Hi, hifi people. I'm relatively new to line-level DIY, seeking thoughts/feedback about an idea rattling around my head:
In a nutshell: I'm thinking of bypassing the volume and balance controls in a Manley Stingray integrated amp and building an outboard chassis with its own input selector and an Autoformer Volume Control (likely one of the Slagle units).
Why? The Stingray has... let's call it a unique form factor, including dual mono input selectors located on the back. This achieves the amp's "short-signal-path-at-any-cost" philosophy by putting the user at risk of touching red-hot tubes when reaching for the knobs. No big deal for me, but a barrier for my wife since day one. Now we're about to update our living room/listening space — and the Stingray will move to a shelf inside a (well-ventilated) media console. (Crowding the top of that unit with a full-sized tube amp AND a turntable is a non-starter.)
Solution: A small, tastefully-designed component next to the turntable will fly. I'll get to see if the AVC hype is justified, plus a more tactilely-pleasing experience that hopefully makes wifey more likely to enjoy using the system.
Opinions, Please: I know what I'm imagining will work—the Stingray is really just a power amp with an input switch and passive volume/balance controls (see schematic below). But... does anyone think this is a bad idea, or have any reason to think a console-top unit with high end parts and an autoformer wouldn't sound at least as good as what's in the stock unit? AND... as long as wiper on the Stingray's pot is all the way over at ground, does anyone think the "sub out" right after the pots but just before the amp section wouldn't work just fine as an input?
In a nutshell: I'm thinking of bypassing the volume and balance controls in a Manley Stingray integrated amp and building an outboard chassis with its own input selector and an Autoformer Volume Control (likely one of the Slagle units).
Why? The Stingray has... let's call it a unique form factor, including dual mono input selectors located on the back. This achieves the amp's "short-signal-path-at-any-cost" philosophy by putting the user at risk of touching red-hot tubes when reaching for the knobs. No big deal for me, but a barrier for my wife since day one. Now we're about to update our living room/listening space — and the Stingray will move to a shelf inside a (well-ventilated) media console. (Crowding the top of that unit with a full-sized tube amp AND a turntable is a non-starter.)
Solution: A small, tastefully-designed component next to the turntable will fly. I'll get to see if the AVC hype is justified, plus a more tactilely-pleasing experience that hopefully makes wifey more likely to enjoy using the system.
Opinions, Please: I know what I'm imagining will work—the Stingray is really just a power amp with an input switch and passive volume/balance controls (see schematic below). But... does anyone think this is a bad idea, or have any reason to think a console-top unit with high end parts and an autoformer wouldn't sound at least as good as what's in the stock unit? AND... as long as wiper on the Stingray's pot is all the way over at ground, does anyone think the "sub out" right after the pots but just before the amp section wouldn't work just fine as an input?
Wow, no takers on this thread....
So allow me back up and ask: What's everyone's favorite method for volume control?
Those who have tried autoformers – what were your experiences? What do you think makes a system well-suited for one?
In thinking about my idea in post 1, I considered all the options – various pots, stepped attenuator (with or without a tube buffer stage), as well as the AVC, which I landed on out of interest in the glowing reports I've read here and elsewhere about them. I could also just build a preamp, though the Stingray is designed not to need one and hence, gain has never been lacking in my setup.
The impetus for this project is desire for a more user-friendly system. But if I'm going to tinker...I want to end up with better sound than I started with. (Or at least not worse sound.) Love to hear people's thoughts about volume control sections and what has/hasn't worked for them.
So allow me back up and ask: What's everyone's favorite method for volume control?
Those who have tried autoformers – what were your experiences? What do you think makes a system well-suited for one?
In thinking about my idea in post 1, I considered all the options – various pots, stepped attenuator (with or without a tube buffer stage), as well as the AVC, which I landed on out of interest in the glowing reports I've read here and elsewhere about them. I could also just build a preamp, though the Stingray is designed not to need one and hence, gain has never been lacking in my setup.
The impetus for this project is desire for a more user-friendly system. But if I'm going to tinker...I want to end up with better sound than I started with. (Or at least not worse sound.) Love to hear people's thoughts about volume control sections and what has/hasn't worked for them.