Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea? - ronnieferrell

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Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea?

Posted by ronnieferrell (A) on April 5, 2002 at 14:02:24

Please forgive me in advance for my "not-so-technical" terminology. I am learning as I go.

Is the following a good idea, bad idea or am I asking for trouble?

I would like more control over the volume control of my active preamp. Right now I have a total of 4 dented settings (one of them being no volume at all) on my preamp that I can use before it blows me out of the room. The volume control has at least 24 notches and I can only use 4 of them. I know a passive preamp would work beautifully in my setup because my cd player has a variable line out. If I hook it directly into my power amp, I can hit the halfway point on the cd variable control before it is too loud. BUT I cannot afford a good passive preamp at this time and the variable out on my CD player sounds like crap.

Can I build an attenuator into the input RCA plug of the interconnect between my preamp and amp? If so which impedance do I work around, the output impedance of the preamp or the input impedance of the amp? I do not grasp the relationship here yet but I am trying... Is using set values from a 50K ladder attenuator to drop the volume a little a good starting point? I realize If it is possible that I will have to do some trial and error to get the fixed level I am looking for. I am just not certain on what total ohms value between the 2 resistors I should be working with or if this is even a good idea to try.

Am I looking for trouble since I am trying to attenuate the output of an active preamp into a power amp? Will I have any roll-off?

Any input would be much appreciated,

Thanks,

Ronnie Ferrell

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Topic - Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea? - ronnieferrell 14:02:24 04/05/02 (13)

Re: Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea? - E-Stat 14:51:17 04/05/02 (0)

Re: Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea? - john curl 14:13:14 04/05/02 (11)

Re: Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea? - ronnieferrell 14:53:11 04/05/02 (10)

Re: Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea? - john curl 15:40:07 04/05/02 (9)

Not quite there yet. Any other possibilities? - ronnieferrell 07:00:06 04/08/02 (0)

470K is the ticket! - ronnieferrell 10:39:47 04/06/02 (6)

Re: 470K is the ticket! - john curl 11:01:39 04/06/02 (5)

hmmm? - ronnieferrell 11:20:48 04/06/02 (4)

Re: hmmm? - john curl 17:30:42 04/06/02 (3)

Let me make sure I am doing this correctly... - ronnieferrell 19:45:50 04/06/02 (2)

Re: Let me make sure I am doing this correctly... - john curl 11:09:31 04/07/02 (1)

See post above. (Not quite there yet. Any other possibilities?) - ronnieferrell 08:24:49 04/08/02 (0)

Re: Attenuator interconnects between preamp and amp. Good idea? Bad idea? - ronnieferrell 19:13:35 04/05/02 (0)

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