Proper use volume control?

I use it to adjust the gain. It's that simple for me.

Really? Were down to debating what volume means lol?

Brf might be on to something.

To give the user the volume they want to stay happy,as long as nothing gets abused.Everyone has their own preference,and I don't think you'll find a common standard.Younger people seem to lean toward louder in general.

Mine only has a GAIN knob. I have no way to adjust volume. Should I take it back and get a volume knob?

y'all crack me up. lol.

We've already lost tone and balance controls. Seems logical that for maximum purity the next generation of equipment will eschew volume control in favor of the one audiophile approved volume level. Adjust your other equipment, speakers, and room to match.

Volume is some painful parg of the system. At certain volumes your system sounds better or worse; at certain volumes it might not sound right at all. The wider the range of the volume you can listen, the better preamp you probably have.

"The wider the range of the volume you can listen, the better preamp you probably have." - other equipment as well.

Pubul57, Thanks for correction.

Some systems don't come to life until you wick up the big knob. I like lively speakers, and a system that sounds good at low or high levels. Sometimes sheer output compensates for what is missing in overall sound quality.
There are lots of uses for the volume control, including pissing off the neighbors.

"We've already lost tone and balance controls"

There is no need for volume control - just sit closer or further away from the speakers. Move your chair sideways to adjust balance.

Certain songs have certain volume levels that seem just right in my opinion. I use the volume adjusting mechanism to find that.

Direct connection between 2v source and amp would tear up your speaker drivers at some point in the music, proper funtion of a volume control is to attenuate the signal.

"Correct" volume level is something I have come to realize through multichannel recordings. A solo part,for example a violin, is usually located in the center channel. I know how loud a real violin can play, and I set the volume accordingly. However, when I do this I often find that the rest of the orchestra is too soft. The mix engineers figure that since the soloist gets the big bucks, he or she should be emphasized. In my system I can easily adjust the relative volume of the center vs the other channels. This is not so easy with a two-channel system.

Now that the volume control whys (not wise) have been brought to light, can someone please explain why there has to be a gas pedals on cars?

there is an ideal speed where the car just locks into the road, smooth and powerful, yet quiet and controlled - a little too soft and the excitement lifts away, too hard and you start to shimmy.

My volume controls work like this:

Turn clockwise and volume increases. Turn counter-clockwise and the volume decreases.

Is this normal? Anybody else experience this phenomenon?

Thanks in advance.

You might need to bring that into the shop.

"Turn clockwise and volume increases. Turn counter-clockwise and the volume decreases."

Audiofeil - It doesn't work. I turned and turned, clockwise and counter-clockwise but volume stayed the same.

Pubul57,

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, It's clear to me now. By dialing in the correct amount of gas I can find the right spot between excitement lifting away and shimmying. Now if I could relate this to the use of a volume control, I'll be good.

Nobody has mentioned if a stepped volume control is better than diodes,or are resistor ladders the only true way?
How about Diodes?

Who makes the most transparent volume control?

If you have to crank the volume thingee all the way to 5 pm is that good or bad.

What about unity gain?

Ah yes, the simple volume gadget.

My volume controls work like this:

Turn clockwise and volume increases. Turn counter-clockwise and the volume decreases.

Is this normal? Anybody else experience this phenomenon?

In the northern hemisphere, sure.