I base my experience on attenuators of the DAC1 which degrade the sound IMO, especially the 30db pad which is just egregious (Benchmark have removed the 30db pad option for the DAC2 ... grist to my mill!)
So ... now I don't like putting any attenuators between the output of the source and the input of the active speaker/power amp that affect impedance. It bothers me. Think active versus passive crossover - do what you need to do to the signal before the source drives the load, it isn't necessary to do it between source and load. I've heard the arguments about audibility (or lack thereof) but here's the thing - it's just not -necessary- to change impedences with the right gear. For example, in the DAC1 there are the calibration trimmers, located before the output of the DAC, these don't affect output impedance; ATC actives have a input sensitivity trim +/-6db (1-4VRMS I believe), unmarked on the amp pack but referred to in the manual, using these doesn't affect input impedance; the new Young DSP DAC has an stepped analogue attenuator on-chip before the output stage; I believe at least some Weiss DACs can alter the reference voltage to the DAC chip to change gain. All of these provide analogue attenuation but they don't change the source/load impedance at all. I do agree, though, that excessive digital attenuation is bad. If you're permanently restricted to low volume settings, you are effectively losing physical SNR in your source and you can hear that in some cases. It might be that output/input attenuators could improve matters if that's the case. To me, the cleanest and best way to do it is how I described, but then I acknowledge I'm paranoid. I'm not saying you can't achieve transparent results otherwise. I have OCD and it's the way I choose to do it. Check it, add to it! http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/richpub/listmania/byauthor/A3H57URKQB8AQO/ref=cm_pdp_content_listmania/203-7606506-5721503. SB Touch ------------------------------------------------------------------------ darrenyeats's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10799 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=101434 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
