Who makes the best passive volume control?

I have tried both the Endler's and EVS attenuators favoring the EVS in the end. I still keep them around.

I have always been curious about two other passives that come in balanced versions that I've never tried. One is the Luminous and the other is Reference Line.

Anthony, is the difference between the Endler and EVS based on the resistors used, or something else going on? Would love to hear an at the input version the LSA, but it does not seem in the cards, at least not commercially.

Has anyone tried the Myth? I understand that it also uses some sort of LDR:

http://www.myth.rs/myth_audio/mythpreamp.html
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/amp/messages/14/149808.html

Bent Audio Tap-X

A little OT but how can you tell if an active is controlling the cable in the way you describe? Any good way of measuring this? In something like Stereophile's equipment measurement, any particular that will give agood idea of cable control, degree of cable control or likelihood of cable control?

This is easy to answer. Try using a cable that is 100 feet long. Then try a 1 meter cable. Obviously you will hear a difference, and it will also be something that can be measured. As you decrease the volume, you will find that artifacts are easier to measure. It will not matter how good the passive control is- it will matter more that it *is* a passive control.

Now I know that no-one uses 100 foot cables, but this model will allow you to see and hear the issue.

You could also use a very cheap cable and a well-reviewed cable. You might argue that the difference you are hearing is that of the cable, but of course that is the point.