Passive Volume Control for DACs/Sources

Also not trying to derail the topic, but, do you mind sharing a few impressions of the Zkit60? I've been thinking about a "summer amp" lately, and, I think it's the Van Alstine SET 120 that's based off the same design, which I had been considering. And that got me thinking, maybe I should tackle this amp. Easy to build? Sounds good?

And I love the idea to put the Slagleformers in the amp - might have to steal that idea if I go for this build. One less thing to throw off some heat!

 

I really like it, and it wasn't bad at all to put together. Decware's forum at their site has a section devoted to it, I don't think there's many people that have built it. Send me a PM if you have any questions or want more info.

https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?board=ZKIT60

 

Thanks! Still in the "kicking the tires" phase, but if I get more serious or buy a kit, I might take you up on it.

 

So, I recently purchased the Khozmo DIY source selector and shunt kit, with Z-foil 50K loading resistors and AMRT resistors.


https://khozmo.com/product/shunt-type-64-steps-attenuatorwith-6x-input-selector/

I am still waiting on a custom case for everything, however I did manage to put it in a small crap case and just hook it up with some short 1ft XLR cables and one RCA out just to see how it would work and how it would sound. I got rid of my Freya for this because I was only really using the Freya 1x mode and something that was crazy is that my unbalanced outpt from my FM receiver was always louder and cleaner when going passive on the Freya than going through the 1x buffer, especially on unbalanced output, and I can't figure out why. But that is a different story.

All I can say for a few days using this, I never thought I needed a passive and thought it was always defeating the point of a good RK27, and I think that still holds true, because you ARE reducing voltage of the incoming signal and then having to send that through cables to your amp or whatever. We are talking way low mV here. Micro volts even. But the signal is clean, has good transients and top end and air.

The relay noise is much quieter than the Freya and also does not cut volume as you go up and down - it is pretty smooth. I also found that 63 steps is way more than enough for me. Maybe because I also went with 50K. I still find that for normal listening I am in the high 20's or low 30's.

This particular DIY setup does some pretty cool things, like customize the input names, adjust sensitivity of the encoders, and pushing the selector/volume is customizable as well to things like mute and standby. So my volume is set to mute when pushed in and the selector is set to go to standby.

I think the limitations of a passive is obviously going to be: length of cable run of output, quality of cable for output, and the quality of the resistors (if ladder or shunt) or the quality of the pot. I just really like the options and price of this Khomzo stuff. Of course you can go with their pre-built stuff or the more high end designed Hattor stuff. All are really good options.