise as possible, etc.
Is attenuation after the amp a better option? Could be a transformer or resistor based attenuator. Could be talking about ones used for whole-house distribution. It could also be high end esoteric. Consider merits of circuit physics only.
I have used light-dependent resistors in preamp circuits, but couldn't get the devices to match enough (always ate at me as I listened) and don't want to buy 5oo of them to test and sort. If I could easily get some that are matched, I might consider using them at the preamp level. However, they still present as resistors when providing any attenuation. Super easy to implement in any number of schemes with an Arduino controller, however. Active volume control with digital or analog opamps isn't really an option as I'm looking for less, not more.
System:
Rod Elliot zen pre-amp as the output on my cd player (among others);Pass Labs aleph clone used in balanced config, 22k input impedance; Theil cs2 speakers.
The amp might run a bit cooler with the input at max as more dissipation through the speakers and less through the heatsinks. If I recall from when I built it many years ago, it is a constant current sink. Any reason this would stress out the amp any more with the transformer on the output?