- Whether the Para 6 is better largely depends on the connected equipment. It may track better, but that's only a small part of the perceived sound.
- 'Better sounding resistors'? In whose estimation and in what context? Higher precision will improve tracking. SMD reduces inductance. Metal film has negative while Carbon film has positive temperature coefficient. How will those changes react with the associated equipment?
- Transformer taps change impedance which may affect sonics due to LCR filter values.
- Varying PSU voltage introduces its own artifacts
- Digital audio math becomes progressively worse as signal level drops and attenuation increases.
Parasound's Hint 6's new volume control provides huge sonic advances?
Promotional language for the (relatively) new HINT 6 says this: "New Burr-Brown Volume Control:
The Parasound HINT 6 is packed full of technical advancements. The new, upgraded volume control replaces the original model's motorized potentiometer and sliding mechanical contacts with a Burr-Brown electronically controlled analog resistor ladder volume control. Technical advancements in the new volume control offer a more distinct sound stage by increasing the dynamic range, lowering the noise floor, improving left-right separation and maintaining absolute left-right channel tracking at any volume level."
I'm not a skeptic, but am trying to learn.
QUESTION: How does a volume control affect so many elements important to the sound?
I almost never look to the details of how an amplifier's volume control is designed. Is it this important?
The Parasound HINT 6 is packed full of technical advancements. The new, upgraded volume control replaces the original model's motorized potentiometer and sliding mechanical contacts with a Burr-Brown electronically controlled analog resistor ladder volume control. Technical advancements in the new volume control offer a more distinct sound stage by increasing the dynamic range, lowering the noise floor, improving left-right separation and maintaining absolute left-right channel tracking at any volume level."
I'm not a skeptic, but am trying to learn.
QUESTION: How does a volume control affect so many elements important to the sound?
I almost never look to the details of how an amplifier's volume control is designed. Is it this important?
Showing 5 responses by ieales
The biggest problem with conventional potentiometers I have observed over the year is that they accumulate deposits over time that require cleaning to continue to work well. The easy fix is to just exercise the knob periodically with power off to help remove deposits but eventually cleaning is required.It really depends on pot technology and circuit topology. Some circuits are pot eaters. Same pot in another circuit will last a lifetime and longer. The incorrect cleaner can destroy a pot faster than you can say Jack Robinson. |
Reading an Ayre VGT circuit description here https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/90-ayre-acoustics-kx-r-preamplifier-and-mx-r-mono-amplifiers in the paragraph that begins "First, in a traditional preamplifier, " it sounds like they have an input buffer before a gain stage that follows the level control. YAWN. If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh!t. |
In all your above posts you have criticised whatever has been mentioned, so please tell us what perfect attenuation you use.There is no perfect attenuation. I use a self designed and built for my gear discrete matched 1% resistor silver contact stepped 0 to -22dB attenuator. Maximum 1dB step error is 0.05dB. L/R tracking is nearly perfect. http://ielogical.com/assets/Audio/PassiveLC1.png & http://ielogical.com/assets/Audio/LC1.png It may suck everywhere but here. All pieces affect and are affected by to what they are connected. There is no free lunch. |