[rollo]

Seems to be all the rage at the moment. Makes a lot of sense using LEDs to drive the LCRs. No contacts no blades. Anyone try one yet ? www.lightspeedattenuator.com


charles

[nicksgem10s]

Hi Charles,

I had an opportunity to borrow a Lightspeed Attenuator and use it in my system last summer thanks to an audio buddy.

I used it for about one month and loved what it did in my system. 

I was already using a passive TVC in my system so my system is passive friendly.

It is the most transparent volume control device I have ever heard.

I have owned quite a few different preamps over the years including active, passive, tube, solid state.

I do not know if I can willingly go back to using any other volume control technology.

The only drawback for me with the commercial Lightspeed Attenuator was the lack of remote control and the pedestrian look.

I then found out about the DIYparadise version they had been working on called Eva.

This is their spin on this technology.  They build it into a cool little enclosure and add 23 step remote control.

I have been using it since I purchased it last summer and have been thrilled with its sound and reliability.

From what I can tell, Eva lets every single bit of information from the recording come through my system without adding or subtracting anything.

If you have a chance to hear one in your system and your system is passive friendly, go for it.

If your system does not need gain in the line stage you may need to find another use for your current preamp.

-Nick

[rollo]

Thanks Nick. I will check it out. My only concern is my TT. I use a step up now with the Linn arkiv into the Loesch Pre [ 54db phono gain]
   

charles

[doug s.]

this does not surprise me.  one of the reasons the melos sha-gold and ma333r sounded so good was because of the photentiometer wolume pot.  similar concept here.  i'd consider using the diyparidise eva after a standard tube preamp & between the amp; yust max out the pre's wolume pot and use the eva for remote attenuation. 

doug s.

[antonc]

Hi Charles,

I had an opportunity to borrow a Lightspeed Attenuator and use it in my system last summer thanks to an audio buddy.

I used it for about one month and loved what it did in my system. 

I was already using a passive TVC in my system so my system is passive friendly.

It is the most transparent volume control device I have ever heard.

I have owned quite a few different preamps over the years including active, passive, tube, solid state.

I do not know if I can willingly go back to using any other volume control technology.

The only drawback for me with the commercial Lightspeed Attenuator was the lack of remote control and the pedestrian look.

I then found out about the DIYparadise version they had been working on called Eva.

This is their spin on this technology.  They build it into a cool little enclosure and add 23 step remote control.

I have been using it since I purchased it last summer and have been thrilled with its sound and reliability.

From what I can tell, Eva lets every single bit of information from the recording come through my system without adding or subtracting anything.

If you have a chance to hear one in your system and your system is passive friendly, go for it.

If your system does not need gain in the line stage you may need to find another use for your current preamp.

-Nick

Hi Nick,

I've been a TVC user for quite some time and would like to venture to the LS as well. What do you feel were the sonic improvements the LS had?

Thanks!

[antonc]

Was lucky enough to hear the LS.  The LS really trounces the TVC.  Hope to get my hands on these soon.

[georgehifi]

Hi, I manufacture the Lightspeed Attenuator, what you get over all other types of active or passive pre's is a transparency and extension and both ends of the frequency spectrum, also the sound stage is larger and less confined with more 3d, gone is a squeezed out, shot at you type of sound that active pre's seem to have after listening to the Lightspeed.
Be careful though, a note on the operation of the components that are the controlling factor for the Lightspeed Attenuator in my design, the variable series LDR’s for each channel and the variable shunt LDR’s for each channel are all matched as quad sets, very hard to get right. Unlike what some copiers of the Lightspeed Attenuator are doing, which have fixed series resistors and variable shunt LDR’s. This is a cheaper much easier way of manufacturing one, but does not nearly sound as good, this was the difference to my earlier mkI and now the mkII. All my previous mkI's have now been converted into mkII's
Cheers George

[doug s.]

how much, george, for a remote control wersion?

thanks,

doug s.

[georgehifi]

Send me your email address Doug and I'll send you my PDF broucher.

Cheers George