Stepped Attenuators

Stepped Attenuators

Stepped Attenuators sound fantastic

Now your amps can go to twelve!

Read the review! http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue19/endlerattenuators.htm

All new design! Surface mount resistors and Cardas connectors for a big improvement in sonics over the already great original version.

12 4db steps -4db to -50db. RCA $70.00, XLR $80.00.

quiet version -22db to -70db, loud version -.5db to -46db

or 24 2db steps. RCA $100.00, XLR$110.00.

Eliminates your preamp for the purest sound

provides extremely accurate volume matching for multiple channels

Plugs right into your amp for the best performance. Eliminates the degradation from the cable that follows other passive preamps which is the cause of questionable results due to the high output impedances.

Plug the other end into the cable from your source ie. Cd player, DCX2496, etc.

ONLY 70$

All new design featuring surface mount resistors and Cardas RCA connectors yields a big improvement in sonics.

All the parts were selected to give the ultimate in performance while keeping the price to 25% of other popular attenuators.

These are 4k or 20k shunt type attenuators which place only one resistor in series with the signal. Series resitance values of 1k, 2k, 4k and 20k were evaluated with 4k sounding the best with amps having input impedances down to 20k. Choose a 20k attenuator, which is a more delicate load for your source, if your amps are 100k or higher.

The inexpensive switches have proven to be dead silent, not making the first peep during years of heavy use. The 24 step versions will use the excellent Elma switches.

A great value

Upgrade today

Lifetime warranty

Repair or replace. (It's an attenuator, what could go wrong unless the wires get yanked out or it gets stepped on, which wouldn't be covered.)

30 Day in home trial

If they don't work out for you just send them back for a refund.

Email...... scott.endler@verizon.net To discuss options. Use 4k for amps with input impedances of 100k. Use 20k for amps with 100k or greater.

12 Step RCA

Only $70.00

24 Step XLR Attenuator

$110.00

Adapting XLR to RCA

Flex output cable saves space

Surface Mount Thin Film Resistors

Sounds way better than through hole resistors

Stereo Attenuator Raw

Only two resistors in the path and tight matching

Twelve Step Direct Attenuator $70.00 each RCA connector

Buy 5 get 1 free Twelve Step Direct Attenuators. $350.00 Special pricing for multi channel users.

Twentyfour Step Direct Attenuator $100.00 each. Volume control (-4db to -52db is standard) or matching type (-.5db to -12db)

RCA connector

Twentyfour Step Direct Attenuator XLR $110.00 each. Volume control -4db to -52db or Matching type -.5 to -12db type

Twelve Step Direct Attenuator - Balanced $80.00 each

Flex Cable Output. $10.00 each. Adds a 3 inch cable to the output of the attenuator to help get into tight places such as amps with over and under input connectors.

Twentyfour Step 4K or 20K Stereo Attenuator Raw. Single ended or Balanced. $100.00 for mounting inside your preamp

Single ended or balanced

International Shipping. Email for a total via USPS global express. Most locations run about $30.00 (6 x $5.00 units) additional. Email for quote.

My stepped attenuator review

Well I found out why passive resistive volume attenuators are some times recommended with slight reservations. There is a big difference in the sonics with cables following them, as in a passive pre, compared with connecting them diredtly to the amps. I made up a set of attenuators with the connectors configured to plug into the output of the source (The wrong way) in order to compare and the differences with cables between them and the amps are quite obvious even though I’m running 16 gauge of Nordost Flatline for the interconnect. I can see where the drawbacks would be even more obvious when an attenuator is used before a more common audiophile interconnect of 22 gauge or less. The changes to the sound are actually quite wide spread. The bass becomes mushy and shelved down. Dynamics are lessened. The sound stage doesn’t project as tall as before and seems to have less detail. Even with the loss of detail there is an added stridency in the upper mids. I actually tried a passive pre (The wrong way, connected to the source.) some years ago and gave up on the idea because of the draw backs without ever considering the possible differences when connected directly to the amps without cables. I then spent years developing my preamp which, in it’s final iteration , consists of a stepped attenuator, buffered by an active circuit comprised of an opamp driving a class A mosfet output configured within the feedback loop. Dual mono supplies, regulated and pi filtered, active current source, the whole nine yards. It sounds great compared to any of the other preamps I’ve had home, including tube types such as the modern Dynaco and Audible Illusions tube preamps. All that work in order to have a pre that is capable of driving the cables to the amps so as to control multiple channels with one volume knob (with remote) in one box went out the window when I connected a $70 dollar! resistive attenuator to the amps which improved the sound in every area, particularly in terms of a blacker background with better defined and separated instrument location. I guess what I'm getting at is that when used properly, connected to the amps no cable, a stepped attenuator will sound better than the best preamps. So I have to get up to change volume at the amps. It’s worth it!