Post by Bigman80 on May 10, 2020 17:49:59 GMT
I have been a long standing advocate for the merits of a good Stepped Attenuator. Far be it from me to try and influence you, but if you aren't using one…...you are missing out my friend.
There is a Plethora of options from Khozmo, Amtrans, Glasshouse, Goldpoint, Acoustic Dimensions…..the list goes on. So when I decided to buy one for a project I am undertaking, I started to have a look for ‘cheap’ options.
First option I noticed was the ‘Mr K’ from China. Looked good on paper and used KOA 1% resistors. Once I considered the Customs and all the associated fees, it wasn’t as cheap as I wanted it to be. Then by my favourite method of discovery, by chance, I discovered the Audiopills Stepped Attenuator.
At £65 delivered it seemed too good to be true, but it’s use of Tesla resistors made it my primary target. The resistors had been how I stumbled across the Stepped Attenuator in the first place. Fate….some might say.
I made a cheeky offer and it was accepted.
“Of course, this will be no match for the mighty Khozmo 64 step relay attenuator” I thought.
Upon its arrival I had a brief look at it and was very pleased with the build quality and the overall feel. It had a reassuring weight about it and the steps felt very deliberate in their notching.
I put it to one side as i had planned but by now i should know myself enough to realise that i can't wait to try anything. I lashed it in and played a few tracks via the PecanPi.
It had a fairly chunky midbass and the LF seemed a bit bloated. As usual by now, I know not to judge anything without giving it an adequate amount of time to bed in properly.
I gave each step a few hours of play, without the Power amp on obviously, and eventually went in for the first listen.
I had an album in mind to try. ….well one track really. Aretha Franklin’s Do Right Woman-Do Right Man.
Holy moly…..her voice! I felt it touch my soul….deep down where all the secret stuff is kept. I was dumbstruck. Genuinely. I carried on listening to the rest of “Aretha's Gold” and just marvelled at the clarity and soul that was flowing. I kind of felt like this must be some sort of flavour that the stepped attenuator was guilty of. A false additive, like putting E numbers in Organic orange juice.
I played a few more tracks but still felt everything was a bit chunky and thick. I gave it a few more hours on each step, just as I did before. In fact I pretty much left it on for 3 days straight.
I went back for another listen and thought it best to try the same Aretha Franklin track.
Well, instantly i heard that things had opened up and there was a more neutral presentation but the BOOM! The vocals hit me right in the feels again. They were even better this time. The slight midband fullness had disappeared and what was left was a very neutral and transparent and in turn this has given the vocals a wondrous lustre and breathy sound.
I cracked on and literally everything sounded crisp, clear and transparent...and here is the kicker.
There was more detail.
Yup….explain that. The almighty Khozmo was lagging behind in almost every single area to a sub £100 stepped attenuator. I put this down to maybe a different presentation or anything else I could to really, as I just couldn't accept that this Stepped Attenuator was whooping the Khozmos ass all round the room. But in truth, the Audiopills is more detailed, fluid, musical and I feel like the sound is all the better for it.
The main thing for me was the fluidity. This SA is a few steps beyond the Khozmo, which sounded mechanical and sterile in comparison. The soundstage is less restricted, or constrained. I played Starsailor - Fever, and I was instantly taken back to the way the Tron Convergence and how the sound flowed out of the speakers.
Fantastic.
With the Audiopills SA in the system, there is a connection to the music. A link to the soul and when it came time to putting the Khozmo back in…...i couldn't. I wouldn't.
I am completely attached to the Audiopills. It is the quickest item i have ever had to fully cement a place in the main lineup.
Unfortunately, it seems that no more of these wonderful Stepped Attenuators will be made. So really this review serves only as an experience report than a go-buy-one review.
Shame, these really are special.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50k-Ohm-Stepped-attenuator-volume-contro-The-last-one/264716763968?hash=item3da2594340:g:~pwAAOSwxU9ddsRm
Stoyan and i met at the Penkridge Phonostage Bakeoff, back in 2018. He didn’t konw i was buying the Stepped Attenuator and i didn’t know he was selling them. I have received no incentive to write this review and have done so for the public interest only.
There is a Plethora of options from Khozmo, Amtrans, Glasshouse, Goldpoint, Acoustic Dimensions…..the list goes on. So when I decided to buy one for a project I am undertaking, I started to have a look for ‘cheap’ options.
First option I noticed was the ‘Mr K’ from China. Looked good on paper and used KOA 1% resistors. Once I considered the Customs and all the associated fees, it wasn’t as cheap as I wanted it to be. Then by my favourite method of discovery, by chance, I discovered the Audiopills Stepped Attenuator.
At £65 delivered it seemed too good to be true, but it’s use of Tesla resistors made it my primary target. The resistors had been how I stumbled across the Stepped Attenuator in the first place. Fate….some might say.
I made a cheeky offer and it was accepted.
“Of course, this will be no match for the mighty Khozmo 64 step relay attenuator” I thought.
Upon its arrival I had a brief look at it and was very pleased with the build quality and the overall feel. It had a reassuring weight about it and the steps felt very deliberate in their notching.
I put it to one side as i had planned but by now i should know myself enough to realise that i can't wait to try anything. I lashed it in and played a few tracks via the PecanPi.
It had a fairly chunky midbass and the LF seemed a bit bloated. As usual by now, I know not to judge anything without giving it an adequate amount of time to bed in properly.
I gave each step a few hours of play, without the Power amp on obviously, and eventually went in for the first listen.
I had an album in mind to try. ….well one track really. Aretha Franklin’s Do Right Woman-Do Right Man.
Holy moly…..her voice! I felt it touch my soul….deep down where all the secret stuff is kept. I was dumbstruck. Genuinely. I carried on listening to the rest of “Aretha's Gold” and just marvelled at the clarity and soul that was flowing. I kind of felt like this must be some sort of flavour that the stepped attenuator was guilty of. A false additive, like putting E numbers in Organic orange juice.
I played a few more tracks but still felt everything was a bit chunky and thick. I gave it a few more hours on each step, just as I did before. In fact I pretty much left it on for 3 days straight.
I went back for another listen and thought it best to try the same Aretha Franklin track.
Well, instantly i heard that things had opened up and there was a more neutral presentation but the BOOM! The vocals hit me right in the feels again. They were even better this time. The slight midband fullness had disappeared and what was left was a very neutral and transparent and in turn this has given the vocals a wondrous lustre and breathy sound.
I cracked on and literally everything sounded crisp, clear and transparent...and here is the kicker.
There was more detail.
Yup….explain that. The almighty Khozmo was lagging behind in almost every single area to a sub £100 stepped attenuator. I put this down to maybe a different presentation or anything else I could to really, as I just couldn't accept that this Stepped Attenuator was whooping the Khozmos ass all round the room. But in truth, the Audiopills is more detailed, fluid, musical and I feel like the sound is all the better for it.
The main thing for me was the fluidity. This SA is a few steps beyond the Khozmo, which sounded mechanical and sterile in comparison. The soundstage is less restricted, or constrained. I played Starsailor - Fever, and I was instantly taken back to the way the Tron Convergence and how the sound flowed out of the speakers.
Fantastic.
With the Audiopills SA in the system, there is a connection to the music. A link to the soul and when it came time to putting the Khozmo back in…...i couldn't. I wouldn't.
I am completely attached to the Audiopills. It is the quickest item i have ever had to fully cement a place in the main lineup.
Unfortunately, it seems that no more of these wonderful Stepped Attenuators will be made. So really this review serves only as an experience report than a go-buy-one review.
Shame, these really are special.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50k-Ohm-Stepped-attenuator-volume-contro-The-last-one/264716763968?hash=item3da2594340:g:~pwAAOSwxU9ddsRm
Stoyan and i met at the Penkridge Phonostage Bakeoff, back in 2018. He didn’t konw i was buying the Stepped Attenuator and i didn’t know he was selling them. I have received no incentive to write this review and have done so for the public interest only.
