pic of Dameisha, SZ, from the IC Hotel.
This is to let regular readers know that I'm in the midst of re-locating back to Hong Kong, for family reasons. It goes without saying that I'm crazily busy, and tired.
Articles, those by myself and others who need editing, are put on the back burner. I expect to pick up pace in two weeks or so.
It really is not leaving Shenzhen - like many HK people, we shall be back regularly. Perhaps I'd have more to say about my (almost) 4 years in SZ, when I get the time.
Posts
Hi Doctor John, Wishing you the best for this to be an easy and smooth move. I am reading your last post about the 6p6p preamplifier and I may get one!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I love my Elekit TU-875 (which I bought after reading your comments here about that preamplifier and I am super grateful for your valuable advice), I would like to have a hand wired, point to point, easy to modify tube preamplifier.
Best,
Alan Brain
I have a problem with high output dac 2.6v. Dac is connected to tvc and then to high sensitivity 100k amp.
ReplyDeleteI will appreciate if someone can explain what is the influence of in line attenuator on sound quality. Do you have any experiences using resistor based attenuators in audio systems.
Like Rothwell or Harrison labs.
Best regards,
It sounds like your DAC can directly drive the amp (with attenuation). A quality passive preamp would be a solution. I'd guess the steps in your TVC do not match the situation.
DeleteOf course ANY resistor in the signal path affects sound quality. This goes for generic pots (continuous resistance) as well as the most ridiculously priced resistor ladder pots. Here's the problem: advocates of the latter claim that theirs is the most transparent and uncolored way, which is nonsense: every resistor has a sonic signature. And I have heard plenty of VERY expensive pots in my life to be convinced that they are frequently as colored (meaning dry and amusical) as anything else and not as musical as a carbon pot. I'm not the only one here: many Japanese tube artisan designers insist on using carbon pots for musicality.
Why not build a simple quality carbon pot attenuator and put it up against your TVC? Although I'm a fan of 1:1 transformer use, I'm not usually a fan of TVC.
Also, if you are using computer source, why not attenuate there to match things downstream? I know, the usual thing against digital volume, but it can be useful, and we should be pragmatic.
Thank you for advice. I have planned to purchase 2 mono tocos cosmos carbon pots and make attenuator. Until they arrive i used fixed attenuator before promitheus tvc 12db cut and that solved problem. Sonically something extraordinary happened when i changed interconnects from dac (mhdt pagoda) and from tvc to Monarchy sm70 mk2 to gotham dgs-1. Speakers are snell type e2
ReplyDeleteThe recordings now have ambiance and excessive brightness is gone. I dont have sterile studio sound and now i can listen to old recordings.
I agree that tvc introduces coloration but there is a one advantage when you listen very quiet the bass is not lost.
I will report the changes and experience with carbon pots.
Best regards,
Marko
That DGS-1 is indeed one of a kind. Many would think it as not hifi enough, but its musical heart is non-pareil.
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