stepped attenuators

[valhallax]

do stepped attenuators remove all the headroom in an amp?

[cclark65]

As far as I know there is no difference electrically between stepped and regular attenuators. The only thing different is physically it has a notched wheel on the back that a little bearing presses into so that you can count how many clicks it's turned up (or down) and supposedly match the output of another channel or amp with it.

[Todd W. White]

The acoustical consultants liked to specify amps with stepped attenuators because it made it easier for them to calibrate the system once you had it installed.

Sonically, they're the same as regular pots, unless, of course, they get dirty.

[Old Guy]

Just for grins, wanted to point out the original stepped attentuators actually used resistors (fixed ones). They didn't get dirty like pots did- and as Todd said, repeatable settings were easier. The mechanical addition to the pot came later.

These use surface mount resistors for compactness- but are the same principle as the originals.

http://www.dact.com/html/attenuators.html

[Todd W. White]

Yes - I remember that! They were neat (for a young fellow) to look at, too!

[Old Guy]

For you whippersappers- here's what Todd and I are talking about- these were inddeed neat devices.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Amplifie...QQcmdZViewItem

I think I still have some old Altec stuff with these SOMEWHERE.

[scott fitlin]

The stepped attenuators in the ebay auction are loaded with Dale metal film resistors, about as good as you can get!