Inline attenuators with RCA connectors?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

"Per Stromgren" <per.stromgren@telia.com> wrote in message
news:gt25a0hluacts24dkrdch13vrgus1jub1t@4ax.com...
> *) Why are all inputs so damn sensitive? Most of my systems clips at
> around 12 o clock (or even less) on the volume control. It makes it
> awkward to adjust the level.

Don't insert attenuation on the inputs then, attenuate the pre-amp output
instead. The pre-amp may already have a low level attenuator you can use.
You will maintain a better S/N ratio by attenuating the pre-amp noise as
well as the signal. Many integrated amps have pre-out and power-in sockets
too.
The only time you should attenuate the input signal is if the pre-amp is
overloading.

This is quite normal unfortunately, most pre-amps have unity gain around the
12 o'clock position, and most power amps have a sensitivity of 1- 2V, or
the same as a CD player output without extra gain.

TonyP.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

"Per Stromgren" <per.stromgren@telia.com> wrote in message
news:cu4aa05839ge9kjmankgj0dodukn6p2ble@4ax.com...
> >This is quite normal unfortunately, most pre-amps have unity gain around
the
> >12 o'clock position, and most power amps have a sensitivity of 1- 2V, or
> >the same as a CD player output without extra gain.
> Why is this, then? Don't we have a standard for this? Most tuners has
> lower outputs than most CD players, for instance.

It's simply historical usage. Most line level signals were around 0.775V pre
CD. This was in line with the telephone standard of 0dBm, or 1mW into 600
ohm.
With the advent of CD the pre-amps were hard pressed to give 96 dB S/N ref.
0.7V so it was decided to up the output to 2V, assuming the average levels
would be similar but with a larger dynamic range. In fact the reverse
happened and the dynamic range of the actual music has steadily reduced for
nearly all disks other than classical.

So now the average voltage levels you get from playing a recent CD are
usually much larger than what you get from a cassette player or tuner.
Many amplifiers have a "low level" switch or a "mute" switch. Depending on
the actual attenuation provided, they are often very useful for playing CD's
whilst being able to use more than a quarter of the volume control rotation.
The only problem is if you accidently switch it out :-)

TonyP.