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Model: | 10db inline attenuator |
Category: | Accessory |
Suggested Retail Price: | $59.00 |
Description: | 10db inline attenuator, RCA |
Manufacturer URL: | Rothwell Electronics |
Model Picture: | View |
Review by Marc Bratton (A) on May 09, 2004 at 20:51:47 IP Address: 63.184.33.33 | Add Your Review for the 10db inline attenuator |
Hey, all you Audible Illusions Modulus owners, as well as all you owners of very high sensitivity horn speaker systems! This product was designed with you in mind. As the name implies, these little widgets are designed to plug into the inputs of your power amp. They attenuate the incoming signal by 10db. They so without any audible coloration, loss,
or change to the signal. They are EXTREMELY well finished; the phrase 'audio jewelry' comes to mind. They even come in a little jewelry box, much like those for cufflinks.
Their sonic effect is NOT trivial. Even with my low sensitivity Magnepan speakers, I was suffering with the typical AI Modulus blues...9 o'clock was almost too loud, and I had the typical 'hair trigger' volume control effect. Once I plugged these into the back of my amp, I was able to use the volume pot in the 11:00 am to 2:00pm range. Not only are the volume pots much more linear here, but I also have a LOT finer gradation of the volume, which is really nice. The very best effect is, it DOES improve the apparent signal to noise ratio. By throwing away the last (or is it the '1st')10db of gain, I can no longer hear any hum or tube rush at all, even when I max out the volume pots. You guys with the 98db/1 watt
speakers are really, really going to like this! SO, all you Audible Illusions users, you CANT afford to NOT try these! I guarantee you'll love 'em! Highly, highly recommended....I can't tell you when I've gotten more sonic improvement for so little. If you find yourself way down on the volume pot chronically, then these will really open up your system for you.
Product Weakness: | None I can think of. |
Product Strengths: | Does just what they're designed to do, no fuss, no muss. |
Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
Amplifier: | Forte 4A |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Audible Illusions Modulus 2C |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Teres/MorchUP4/Shure V15VxMR |
Speakers: | Magnepan MG12QR's |
Cables/Interconnects: | Cardas 5C |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | All types |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 22 x 14 x 8 |
Room Comments/Treatments: | Finally got it reasonable, so now it's time to move. |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | 3 months. |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Brickwall PWR2AUD |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Follow Ups:
Someone is selling?
and even more astoundingly people are Buying ? a premade Shiny Gizmo to replace a silly simple Resistor placed inna Interconnect??
Well this is great, I guess, if one is realy naive.
Unless someone is using DIY interconnect that are easy to add a resistor in to, then its not exactly the brightest move to butcher your expensive store bought interconnects.
It sounds like you are using wrong fixes wrong method. It that works for you, congratulation but I am not sure why you are running around the circle.
Hi Paul:Well, I guess I had that coming! I needed a bit more gain than using a phono pre and your passive, but not quite so much gain as the AI. I went with the AI because quite frankly, it's phono stage bettered my EAR 834P.
Marc,
I am sure the AI has a great phono stage but not so sure that it is better than the EAR, I think your system change a couple of times and the poweramp and speakers are different from before. No matter how good a device is, I think adding an in-line attenuator can only be a interim solution. It is better to mod the linestage (if it can) to reduce the gain.
Yer right, Paul. And when I use my Conrad Johnson MV75A1, as I did tonight, as I don't use 'em, because that amp is a much less sensitive amp, @2.35volts for rated output.
cosmetics!
Hi,I tried these with my Musical Fidelity M3 amp and 104dB/W Avantgarde Duos.
They did reduce the gain, making it much easier to control the volume, but added an easily noticeable smearing to the sound. I tried them for a few days - and that was it, they were taken out, and I was left listening again to "music".
I bought a pair of these 6 mnths or so ago. They certainly do what they advertise, but big but here. They are not transparent (at least in my system) and do soften the sound a bit. I heard no increase in dynamics in my system. If your system needs a little sofening, go for it.
They made my CD sound a little nicer, but not my TT.anyway. for the price they are cheap enough to try and see.
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