autoformer attenuator and step up transformers


can a step up transformer (like a jensen 1:4 for example) be used in front of an autoformer attenuator (such as the one made by dave slagle (intact audio) and used in the Emia attenuator box) to increase the gain of the signal going into the passive attenuator? would you expect this type of set up to sound good or do you foresee any issues with this line of thinking? thank you. 
salbert
the perfect position for the autoformers is full volume then they are simply a shunt element.  The worst performing taps are in the 0 to -6dB range but they still have 100Khz+ bandwidth and what ringing there is is also above 100khz which is far enough outside the audio band that it doesn't bother me from a technical perspective.  In any event the behavior of the autoformers at -3dB will far exceed that of any step up that you put in front of it and if just a slight amount of gain is needed (up to +6db) again the autoformers can be configured to seamlessly shift into step-up mode so you not only get 11 but possibly 12 on the dial.  The important part here is that when you leave the "gain" mode you also leave the compromises incurred from that mode.

dave
hi dave. thank you for the explanation. i will go ahead and use the autoformers without any step up as you recommend :)

i saw on your website that the autoformers skip the -3.75 dB tab.

what attenuation are you actually getting when you are on the setting that should correspond to -3.75 dB?