[jaxwired]

I read this from Burson audio and it made me wonder about the my Bryston pre-amps volume control.  How does it compare?

Burson Audio recognized the drawbacks associated with remote volume controls and deemed them unacceptable.  Instead, we developed a 24 stepped attenuator, constructed with the best quality components available.  Our Burson stepped attenuator ensures preservation of even the weakest audio signal;  The air between instruments, the decay after an attack and all micro details that makes music enjoyable.

[Elizabeth]

First off, 24 steps is pretty much at the minumum. I would want at least 50 steps. Which makes the device much more expensive.
Then the resistors need to be matched, closer that the usual specs then that monster nees a LOT of space in a box, and the slimline design of Bryston would be history, (look at the preamp advertised in Stereophile with 1/4 of the interior space devoted to the volume control with discrete resistors.
If Bryston was gonna play with the volume. They should  make a gain control of some type, with a few steps on a switch so the gain could be adjusted to make the best use of the current volume design.

[werd]

First off, 24 steps is pretty much at the minumum. I would want at least 50 steps. Which makes the device much more expensive.
Then the resistors need to be matched, closer that the usual specs then that monster nees a LOT of space in a box, and the slimline design of Bryston would be history, (look at the preamp advertised in Stereophile with 1/4 of the interior space devoted to the volume control with discrete resistors.
If Bryston was gonna play with the volume. They should  make a gain control of some type, with a few steps on a switch so the gain could be adjusted to make the best use of the current volume design.

24 is pretty good if you have an adjustable gain switch.

[rollo]

I read this from Burson audio and it made me wonder about the my Bryston pre-amps volume control.  How does it compare?

Burson Audio recognized the drawbacks associated with remote volume controls and deemed them unacceptable.  Instead, we developed a 24 stepped attenuator, constructed with the best quality components available.  Our Burson stepped attenuator ensures preservation of even the weakest audio signal;  The air between instruments, the decay after an attack and all micro details that makes music enjoyable.

 Yes like all things its just more money. Marketing ? Attenuators do make a difference however the complete design of the component must be considered. There are LCR types, autoformers, Slageformers, transformer and of course stepped. Which is best ? No best just different. As far as steps go the more the better ?  Remotes not for me. KISS baby.

[Sasha]

I had an opportunity to compare in my system a player with very well executed digital volume control and analog output section going directly into Bryston 7B SST amplifiers, versa player into Bryston BP26.
It was amazing how much more transparent direct link was, as long as I had gain adjusted correctly so that attenuation in digital domain did not have detrimental effect on sound quality (it can sound quite bad when not doing it right).
For this reason I do believe Bryston pre-amp with gain control and stepped attenuator would be a great product.
 

[servingko]

I may be completely off on this, but isn't the BP16's and B100's volume control a stepped attenuator?  Maybe someone with greater knowledge on this can chime in.

[BrysTony]

I may be completely off on this, but isn't the BP16's and B100's volume control a stepped attenuator?  Maybe someone with greater knowledge on this can chime in.

Yes, according to the Bryston website http://bryston.com/bp16_m.html it has a digitally controlled volume utilizing a resistance network on a chip.

Tony

[Elizabeth]

Off target, but about volume: i have done some crazy tweak of adding a wire (not connected to anything else to complete a circuit, just 'out there') to the negative terminal of the amp/ speaker wires, for a tweaky improvement.
Various folks are selling some variation of these for $30 a pair..
Anyway i thought they seem to add more stuff in them as the tweak ages. So I decided to add Ferrites to the end of the 'pigtail'
The one curious side effect is the softer portions of music are softer, and the whole music had more dynamic range, Really!
So I find I am allowing my Bryston BP-26 volume to be much higher for the same end result. Because the music is just more natural. (and since i was complaining about my lack of useable volume control range i am happier

I am fully aware a tweak in which a lone wire is attached to the terminal, and is just hanging there, is crazy as "H".
And then my adding some electrical mass to the end of it makes even less common sense. Yet it works.
I make certain the ferrites cannot short out anything by sticking them in coffee cups. They are tightly bundled with the pigtail wire attached to them, and they sit under the rear of the amp.
This tweak has been called a ground tweak, a pigtail tweak. I added the ferrite as an exercise and like it.
It has been discussed over in Audioasylum, and the tweak for $30 a pair is for sale on Audiogon too. i made mine for a buck. and just stick them on with a spare banana into the five way negative side binding posts.
More PRAT, smoother, cleaner sound. the result of the pigtail. Why??????????? a great mystery.
PS I tried some on the positive terminal, and not as good.
 

[rollo]

Off target, but about volume: i have done some crazy tweak of adding a wire (not connected to anything else to complete a circuit, just 'out there') to the negative terminal of the amp/ speaker wires, for a tweaky improvement.
Various folks are selling some variation of these for $30 a pair..
Anyway i thought they seem to add more stuff in them as the tweak ages. So I decided to add Ferrites to the end of the 'pigtail'
The one curious side effect is the softer portions of music are softer, and the whole music had more dynamic range, Really!
So I find I am allowing my Bryston BP-26 volume to be much higher for the same end result. Because the music is just more natural. (and since i was complaining about my lack of useable volume control range i am happier

I am fully aware a tweak in which a lone wire is attached to the terminal, and is just hanging there, is crazy as "H".
And then my adding some electrical mass to the end of it makes even less common sense. Yet it works.
I make certain the ferrites cannot short out anything by sticking them in coffee cups. They are tightly bundled with the pigtail wire attached to them, and they sit under the rear of the amp.
This tweak has been called a ground tweak, a pigtail tweak. I added the ferrite as an exercise and like it.
It has been discussed over in Audioasylum, and the tweak for $30 a pair is for sale on Audiogon too. i made mine for a buck. and just stick them on with a spare banana into the five way negative side binding posts.
More PRAT, smoother, cleaner sound. the result of the pigtail. Why??????????? a great mystery.
PS I tried some on the positive terminal, and not as good.
 

  Your not alone Elizabeth. Next try both a positive and neg. off the amp a la Mapleshades suggestion. Let us know your findings.


charles