Cheapest volume control

This is all FWIW and I'll defer to anyone who's used both the Lightspeed and the SYS (I've used neither), but I'm betting the SYS would likely be a step down - at least in the short run, til you could get something better, but if there's anything better-sounding than the Lightspeed I can't imagine what that would be. The next best-sounding-for-the-money solution I know of would be Goldpoint attenuators (which I've used and have found to be highly transparent...on par, I believe, with the Lightspeed. Don't let anyone kid you though, the surface mount resistors used are ridiculously transparent and are the real thing, IMO). But, a stereo, single-ended Goldpoint is $159 without the knob, box or shipping. Other solutions might include Alps or whatnot, but none I've tried could hold a candle to Goldpoint or Lightspeed. If it were me and money was the overriding concern, I might think about the SYS for the moment and let it tide me over, unless the wait was expected to be unbearably long or whatever. But, if OTOH you happen to be more concerned with not wasting any of your hifi dollars by buying something twice, then I recommend maybe waiting until you're in a better buying position for a nice attenuator. But, after the Lightspeed, almost anything would likely be a step backward, except the Goldpoint...or possibly the DACT, but Goldpoint is what I know and they're in the USA. BTW, Arn is a super nice guy and can set you straight on how to choose the right impedance values with no worries.

As with all the passive attenuators, the shorter your IC's (6" or less - 3" is ideal) between attenuator and amp, the less there is of the usual sound penalty associated with passives (usually a loss of lower mid presence or decreased dynamics, or sometimes both).

Hopefully someone else can post with a lower-priced option here that I'm not aware of. Regards. John

Chase RCL-1. Often on eBay for about $100. This is a line control with a remote. I have three of these, all work perfectly. Some are available in a 12 volt version, and having a choice, that is the one to go for. How could something be so good and so inexpensive? One of the mystery's of life. Enjoy.

Thats what I was thinking. I tried getting the Goldpoint here on Audiogon 2 days ago but I offered $130 and he wouldn't take it.

Maybe I should try to swing a goldpoint or something a bit better than the sys is what I'm hearing. It will be awhile till I can get another lightspeed.

What about that luminous passive? Any others besides the goldpoint, that are really inexpensive and worthy? I was even looking at that bottlehead quickie...

In my view and as near as I can tell, the Axiom looks fairly interesting. This one is new to me and I'm not sure exactly how he gets the Alps pot out of the signal path, but, if that approach is sound, then I believe I might be considering that thing myself, were I in your situ...just could be the way to go, here. Maybe somebody has tried it. Not as sure about the Bottlehead, it could be ok too, but I dunno.

Update: Oh, ok, I see now where I misread the website text. The pot simply shunts the signal to ground. That may work, but the pot would likely still exert some influence on the sound quality...hence the stepped version for $500. In that sense it may not be the best value...unless somebody has tried it out.

Just so you know, whatever attenuates volume in your system is extremely important. This is one area that you don't want to cut corners with.

That said, the Lightspeed and it's variants are some of the best passive attenuators you can buy. Even better than high dollar active preamps. I own an LDR using the Tortuga board and it is excellent.

Shakey

Try Roger Modjeski's pot in a box. Uses a high quality Noble pot in a very simple box.

Ivan, so it sounds like thats not really the way to go, with the axiom that is.

Buconero, can't find any for $100, found one on e bay for $200, if you have an extra one and want to sell it...saw how quick you snatched up that one from here, lol

Looked up Roger Modjeski's pot in a box, can't find that one either...I'm not a diy guy but I know someone who could solder up a Noble pot to rca's if that is all you do...

I should have just bought that damn goldpoint 3 days ago. I seem to be 2 days short in the last 3 or 4 deals I slept on.

For the pot in the box look here:

http://www.tubeaudiostore.com/basicpotinbox.html

B_limo, yes, not really the way to go here. I've never tried it, but, on the face of it, it doesn't look as promising as the Goldpoint to me. Hopefully it may just be a matter of being a little patient for the right deal to surface, whether a Goldpoint or some of the other suggestions here, if you're moved to try one of them...

Thanks Clio. That may be the way I go unless a goldpoint comes up again.

Bob, the dac I am looking at doesn't have balanced out.

Thanks again to everyone!

There is nothing special about the SVS. It is off the shelf inexpensive parts.At best it can sound okay compared to better parts. You get what you pay for.

If you are going OEM parts, look for the best pot you can get, ladder is generally the best, SMD can be right there and variable next. For variable I found that, NOS ALPS Black Beauties are nice with Blue Velvet's next.

There is an ebay seller out of China that sells some decent passives in lots of configurations. They are in the price range you have budgeted from 100-225. The least of which uses an ALPS Blue Velvet, has 3 inputs, two outs and one monitor. The parts alone, if you attempted to buy them would be close to 175 and then you would have to solder. So, his complete package is really a great value!

Thanks Ray!

Whats the sellers name or how can I locate ghem on e-bay? I tried searching for them but couldn't find them.

Over on audio asylum is my old passive that the buyer is selling for 100. I think I sold it to him for 125 and it comes with some nice parts. Hurry cause it will go fast at that price and if you don't like it you can sell it at no loss. But I think it will work well for you.

He has it listed as a diy but it is not a diy. It is a full production piece. The thing outclasses any near its price point.

Btw.....the seller for the units is ericyam at eBay. Search passive preamps and he will be there. Btw the one at AA would cost you close to 200 new and as long as the seller didn't abuse the one I sold him it should be almost like new.