Remembering that all types of resistors sound different when used in the signal path, it should be no surprise that the quality of the music running through one of these pots is very much dependent on the quality of the resistive element, the contacts and the way it's implemented. In fact, there is no such thing as a neutral or transparent sounding pot or volume control.
The fact that any form of volume control has a negative effect on the sound is a really important concept to grasp. Switched attenuators, Gain Cells, pots, electronic attenuators, CMOS switches, photo cells and every scheme imaginable to change the volume has a negative affect on the sound. The challenge is to figure out how to do as little damage to the sound as possible and there are many schemes out there - ranging from the absurd to the lame and cheap and everything in between.
The point I want to make in today's post is that the volume and balance controls in an analog preamp all suck to some degree. We have to accept that we cannot change the volume without affecting the sound.
Lastly I want to give you a piece of advice when it comes to volume controls. Less is more. By that I mean the higher the volume control level the better it sounds because less of the resistor is in the signal path. Look at the drawing I included - if the W connection is tied right to the audio input A (full volume), then essentially there is nothing in the signal path to damage the music. The farther away W gets from A (turning the level down), the more sonic damage is done. Less is more.
I wrote about this nearly a year ago in a post labeled Step on the gasand I think it's not only worth repeating but it also leads us to tomorrow's post about digital volume controls.
Interesting how in both cases, less is more when it comes to volume controls.
Volume controls
Remembering that all types of resistors sound different when used in the signal path, it should be no surprise that the quality of the music running through one of these pots is very much dependent on the quality of the resistive element, the contacts and the way it's implemented. In fact, there is no such thing as a neutral or transparent sounding pot or volume control.
The fact that any form of volume control has a negative effect on the sound is a really important concept to grasp. Switched attenuators, Gain Cells, pots, electronic attenuators, CMOS switches, photo cells and every scheme imaginable to change the volume has a negative affect on the sound. The challenge is to figure out how to do as little damage to the sound as possible and there are many schemes out there - ranging from the absurd to the lame and cheap and everything in between.
The point I want to make in today's post is that the volume and balance controls in an analog preamp all suck to some degree. We have to accept that we cannot change the volume without affecting the sound.
Lastly I want to give you a piece of advice when it comes to volume controls. Less is more. By that I mean the higher the volume control level the better it sounds because less of the resistor is in the signal path. Look at the drawing I included - if the W connection is tied right to the audio input A (full volume), then essentially there is nothing in the signal path to damage the music. The farther away W gets from A (turning the level down), the more sonic damage is done. Less is more.
I wrote about this nearly a year ago in a post labeled Step on the gasand I think it's not only worth repeating but it also leads us to tomorrow's post about digital volume controls.
Interesting how in both cases, less is more when it comes to volume controls.
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