2. amps-preamps
  3. 1290993478

Why no remote controlled discrete resistor volume?

I don't get it. It seems that Alps have the remote volume control market cornered. My understanding is that, in general, discrete resistor volume controls (stepped attenuators or relay activated resistors as used by NAT, AN Kits and others) are thought to provide the best sonics (detail, clarity, precision, etc.), followed by potentiometers and then chip controls. If this is true, why have none of the discrete resistor gang (Goldpoint, DACT, Seiden, TKD, etc.) come up with a direct competitor (or drop-in replacement) to the basic Alps remote motorized conductive plastic potentiometer volume control that can be purchased (motor and all) for about $35? These things show up in some highly reviewed preamps with prices approaching $10K and above. It just seems to me there should be better sonic options for remote controlled volume on preamps costing several thousand dollars and up. Why is it so hard to motorize a stepped attenuator? Just curious.
mitch2

Showing 2 responses by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,574 posts
 
Motorizing a switched control can be a bit of a trick. You can have some torque to overcome, if the switch is worth a hoot. No way are you going to see this for $35.00!

I've been watching the chip technology for 17 years now. The new ones are a lot better, but to this day if you have a state of the art preamp, those chips will shoot the preamp down before it can even get off the runway....

You did not mention relay operated controls but they are the next best thing to a motor turning a switch. So that makes the chip controls 4th on the list.

Bent Audio is one of the better places to look if you want to do a remote properly.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,574 posts
 
Mitch2, your experience is correct. There is no way around the fact that you have to control the volume; the more revealing your system is the more you have to make sure that the volume control is not messing things up.

You can get the control outside of the signal path by having it control the gain of the circuit rather than the signal level getting to it, but by no means does this allow you to skimp on the control. Anyone who has heard the effects of good quality resistors will understand this.
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