Looking for a 2-channel high end volume control


I am working on a balanced design and I need a gain control with two channels. I currently am considering the Cirrus Logic CS3308/18. Details here: https://www.cirrus.com/products/cs3308-18/

However, unfortunately, the Cirrus is an 8-channel gain control and they apparently do not have a 2-channel version of this chip.

Is there a chip of comparable quality that can simultaneously perform gain control on two channels?


tubular7

Showing 3 responses by pragmasi

I've done a fair bit of research into this, there are a few available... the TI range is listed here. I think Maxim might do some as well. The advantage of IC volume controls is that they track well, are cheap and small. The audio performance is not stellar though and THD+N can be better with a 10K pot. 
For real 'high end' it's hard to beat an R2R log stepped attenuator but you'll have to design, build and find a way of controlling that yourself - there are some DIY blogs out there. I use a 500Ω 128 step R2R attenuator in my preamp which measures -121dB THD+N (including the amplification stages) that's 10-15dB quieter than the best TI chip on its own. I know not many here like measurements but noise is noise. 
Interesting to learn about the Muses, I've not come across that manufacturer before. Spec is very similar to the Cirrus and TI although the Muses has a gain stage built in (but not great distortion figures).
In all honesty I'm not even sure whether 99.9% of people would ever notice whether it was a pot, IC or switched attenuator. In terms of noise the ICs score lowest, pots are pretty good when they're brand new. Pots are worst on left/right tracking and longevity. And switched attenuators are either expensive and have limited steps (passive types) or expensive and complicated (log relay types). If 'high end' means best sound quality then none of the ICs really cut it... I'm only saying that because 'high end' is in the title of the thread.


Optical resistor
https://tortugaaudio.com/products/diy-preamp-components/electronic-stepped-attenuator-epot-v3-max/


Haven't come across talk of LDR attenuators for a while... I could never work out what the attraction was. This one tracks about the same as a half decent pot (0.5dB ∆ L/R) but has 0.5%THD. I'd be interested to know what it is that makes them an attractive option... maybe people like the sound of the distortion?