Passive attenuators

[Ligald]

Hi,
Is anyone using passive analog attenuators (on RCA or XLR plugs) with Classé power amps? In particular the Scott Endler's attenuators?

Thanks. Ligald

[RebelMan]

Curious, why do you ask?

[Ligald]

Because the output voltage of my source is quite high and requires some passive attenuation in order to improve the matching with the amplifier input sensitivity. Most of the CD players output > 2 Vrms when the input sensitivity of the amplifiers is generally much lower (1.6 Vrms for the Classé amp)

This is a very frequent "issue" that most of the people simply do not take into consideration. This problem appears when a small change of the volume knob position produces a large change in the sound volume level. This is non desirable as you make working your pre-amplifier in a non-optimal region (the best linearity is obtained when the volume knob is at twelve o'clock).

Ligald

[Glen B]

I'm not so sure this is a "frequent" issue. I have owned many CD player/preamp/amp combinations in the past and never had such an issue. Preamp/amp mismatch is a more common problem. Audio-Technica makes an inline XLR attenuator with three attenuation levels that you may want to look into. I only know of the product and haven't used it or heard it in use, so I can't comment on performance and whether or not it might degrade sound.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68085-REG/Audio_Technica_AT8202_AT8202_In_Line_Attenuator.html