2. amps-preamps
  3. 160575-139155

Parasound's Hint 6's new volume control provides huge sonic advances?

Promotional language for the (relatively) new HINT 6 says this: "New Burr-Brown Volume Control:
The Parasound HINT 6 is packed full of technical advancements. The new, upgraded volume control replaces the original model's motorized potentiometer and sliding mechanical contacts with a Burr-Brown electronically controlled analog resistor ladder volume control. Technical advancements in the new volume control offer a more distinct sound stage by increasing the dynamic range, lowering the noise floor, improving left-right separation and maintaining absolute left-right channel tracking at any volume level."

I'm not a skeptic, but am trying to learn.

QUESTION: How does a volume control affect so many elements important to the sound?

I almost never look to the details of how an amplifier's volume control is designed. Is it this important?
hilde45

Showing 5 responses by hilde45

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,262 posts
 
@richtruss Thanks for that explanation -- belongs in a textbook, it's so clear! I see the kind of difference better now, and over the other range of methods. If I were comparing other options and price ranges of integrateds, I might look to see how they differed in this regard, though I still don't know the degree to which improvements in volume control  (from model to model) would matter (to my ears, at least) compared to other design elements contributing to the sound. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,262 posts
 
Thanks, jjss49. I appreciate learning that, and it will be interesting to see whether this feature is really an advance. I know that I avoided a remote control with my own Line Stage because of advice to keep things as simple as possible. But simple is not how Parasound rolls, so this may be their way of saying, "convenience and sonic quality."

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,262 posts
 
+1 fuzztone
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,262 posts
 
Thanks for the answers so far. I realize that attenuation must be done correctly, but I thought that would just be standard operating procedure for any amp costing $3k. The fact that Parasound is singling out this element of their design for special attention suggests that others don’t do it well enough or that Parasound  has now done it so well (compared to others) that it’s going to make a noticeable difference. I find either explanation to be pretty weak, and so there’s one more possibility, namely that their marketing people decided to tout an otherwise standard feature just to grab people’s attention. Not the kind of company I thought they were, and that's why I'm curious.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,262 posts
 
The readout is the real improvement. Got it. Thanks.
More to discover