Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site


In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Another light for the LS tunnel: transformer-attenuators?
Post Subject: Might be I do not get something, educate me. Posted by Romy the Cat on: 3/14/2007
 George wrote:
I have always been meaning to ask you why a step-up transformer for a cartridge can be acceptable but a transformer elsewhere is considered detrimental.
I do not say that step-up transformer is good but the transformers elsewhere are bad – I have no knowledge or credentials even for myself to make those statements. However, from my restricted perspective I see in step-up transformer and in the transformer-attenuator very different purposes. A step-up transformer has a purpose of “transformation” or increase voltage and it could be done in case of MC cartridges only by a transformer or by an active stage. A transformer-attenuator of course also “transforms” one voltage into another voltage but it is till around the very same attenuated voltage and therefore the transformer acts juts as a fancy voltage divider. Sure, there is nothing wrong with a transformer-attenuator if it has a pure restive load but as we know it is never the case. If we need a drop voltage elsewhere then we use resistors, right? We do not we use transformer-attenuators everywhere else instead resistors. Why then we need suddenly it use a transformer-attenuator as a volume control?

Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site