JW
Well-known member
So,
I ordered one of these from ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4pole-24-Step-Attenuator-Volume-Control-Pot-Log-A-10K-10KA-Stereo-Potentiometer/400675811718?hash=item5d4a23b186:g:rPcAAMXQinlRlEkz
It's a 10K, 24 position log value attenuator. Very nice quality by the way. Anyway, I wired it up for one channel, and it attenuates volume nicely about 8 or 10 switch positions, then doesn't roll off anymore.
My D to A converters are IZ Radar, which are 50 ohm outputs. The speaker amp's input impedance is 10K ohms. Both balanced connections.
First question is, would a 5K attenuator be better possibly? Or even 2.5K? Is the idea that since the top positions of the switch represent a similar load for the converter outputs as they would have had anyway (with no switch) but slight attenuation, it works nicely, but once the switch adds larger amounts of resistance there is not a low enough impedance driving the speaker amp? Or is it that the converters have even larger of a load at that point that it's hard to roll them off? Or both?
In other words, am I correct in thinking the following? Since 50 ohms times 10 is 200 ohms, it'll def. drive a 10K attenuator, but with a 10K attenuator set closer to maximum attenuation, the speaker amp (class D) sees too high of a source impedance?
(I know it's a balancing act) This 10K switch actually accomplishes what I want in that it attenuates enough volume to take it down to comfortable listening levels and a little below, but it doesn't go all the way down to no volume. I can live without that but thought I'd ask . . .
I ordered one of these from ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4pole-24-Step-Attenuator-Volume-Control-Pot-Log-A-10K-10KA-Stereo-Potentiometer/400675811718?hash=item5d4a23b186:g:rPcAAMXQinlRlEkz
It's a 10K, 24 position log value attenuator. Very nice quality by the way. Anyway, I wired it up for one channel, and it attenuates volume nicely about 8 or 10 switch positions, then doesn't roll off anymore.
My D to A converters are IZ Radar, which are 50 ohm outputs. The speaker amp's input impedance is 10K ohms. Both balanced connections.
First question is, would a 5K attenuator be better possibly? Or even 2.5K? Is the idea that since the top positions of the switch represent a similar load for the converter outputs as they would have had anyway (with no switch) but slight attenuation, it works nicely, but once the switch adds larger amounts of resistance there is not a low enough impedance driving the speaker amp? Or is it that the converters have even larger of a load at that point that it's hard to roll them off? Or both?
In other words, am I correct in thinking the following? Since 50 ohms times 10 is 200 ohms, it'll def. drive a 10K attenuator, but with a 10K attenuator set closer to maximum attenuation, the speaker amp (class D) sees too high of a source impedance?
(I know it's a balancing act) This 10K switch actually accomplishes what I want in that it attenuates enough volume to take it down to comfortable listening levels and a little below, but it doesn't go all the way down to no volume. I can live without that but thought I'd ask . . .
