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RE: What the hell is wrong with your preamp?

I don't think anything is "wrong" with your pre amp. But I do have a question about the design of your pre amp's volume control. How many "steps" (or "clicks" of the knob) from minimum volume to maximum volume? Some pre amps have as little as 12. I have seen the number as high as 160. The greater the number of "steps" the more control you have over the volume level with each turn of the dial. Some pre amps with a limited amount of steps can greatly, often too greatly, increase the volume with each click. While others, the ones with the most "steps", allow for a lot more flexibility and volume control. My attenuator has 132 steps which is perfect for my situation. I have to open up nearly all the way to let all of the ponies out, which is the way I like it.

I use to have an amp that had switches to reduce the gain (not the power) to give the volume control a lot more flexibilty. If I recall I reduced the gain to a -24 db to keep from blasting at the 10:00 position on the dial.


By the way, I have a problem which is somewhat opposite from yours, although it's by choice and it is really not a "problem for me. My volume level will not go as "low" as some would like, although I never play my music that low anyway. But the lowest setting is barely suitable for "background" music. I made the trade off (it's a custom design Placette Passive Line Stage) to allow more freedom for loudness at the other end of the attenuator range.


Robert C. Lang


Edits: 01/05/09
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